(Photo courtesy of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship)

God has been drawing students to himself in extraordinary ways through InterVarsity over the last few years. In the 2014-2015 school year we saw 4,269 students make first-time commitments to Jesus, a 21 percent increase from the previous year and a 172 percent increase over 10 years. And at our Urbana Student Missions Conference in December, we had a record-high 676 students decide to follow Jesus for the first time. We could not be more grateful.

God’s powerful work in students has continued in the present school year as well. Here are a few snapshots of new believers on campuses across the U.S.:

WILL, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY—FULLERTON

At CSUF, an international student from Japan named Will happened upon an impromptu game of soccer. Two student leaders who were playing, Kristy and Natalie, became friends with him through weekly soccer games and through a small group Bible study that they invited him to join.

Will had heard some stories from the Bible, but he had never really heard the gospel. Over the course of the year he asked them many questions about God. It wasn’t until he was preparing to leave campus to go back home to Japan that he finally decided to follow Jesus. “I didn’t know that leaving Japan I would find God,” Will said, “but maybe I can bring the news of God back to my friends in Japan.”

Will’s InterVarsity staff member, Ben, reflected, “Will didn’t know that he was going to have an encounter with Jesus that day at the park, but God had placed his disciples there with a soccer ball and eyes to see students like him. There are hundreds, and often thousands, of international students at our universities, and God wants to meet them and call them into his kingdom. Oh, that more students would answer their call to mission on campus so we can celebrate conversions like Will’s every day.”

CARLY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN—DEARBORN

Despite being a Wiccan, Carly joined InterVarsity this past fall to meet friends. She was often fidgety and evasive when Jesus was mentioned in Bible studies and claimed she didn’t believe that Jesus was God, but she continued to come. Soon Carly began studying the Gospel of Mark with her staff member, Christy Patterson Hamilton. “Do I trust in Jesus?” she said to Christy one day. “Yes, but I don’t know if I can devote my life to him yet.” In December, Christy sent a letter to her ministry partners asking them to pray for Carly, and several days later, Carly gave her life to Christ.

HUNTER and JACKY, GREEK INTERVARSITY, UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC and CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY—LONG BEACH

The harvest is particularly ripe among fraternity and sorority students, with 148 students making first-time commitments to Jesus at our three Greek Conferences this year.

On a whim, Hunter, a student from the University of the Pacific, decided to attend LA’s first Greek Conference with his fraternity brother, Trevor. Like many students figuring out how they want to live, Hunter had grown up in a Christian home, but fell away from faith when he entered college. Thankfully God had other plans. At the conference, Hunter stood up to accept Jesus during a call to faith and has now become involved with InterVarsity at his school.

Jacky, a student from California State University—Long Beach, also attended Greek Conference. He is from a Buddhist family, but the message of Jesus touched him so deeply that he decided to follow Jesus. Jacky is so excited about the movement of God in his life and on his campus that he and one of his fraternity brothers have decided to launch a Greek InterVarsity chapter at their school.

NICK, WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Before coming to college, Nick had very little exposure to Christianity or Christians, and the little exposure he did have had led him to believe that Christians were hypocrites. His roommate Isaiah, however, was a Christian and began to invite Nick to InterVarsity events, where he began to study the Bible for the first time and to explore who Jesus is more deeply. “If I’m going to follow Jesus,” Nick said then, “I don’t want to look back.” In January, after several months of exploration and study, Nick accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him.

Of course, the 2015-2016 school year is not over yet on most campuses, and we believe God will continue to draw students and faculty to himself in these last few weeks, as well as through the weeklong Chapter Camps that take place at the end of the semester. Rejoice with us that students are finding Jesus all year long through InterVarsity!

Browse through our evangelistic Bible studies and our resources for helping new Christians grow.

Even at this early hour, it makes him smile.

Silva is a mission group coordinator with Buckner National Missions, meaning the week of spring break is anything but a vacation for him.

(Photo courtesy Buckner)

In a two-week span, he, along with Buckner Construction and Aid Coordinator Sam Hutchinson, and Buckner Director of National Missions Javier Perez have guided 8 church teams as they have started building five homes, built bed frames for foster children, led a youth camp, and mentored individuals involved in the local Buckner Family Hope Center.

Teams often work past sundown as they strive to shine hope into the lives of colonia residents nine miles west of Mission, Texas. Many of the children experience their first youth camp and have their first home as a result of the groups’ efforts.

