Tom Lin

I just returned from a full weekend of speaking at InterVarsity’s SE Region’s Asian American Student Conference, with about 130 students from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Although I’ve been cutting my speaking engagements, I said “yes” to this particular conference because of the opportunity to see Asian American ministry in this region move forward. After flying in and out, delivering talks, seminars, and having late night conversations with students, I was exhausted. It was also costly for Nancy, who encouraged me to do it, but spent another weekend alone taking care of the kids…

BUT seeing conversions and lives transformed makes it all worth it! I had the opportunity to share the gospel up front and lead 2 students to Christ. By Sunday morning, at least 3 students had become Christians and their Christian friends were transformed as well by the experience of witnessing it. I called Nancy to share this joy and share how the sacrifices she was making was transforming lives.

October was not only a full month of travel and ministry for me, but also for many of my staff in the Central Region. I’m always concerned for my staff who make significant sacrifices on a daily basis and are exhausted. But seeing lives transformed makes it all worth it for them… and we saw many lives transformed in October!

The IV Chapter at Drake University celebrated 2 conversions during an Oct. 24th meeting advertised across campus as “I’m Dirty.” All day long in the student union, the InterVarsity students put on an interactive display which read: “Myth: Christians are clean“, “Reality: Jesus came for the dirty“, and “Here’s our dirt. What’s yours?” It was a creative way to engage postmodern Drake students. At the end of the evening, Autumn was one of 2 students who decided to follow Jesus for the first time. Staffworkers Amy Schoepf and Steph Schmaltz report:

“Autumn has been skeptical of Christianity for a long time, but that began to change 5 weeks ago when she saw one of the signs advertising InterVarsity hanging in the student union. The sign reading ‘Christian=Hypocrite?’ was a surprise to her… Each week, Autumn came back asking more questions ever more curious about Jesus… On Oct. 24th, after a long conversation with her IV friend at the meeting, Autumn prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior and committed her life to following Him!”

This is just one story of lives transformed in our region. This year, we have set an aggressive regional goal of IV students making 280 “asks” or gospel invitations to non-Christian friends. We are praying to see 70 conversions – 70 students whose lives are transformed by making 1st time decisions to follow Jesus.

Please pray for us to see more and more lives transformed on the campuses. It makes it all worthwhile for our staff who are giving their lives to ministry on the campus!