Tom Lin

As college classes get underway, InterVarsity’s outreach to new students kicks into high gear.  There’s lots of praises to share from last week’s ministry, including from our new IV plant at U of Iowa (photo above).  Let me give you a taste from my Iowa Area Director, Jon Hietbrink, who writes:

“As many of you know, we are planting a new chapter at the University of Iowa, and the stories coming out so far have been unbelievable. In the first week…

1. Our staff have networked with several “power players” in different groups on campus and have either been invited into relationship or are exploring leading bible studies for the African-American Greek Union, the Black Student Union, and the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) cultural center on campus. Unbelievable!
2. Already, the staff have connected with a handful of multiethnic and mission-minded students who want to be a part of owning the chapter at Iowa, praise God! This is in addition to the hundreds of others who are interested, but who haven’t signed on just yet…

At Drake University, we are also off to a great start. The chapter has connected with almost 100 new students who are interested in joining the community’s mission, and our chapter plant at DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) is officially underway!

Our chapter at the University of Northern Iowa has a blossoming ministry among ethnic minorities–there were about a dozen new Latino students at their first large group, and their multi-ethnic leadership team already making inroads among the black student population on campus!

Coe College decided to try a new outreach to international students by hosting a “Target run” for students who needed to stock their dorm rooms…to their shock, 25 international students showed up! They were literally calling in friends with cars to handle all the students!

Our chapters at William Penn University, Grinnell College, and Drake University International (chapter focused on international students) will have their first major gatherings this week, so they are hard at work connecting with new students and inviting them into their communities…more stories to come on these chapters later!

At Central College, we’ve been blessed to connect with almost 150 new students who are interested in joining our ministry. One of them “Will” was talking with one of our staff at our first worship service. Their interaction went something like this…
*IV Staff- “So, what’s your name? Where are you from?”
*Will- “I’m not religious.”
*IV Staff- “That’s totally fine, no problem.”
*Will- “I’m really curious about Christianity though, I’d like to learn more about it.”

It’s for students like Will and hundreds of others across the campuses of Iowa that we labor. Join us in thanking God for his faithfulness to us, and continuing to ask him for divine appointments with both mission-minded and seeking students over these next days!”