Either can revolutionize a child’s life. Children came to Christ during the youth camp, while others grew in their relationship with Christ. Safe, secure homes earned through point accumulation at the Buckner Family Hope Center allow families to rest easier at night and set their sights on filling other needs. By the end of spring break, three families will have completely new homes.

“Our short-term mission teams come on trips but play a big part in the larger Buckner work in the community,” Silva said. “Families have worked so hard through classes and earning points to earn a home. That all culminates in a mission group building a house. As a result, families can stop worrying about their children who are cold at night or living in a dangerous place. They can focus on higher needs.”

Other church teams worked with residents to improve agricultural or entrepreneurial efforts. Trip participants were recruited because they brought expertise in either field and can serve as invaluable resources.

The effort, which Buckner National Missions has started this year, seeks to help families work toward financial self-sufficiency through starting businesses and selling crops.

“We’re grateful that the body of Christ is coming together to partner with us to help the community, break the cycle of poverty, and bring hope to the community and the teams themselves,” Silva said. “It’s amazing to see the support Buckner and the community receives from churches.”

(Photo courtesy Buckner)

Congregations serving through Buckner this spring break included University Baptist Church in Clearlake, First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Shenandoah Baptist Church in Cedar Park, Stonegate Fellowship in Midland, South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, Church at Canyon Creek in Austin, First Baptist Church in Crawford, Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, and Pflugerville Community Church in Pflugerville.

For more information about mission opportunities through Buckner missions, visit www.buckner.org/missions.

Story by John Hall

(YouTube)

USA (MNN) — Time’s running out for college kids. Tomorrow, June 30, is their last chance to secure a reduced-rate place at Urbana 15.

You can help spread the word here.

“Urbana” is the tri-annual student missions conference from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Thousands of global-minded students from across the U.S. will spend five days in Missouri this December learning how they can change the world for Christ.

Will you be one of them?

Why should I go to Urbana?

(Photo courtesy Urbana via Facebook)

The Urbana Student Missions Conference is a place of connection.

Not only do students meet like-minded peers from around the nation and world, they connect with mission leaders and speakers who can help them discover God’s purpose for their lives.

For the most part, college kids pursue a degree for a specific reason. Urbana helps them realize how they can use that degree–along with the gifts and talents God has given them–to further His Kingdom.

Click here for more reasons to go.

Who else can I bring?

Urbana draws people from all over North America who want to learn more about global realities, current missions issues, and their place in God’s mission.

The conference is geared specifically toward college students between the ages of 17 and 29, although there is no upper age limit. High school students must be at least 17 years of age by December 27, 2015, and in their final year of high school.

International students are welcome too!

What exactly are we going to do?

(Photo courtesy Urbana 15 via Facebook)

An itinerary for Urbana 15 isn’t available yet, but time will be spent in four general categories: Bible study, prayer, worship, and seminars.

Learn more on the Urbana 15 website:

• Scripture
• Prayer
• Seminars & Tracks
• Worship Arts

There’s also a new component this year called Hack4Missions. The Urbana 15 hackathon is a great opportunity to explore technology’s place in God’s mission. Students can discern how their skills and interests could be used to serve God around the world.

Where can I sign up?

Students can secure a place at Urbana 15 for under $400, as long as they sign up before midnight June 30. After that, registration shoots up to $459.

(Photo courtesy Urbana 15 via Facebook)

Secure your place at Urbana 15.

The registration fee includes all conference costs and 4 evening meals. Travel and housing costs are not included.

Find out where you can get lodging, meals, and transportation at the Urbana 15 website.

Pray for students and InterVarsity staff preparing for Urbana 15. Pray that Urbana 15 will help inform, equip, and mobilize college students for global missions.

(Photo courtesy InterVarsity Christian Fellowship)

USA (InterVarsity) — Tech-savvy participants at InterVarsity’s Urbana 15 will be challenged by Hack4Missions, Urbana’s first ever hackathon December 27-31, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Students will prototype new ideas and create real-time solutions to challenges confronting missions organizations.

Led by Hack4Missions directors Ali Llewellyn and Nick Skytland, cofounders of the International Space Apps Challenge and the National Day of Civic Hacking as members of NASA’s Open Innovation team, over 200 students will explore technology’s place in God’s global mission.

The participants will use their skills to advance God’s Kingdom and receive mentoring from technology and missions leaders.

“We live in an unprecedented time where technology enables us to connect instantaneously with someone on the complete opposite side of the world,” said Skytland. “What it means to be on mission, to serve others, and to be a global church is literally being redefined right in front of us–and it’s technology that’s making this a reality.

