LIVES CHANGED IN ROCHESTER, NY

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Nate Miller

Rochester Students

“Going to a Cru conference gave me the tools and the passion to share about God and have spiritual conversations. One night, I ended up talking about spirituality with my friend Tyler. He said, “Ryan, I really want to know more.” We started talking about the gospel, and he believed it, and decided to place his faith in Christ.”  – Ryan H.

“I was invited to a Cru small group and showed up not knowing what to expect. We studied the Bible and prayed together. We also shared about what was going on in our lives. I have been able to build some really close relationships and grow closer to God as well.”   – Dave S.

“My life before I found Christ was filled with a lot of partying and I was pretty lonely. I found Cru and ultimately found Christ through Cru. I’ve been able to expand my relationship with Christ and have real relationships. I’m hoping to have a future career in psychology and I want to incorporate what Christ wants for me in that.”   – Ryan M.

“I grew up going to church, but I didn’t know God. I didn’t understand anything about the Bible or Jesus. When I was nine, my father left. I was a really broken person. When I got to college, my roommate introduced me to Cru. Through Cru I became very close to God and began a personal relationship with Him. I’m so excited to see what He is going to continue to do in my life!”   – Jennifer C.

These are just a few of the many Rochester student stories that could be told. This year over 220 students were involved with Cru in Rochester, including 7 new believers!

Thank you for your partnership. Without you, we would not be able to provide the behind-the-scenes support that helped enable the Cru staff in Rochester to introduce students to Jesus. You are changing the lives of college students.

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Drugs and Jesus on Spring Break

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Nate Miller
Wellesley

Wellesley College students, Katie, Kwabea, Emily, Mische (Cru staff member) & Liku are photo-bombed by Zack (Brandeis University) at Cru’s spring break evangelism training conference.

Mische, Cru staff member, found herself repeatedly answering one question as she sat in the sand at Panama City Beach (PCB). She was there with a group of Wellesley College women for Big Break, Cru’s spring break evangelism training conference. The question wasn’t about Jesus.

Instead she was asked, “Are you selling pot?” To students at PCB to party over spring break, this was a logical question to ask a young woman wearing a shirt that said “So high I can almost touch the sky.”

But God can use even the desire for drugs to bring people into relationship with Himself. Many students talked with Mische about Jesus.

The Wellesley students also grew in relationship with Jesus. Their experience:

Katie—I now have a deep impression of how beautiful and broken this world is. When we went sharing on the beach, I saw God in His power answer the specific prayers I lifted up to Him, but I also saw people living in emptiness and brokenness from which they couldn’t save themselves. As a result of Big Break, I have learned to trust more that Christ is the only hope for the world, and that He is coming (soon, God willing!)

Kwabea—Going to Big Break showed me another side of God’s heart. It was practical evidence that God loves believers and unbelievers alike. I was just amazed and blessed at how he brought people together at the right place at the right time so seeds could be sown in people’s lives to bring healing and repair brokenness.

Emily—Big Break strengthened my understanding of the Gospel as I explained my beliefs. At the beginning of the week, I was unsure what to expect from people on the beach. God led me to so many people that had similar experiences. He showed me these people for a purpose.

Liku—I’ve realized just how much people are yearning to know the truth and purpose to their lives. This trip has been a call for me to see the importance of revealing Christ to people. I see that this life was meant to worship a living God and enjoy Him with others.

Nate helped provide the behind the scenes support that enabled these women to attend Big Break. Your partnership is changing the hearts of college students!

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Meeting Jesus Outside

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Nate Miller
Students rappel in Acadia National Park with Lifelines, the outdoor ministry of Cru.

Students rappel in Acadia National Park with Lifelines, the outdoor ministry of Cru.

I was 27 years old the summer of 2012, when I found myself stuck in a lonely place. I was old enough to know how to be happy. But I was looking for something more: to be permanently happy.”

Brian (not his real name) is an Astrophysics PhD candidate. Three years ago he described himself as an atheist. After three years of relationship with Christian students, he recently began a relationship with Jesus. He describes the process in his own words…

“Three years before that summer I had set a goal to never fall again. But the summer of 2012, it felt like the floor fell out from under me. I felt like I would live the rest of my life alone. No matter what I tried or how much I helped others, nothing seemed to make me feel less lonely.

“I had never had a girlfriend and nothing seemed to change that. I became so jealous and full of despair. I gave up looking for happiness and began to take out my frustrations on the world around me.

“I had been to Cru meetings and gone on Lifelines trips. Each time they talked about topics that were relevant to my life and the emotions I felt.

“I saw testimonies from other people who went down even darker paths and found peace with God. I saw that there was another life path that I had never actually tried.

“I held onto grudges and gave up on society, but Cru and Lifelines never gave up on me, and neither did Jesus. Because of Cru and Lifelines I was empowered to accept Jesus and let God’s will be done instead of mine.

“While accepting Jesus does not necessarily mean my life has become easier, it has eased the pain of loneliness. I know that even in the hard times of life, I am finally on the right path.”

As one of the Lifelines Cru staff members says, “Evangelism is often like a guide leading someone to the top of a mountain. It is not easy, you may get lost in the woods for a while, it can take a long time and a lot of effort, and sometimes the person you are guiding decides they don’t want to go on. But, it is always worth it when you make it to the top of the mountain.”

Thank you for being a part of changing Brian’s life.

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