About 10 days ago my office team hosted a group of 8 college students interested in learning about Cru Operations. They came from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa for an office job shadow where they could learn more about how Operations fuels ministry that happens on campus. We hung out on Sunday night at a local restaurant for an informal "get-to-know you" time, while Monday was spent at the office learning more at the strategic way Operations serves staff and students. The job shadow students got to meet each team member and join with us in a typical weekly staff meeting. Then we took them out to our favorite lunch spots, followed by a brief skyway tour downtown. After lunch, we put them to work! Students were able to do some hands on work like graphic design, brainstorming social media campaign ideas, budgeting, and general operational activities like organizing contact cards from our winter conference. As I shared my vision for ministry with these students, and how I've seen God use me as I use my talents and gifts, I became more excited about how I am able to invest my time and resources in such a significant way. It is a joy to spend time planning more strategic ways we can do ministry, and carrying out those plans, to allow more access to the gospel both here in the Upper Midwest and around the world.
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Hands raised. Flags waving. Bass beating. Lights flashing. The first time you step foot in a ballroom of 1200 college students with blaring music and yelling students, you feel a little overwhelmed. But soon enough you get used to it and actually enjoy the chaos- because all of these things means it's time for TCX! Twin Cities Xperience is Cru's annual winter conference. Our overall mission in Cru is to win, build and send students, and each of those 3 things happen in key ways at the conference: WIN Most of the attendees are students involved in our Cru ministries on campuses around the Upper Midwest region. But some are not involved, and are not yet believers. Main session speakers present the gospel in multiple ways, and students have a chance to make a commitment to following Christ. I have multiple friends who placed their faith in Christ for the first time at the conference. It's incredible for a non-believer to see so many college students passionate about Jesus and desiring to grow in their faith, and that no doubt plays a part in students deciding to follow Christ. BUILD TCX is a pivotal event in terms of building students up in their faith. Over the last few years we've streamlined this process of "building" -- there are breakout sessions one two days; day 1, students learn all about their identity in Christ and what is true of them as a believer; on day 2, students are able to choose from a variety of seminars involved growing in their faith, for example: the heart of a leader, the reliability of the bible, engaging ethnicity, and hope and healing. Along with breakout sessions, we have 7 main sessions throughout the conference. This year, these sessions include messages about building authentic relationships, having an impact on others in life after college, and race and ethnicity. SEND Throughout the conference, students have a chance to learn more about our opportunities to serve in the US and abroad. One way we showcase our various options is to have a "Go Zone" -- an area of the hotel where students can peruse tables with information about our partnerships. Included in the "Go Zone" is a HUGE map of the world where students can mark where they are going in the future. One component of "send" involves sending students on summer mission trips, or to internships with Cru after graduation. But another component involves sending students well to their professions after college, whatever they may be. It's our hope that by training students while in college and sending them out upon graduation, we will raise up a mighty labor force that can reach people with the gospel in schools, hospitals, law offices, communities, etc. Check out the photos below that feature our speakers, worship in the main sessions, Go Zone, and worship team (made up mostly of college students involved in Cru!) Photo credits go to Jenny Vang and Jim Trewin, Cru staff who have incredible photography skills that they use in ministry. |
Amy WellnerEncouraging others to intentionally live out their God-given identity. Archives
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