“There’s a huge opportunity to rethink missions, to use technology to change the world, and to collaborate with others who share this mission.”

Skytland attended Urbana 03 as a college senior and over the past 12 years has helped organize over 700 hackathons in more than 100 countries. He has also designed next-generation space suits and trained space-bound astronauts.

Llewellyn is a veteran of broad-scale public-private mass collaborations which aim at improving governance and engaging citizens. She has also traveled globally to work with church planting movements.

“Our goal for Hack4Missions is that the participants come away deeply connected with each other and with a vision to apply technology in innovative ways for God’s purposes,” Llewellyn said.

“We want this generation of students to be equipped and sent out into digital spaces to share Jesus using digital strategies.”

(Graphic courtesy InterVarsity)

While Urbana’s hackathon is ambitious in its scope and scale, it’s not without precedent, as Llewellyn and Skytland’s hackathon experiences indicate. The Washington Post also recently reported on a group of Christians in Nairobi, Kenya, who conducted a hackathon focused on fighting corruption and increasing transparency in government.

At Urbana 15, more than 16,000 participants will spend five days engaging with God through Bible study, seminars and tracks, and general sessions. They’ll explore where their gifts fit into God’s global mission.

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with missionaries and leaders from over 250 missions organizations and seminaries exhibiting at Urbana.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is an interdenominational ministry with over 40,000 students involved on 649 campuses nationwide. Urbana 15 is also sponsored by InterVarsity Canada and Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Collégiaux du Canada.

For more information on Urbana 15, click here.

(Photo credit Passion team)

USA (268 Generation) — Some 20,000 young adults from across the globe filled Atlanta’s Philips Arena on Friday, Jan. 2, for the first of three, 3-day gatherings for Passion 2015. Students spend each day in sessions of teaching and worship led by notable Christian speakers and worship leaders.

In the past few years, the students at the Passion Conferences have given more than $7 million to provide awareness, prevention, rescue, and restoration to fight modern-day slavery.

Students also filled bins with thousands of towels and socks–two of the most-needed items at homeless shelters–upon arrival at Passion events. “He [God] wants the people of this city to feel lifted by a gathering of this size,” said Passion City Church’s Pastor of Community, Brad Jones, of the initiative as the first session began. This year, Atlanta’s City of Refuge will receive the needed items.

Friday night’s session captivated attendees with a digital conversation, posing questions on the screen ranging from “Who has never been to Passion before?” to the heavier, “Have you experienced heartbreak this year?” Students responded with a glittering display of cellphone lights and vulnerability.

Then familiar faces of The Passion Band including Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and Brett Younker opened the gathering with songs from recent years like “Take it All” and “God of Angel Armies.” The band also introduced new songs, soon to be released on this year’s Passion album.

Atlanta-based pastor of Passion City Church and Founder of the Passion movement, Louie Giglio, then took the stage. Giglio shared a message on the depth of the meaning of Jesus Christ’s final word on the cross, “Tetelestai,” which in Greek means “It is finished.”

“We’re beginning where Christ ended because His last word is our first,” said Giglio. “His last expression on earth makes possible all of our expressions on earth. We’re going to the end of His life to find the beginning of ours, the end of His word to find the beginning of our words.” By this, Giglio explained the Christian belief that when Jesus died, He died so all mankind could have eternal life.

Passion’s Saturday night session at 7 p.m. is available to everyone via livestream at http://268generation.com/passion2015.

(Photo credit Passion team)

Passion Conferences have been uniting college students around the world for the past 18 years, hosting 50 events in 16 countries. Registered attendees for the three Passion Conferences in 2015 represent more than 1,000 universities and 41 different countries. The three events are being held at the Philips Arena in Atlanta on Jan. 2-4 and Jan. 16-18 and in Houston at the Toyota Center on Jan. 30-Feb. 1. It takes more than 1,000 volunteers to pull off each event, a massive donation of time by individuals from across the globe.

For more information about Passion 2015, visit 268generation.com/2015. For more information about Passion Conferences, visit http://268generation.com or follow @passion268 on Twitter.

(Logo credit IFES)

International (MNN) — Today is World Student Day. If you’re not sure exactly what that means, keep reading.

“It’s a great opportunity to pray for future world leaders and church shapers,” explains Andy Moore of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), a ministry partner of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

“Many [university] students go on to hold positions of influence in politics and business and church, and the wider society.”

