The Fall semester is here! This time of year finds college campuses filled with young people looking to launch their lives in different careers, find themselves, and make their mark on the world. But it can also be a place of incredible loneliness and desperation to discover ‘the good life’. While many missionaries are sent to foreign lands, the college campus is arguably the most strategic yet neglected mission field among us. God desires to raise up a mighty movement of young people that will transform the world for Christ. Young people desire to see the character of Christ and who He is. Many have never had a true personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
On these university campuses, Public Campus Ministry aims to create a space for students who seek a community, have questions about God, and want to make a difference, so that they can be His hands and feet, learning to engage in conversation and dialogue that is relevant to the needs of the community around them. It has been incredible to see how God has been working, raising young people that are on fire for God and excited to share their faith with their fellow students. We aim to create a space for discipleship where students who come to the ministry are trained in leadership skills that equip and help them share their faith and be leaders in today’s culture. As a result, we have seen many students come to Christ, choosing to give their lives through baptism. We believe that just like in the book of Acts where there were many giving their lives to Christ through revival, God can and is doing the same today!
At the beginning of the fall semester this year, we saw God move on the hearts of students during freshman welcome week across Wisconsin. In addition, we have missionary support that has helped to re-start two new chapters at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. During the welcome week, many students attended the various activities we held in these campuses, such as the smores campfire, game night, and small group Bible Studies. At UW-Stevens Point, students were invited and showed up to our annual Late Night Pancake cookout, Boba Tea and Yard Games, GLOW in the dark frisbee, and other interactive activities.
As a missionary and leader on campus, there are times where it can be overwhelming and sometimes discouraging. One can’t possibly talk to the hundreds of students that come through! However, change and transformation can happen in quiet moments when not many people are watching. While at the weekly outdoor fellowship and Bible study at the UW-Stevens Point campus this September, a student named Will walked by. We had met him at one of our welcome week events, and when we waved at him, he came and sat next to us. During the discussion, he started sharing how he had been looking for a community like what we have. We ended up sharing and asking him if he knew who Jesus was, and what He had done for him. He said no, so I explained to Him what the Gospel means. In the end, Will decided to pray to receive Christ into his heart. Earlier that week, a student with an atheist background was exploring Christianity and came to receive Christ. Later that week, some of the football guys got together to start their Bible study, with some new students attending. There seems to be a genuine and sincere thirst for the Word of God on campus. It is when we choose to have faith and cooperate with God as to where He wants us, that we see that the harvest is indeed plentiful. Will we cooperate with God as His laborers?
We want to thank you for your prayers, as we have seen God’s hand in specific answers to prayer such as finding missionaries for the various campuses, as well as raising up new student leaders, students accepting Christ, and a hunger and thirst for the word amongst some of the athletic teams. Please continue to pray and support this vital ministry that is changing our culture one life at a time.
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