Not only does the Body of Christ pray for its next generation on World Student Day, but Christian college students worldwide pray for one another. Over 3,500 students have signed up to pray via e-mail and Facebook.

“It’s a great opportunity for students and staff to hear from one another about the various challenges that face them in their contexts,” Moore adds.

(Photo credit IFES)

“This year, we have a multilingual chat site, so people can come along and speak in either English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese, and the chat room will automatically translate whatever they type into the other languages. [It’s] a bit like the early chapters of Acts, where all of the hearers could hear the disciples speaking in their own language.”

Technology plays a key role in minimizing language barriers, getting students to engage in conversation, and facilitating prayer.

“In the past, we’ve had Google Hangouts that connect people in different countries with one another to pray for one another,” says Moore.

“We try to facilitate some things; but equally, it’s great to see the creativity of students as they think about how they can connect with their [Christian] brothers and sisters in different parts of the world.”

Meeting fellow collegiate believers and commiserating about the struggles and challenges that come with bearing the name of Christ on campus builds a special bond among Next Generation believers.

(Photo credit IFES)

“I think [students’] faith is enriched as they engage with students from other cultures, particularly as we get to pray together. There’s a unique unity that’s expressed in prayer,” Moore shares.

Learn more about World Student Day and find prayer needs here.

“We can keep people in contact with the prayers that have been prayed and the answers to prayer.”

College students signing up for the
Open Doors Fortify program.
(Image courtesy Open Doors Fortify via Twitter)

USA (MNN) — U.S. college kids are showing their support for the Persecuted Church. A new college and youth program from Open Doors USA called “Open Doors Fortify” is off to a fast start.

“We are excited about what God has done through this new outreach to students,” says Open Doors USA College & Youth Director Kate Yates.

“There is such enthusiasm among the students I have met in the last few months. They have a passion to reach out to persecuted believers in prayer and in other tangible ways.”

At a recent youth event in Nashville, over 300 students committed to pray and advocate for persecuted Christians. Students can link arms and hearts with suffering Christians through two new Open Doors Fortfiy programs: United in Christ and Change for Change.

United in Christ allows students to encourage their fellow believers in war-torn Iraq using social media. Young people are urged to record a video message of hope and prayers for believers in Iraq, which is ranked No. 4 on the Open Doors 2014 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians.

“Christians face severe persecution and violence in Iraq,” notes Yates. “Though there were more than 1.5 million Christians living there in 2003, Open Doors now estimates that only 330,000 believers remain.”

Once recorded, messages are posted on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube with the hashtag #UIC2014. Open Doors organizes the distribution of posts to the proper places.

“The United in Christ outreach program sends a message of hope to Christians, especially young Christians, in Iraq,” Yates says.

An Open Doors field worker adds, “It’s heartwarming that so many young people are praying for Iraq. We can’t wait to show persecuted Christians the videos so they can see they are not forgotten by their fellow followers of Jesus.”

A second way college students can support persecuted Christians is by sending their pocket change to Open Doors.

The Change for Change campaign asks students across America to give up something they value or usually purchase for one month. Students can sacrifice coffee, soft drinks, snacks, or hobbies for a week and then contribute that money toward the ministry of Open Doors.

Supporters can send a check with the funds saved to: Open Doors USA, 1956-J University Blvd S #255, Mobile, AL 36609.

Pray that a new generation rises up to stand with the Persecuted Church. You can follow Open Doors Fortify on Twitter by searching for the handle @ODUSAFortify.

Biblica has been sending Scripture to soldiers since the War of 1812. (Image courtesy Biblica)

Students teamed up with Biblica on Monday to pack around 55,000 Bibles for military servicemen and their families. Mark Rader is a retired Air Force officer and Biblica’s National Director of Military Ministry.

He spoke with Joel Hill, a reporter for MNN’s sister station, WCSG, at CU’s “Bibles for the Brave” event.

“I’ve been doing this for four years, and this was one of the most amazing events I’ve been involved with,” Rader stated.

“The power of God’s Word, whether it’s in the battlefield or here in the U.S., is still the essential element for spiritual growth in a life. Many of these soldiers have never heard the Gospel before, so this is an extraordinary opportunity.”

NIV Military Bibles and NIV Finding Hope Beyond the Battle Bibles packed by CU students were provided by a partnership between Biblica and Family Christian Stores.

The groups’ “Frontline & Homefront Bible Campaign” invites Family Christian customers to donate Bibles for military servicemen and their families. The campaign runs from Labor Day through Christmas, and over 60,000 Scriptures have been donated so far.

Click here to add another one to the list.

“I personally will be directing where all these Bibles go,” Rader says. “We already have about 10 or 12 military installations that have requested Scripture from us, and that’s all across the nation. Some of them also will go to chaplains that are down in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Soldiers sacrifice comfort, freedom, and their lives to protect the freedom of others. Biblica has been providing Bibles to the U.S. military since the War of 1812. Today the ministry offers hope to servicemen in active duty and their spouses.

They’re also developing a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Bible for traumatized soldiers. Learn more here.

“Pray for the people receiving these (Bibles) all around the world,” Rader requests. “Our servicemen and women are under a lot of pressure right now, and they really need our prayers.”

Students teamed up with Biblica on Monday to pack around 55,000 Bibles for military servicemen and their families. Retired Air Force officer and Biblica's National Director of Military Ministry, Mark Rader,  spoke with Joel Hill, a reporter for MNN's sister station, WCSG, at CU's "Bibles for the Brave" event.

"I've been doing this for four years, and this was one of the most amazing events I've been involved with," Rader stated.

"The power of God's Word, whether it's in the battlefield or here in the U.S., is still the essential element for spiritual growth in a life. Many of these soldiers have never heard the Gospel before, so this is an extraordinary opportunity."

NIV Military Bibles and NIV "Finding Hope Beyond the Battle" Bibles packed by CU students were provided by a partnership between Biblica and Family Christian Stores.

The groups' "Frontline & Homefront Bible Campaign" invites Family Christian customers to donate Bibles for military servicemen and their families. The campaign runs from Labor Day through Christmas, and over 60,000 Scriptures have been donated so far.

Click here to add another one to the list.

"I personally will be directing where all these Bibles go," Rader says. "We already have about 10 or 12 military installations that have requested Scripture from us…all across the nation. Some of them also will go to chaplains that are down in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Soldiers sacrifice comfort, freedom, and their lives to protect the freedom of others. Biblica has been providing Bibles to the U.S. military since the War of 1812. Today the ministry offers hope to servicemen in active duty and their spouses.

They're also developing a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Bible for traumatized soldiers. Learn more here. 

"Pray for the people receiving these [Bibles] all around the world," Rader requests. "Our servicemen and women are under a lot of pressure right now, and they really need our prayers."

1. Sell drugs.
2. Sell people.

Over 27 million men, women, and children have been sold for work or pleasure in the world’s second-largest illegal trade: human trafficking.

The most common cause behind human trafficking is sexual exploitation, and according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), $31.6 billion of the profits generated each year by forced labor are from trafficking victims.

(Image courtesy PriceofLifeNYC.org)

“Christians ought to be outraged,” says Adam Jeske of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

“These are people made in the image of God that deserve to be free, to be healthy.”

From October 1-12, InterVarsity is helping college kids fight human trafficking with the student-led Price of Life campaign.

The Price of Life Invitational in New York City connects students and interested passersby with the anti-human trafficking efforts of over 75 partnering groups.

InterVarsity chapters at 17 colleges in the city are taking part, too..

“The Price of Life is an incredible opportunity to invite people who are currently following Jesus to live that out,” says Jeske, “in a way that is very tangible and attractive to a watching world.”

At each event, students engage people in conversations about human trafficking through “proxe stations.” Eye-catching artwork at each “station” gets things started, and as students move past the “how” questions to the “why,” the Gospel takes the stage.

Ohio State students take place in a Price of Life event on campus.
(Photo courtesy York Moore via Flickr)

“There’s a whole bunch of Millennial students on campuses in New York City who know that human trafficking exists,” Jeske explains. “They know that it’s wrong, and they’re already organized against it, but they might not know why this is so important.

“We think it’s because they’re formed in the image of God, they know right and wrong, and Jesus is calling them into relationship with Him.”

Engaging fellow students in conversations about human trafficking opens the door for InterVarsity members to share the hope of Christ.

“It’s an opportunity for us to lead and say, ‘This is why it’s wrong.’ This is where we draw power in order to fight it,” Jeske states.

Want to learn more? Click here to find locations and get involved with the Price of Life campaign.

Pray for Price of Life students and staff. “They’re taking risks, they’re addressing their campuses, they’re planning events,” says Jeske.

Pray that friendships formed during Price of Life will lead to faith in Christ.

“The students are more equipped to reach their own campuses [through Price of Life],” Jeske says, “and then there’s just the ongoing relationships that come out of something like this.”