Adam’s April Newsletter

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One Good Semester

Graduating Seniors

Wow, I can’t believe chapter camp is starting in just over a week. This semester has flown by so fast. We have accomplished so much in this short time. Since February we have welcomed two new people into the kingdom of God! Jordan committed his life to Christ while attending our Spring Break Urban Plunge in Milwaukee. Brittany and another student were sharing with him how Christ has commissioned us to not only take ahold of salvation, but to share that with others. Jordan has been telling everybody “I’ve been without community my entire life, but I’ve found it at InterVarsity!” Roger grew up in the church, but never quite got the relationship with Jesus part. Several students invited him into our community, and he started reading the Bible. Over the course of the semester, Roger declared that he wants a true relationship with Jesus and has been growing like crazy ever since.

This semester we have also transitioned into next years leadership team. Continue reading →

Brittany’s April Newsletter

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“What does it mean to be lost?”

“What does it mean to be lost?” Watson eagerly asked.  His curiosity grew as the Oak small group studied Luke 15: lost sheep, coin, and Prodigal son.  I was so impressed with how the students responded to his many questions by sharing the Gospel.  Before Watson left he said, “This was the best Bible study I’ve been to.”

Community continues…

“They dedicated themselves to the apostles teaching, and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved,” Acts 2. Continue reading →

Adam’s February Newsletter

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Revival

Student Leaders committed to wearing crowns of beauty, and to rebuilding ancient ruins on campus

When I first moved to Bemidji more than a year and a half ago, people kept talking about this revival that was coming to Bemidji.  I was pumped.  Revival is when an entire culture is moved by the compassion and love of Christ Jesus.  As we heard about this upcoming Revival, we started to pray and intercede for revival to come, that the entire town would be set free from chains and bondage that has long kept it in prison.

And then, as we approached December, the conversation turned from “revival is coming” to “revival is starting.”  That means revival is starting on campus too!  And can I just say the last month have been one of the greatest on campus!

At our leadership meeting, I shared with students how its possible to hear God speak to us and spent the night walking them through different exercises.  Continue reading →

Terry’s December Newsletter

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Dear Partners, Thank You!

In John 4, Jesus enters into an unlikely conversation with an outcast Samaritan woman who has come to draw water from a well. He skillfully connects her immediate thirst for something that temporarily satisfies with the deeper truth of who he is – the only One who can quench all of our thirsts. By the end of the conversation, she has come to faith in him.

This fall during the first weeks of school, InterVarsity students set out to do the same thing – engage their peers in conversation and, when possible, share about Jesus’ offer to give us ‘living water’, the only kind that truly satisfies. We did this using a method developed by InterVarsity that has proven very successful across the country on college campuses; we call them ‘proxe stations’.

A proxe station is a guided experience used to clearly explain the gospel and help people respond accordingly. Continue reading →

Adam’s December Newsletter

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Merry Christmas

Wow, I can’t believe it’s Christmas time already. It’s my hope and prayer that your year has been full of blessings and that you would have many things to be thankful for this Christmas season.

I know I have a lot to be grateful for this Christmas. It feels like the semester just started, but so much has happened. This semester three girls have made commitments to follow Jesus for the first time! Our weekly large group meeting has been full of fellowship, good teaching, and worship. Many students have risen up to take on leadership roles. Two Bible studies with nonbelievers have taken place. There is a possibility to plant a chapter at the Northwest Technical College here in Bemidji. This list goes on and on. God is so good.

BSU IV Student Leaders

There have been many challenges too. Disagreements have caused conflict, small group Bible studies are struggling. Students have been reluctant to come together for cooperate prayer. Continue reading →

Adam’s October Newsletter

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It’s about Relationships

2 minutes.  That’s how long I would hang out and talk with Jane every time I saw her.

Jane is the Union’s Administrative Assistant and basically helps us out with everything – from reserving rooms and checking out keys to help with hanging posters and hooking us up with resources.

Every time I visited the Information Desk, I would spend time talking with Jane which built a relationship with her.  Towards the end of the summer, Jane started reading a book about spirituality, and then asked me to read it too, so we could discuss it.  While I was reading the book, I asked her if she would like to start a Bible study.  She said “Sure, but bring some students” – I said “OK!”

We have now completed five Bible studies.  I can’t begin to describe how awesome they have been!

Bible Study!

My favorite part of the first study was when I was about to ask if we should do another study – but Jane beat me to the punch and asked to do have a weekly study. Continue reading →

Brittany’s October Newsletter

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A season of growing!

“They will be called mighty oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” Isaiah 61:3-4 

Since the evening the Lord gave me the vision of Oak trees in Bemidji I have watched Him unfold his splendor.  We started the year with 4 small group leaders, went down to 3 in the first week, and now have 5 leaders and an additional 4 students who are interested in planting new small groups within the next year!  There are a couple more students interested in leading a GIG, an evangelistic Bible study. Continue reading →

Provision from God!

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Great is the Lord

Tears and giggles flowed out from me as I danced in my living room rejoicing over God’s provision.  In a weeks time God has provided above and beyond the need I had been requesting.  I am now at 74% which is a 16% jump from last week.  That is roughly $7,000!  PRAISE GOD!  Thank you for your prayers and support as I watched God make it known that He wants me on campus! As I set foot on campus for the first time yesterday I walked into a meeting of casting vision and dreaming big. $1,000 a month to raise till I’m at 100%. Continue reading →

Adam’s August Newsletter

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Just the Beginning

I was in disbelief – God moved and I can’t honestly say I was expecting Him to move that much. After our summer Bible study, six students and I met to go on a spiritual treasure hunt. We each spent time listening to God in prayer. As we came back together we began sharing images from our prayer time. One person shared about an image of Walmart, another red coolers, one of liters of pop, and two others of a women with short silky hair. We soon found ourselves talking to a women with short silky hair at Walmart in the pop isle with red coolers above. God built our faith that night as we followed His lead in prayer and then out on the mission field.

This is just the beginning. Continue reading →

Brittany’s August Newsletter

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A season of growing!

“Blessed are those…who meditate on his law day and night.  They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

As I sat out on my new front porch and soaked in Psalm 1 I was struck by the great image it presented for me.  I pictured a HUGE Oak tree with firm, sturdy branches, many leaves, and deep roots.  Then it hit me, “Oak, Maple, Pine, Tamarack, Cedar, Birch, Linden…those are the names of the dorms on campus.  I was then reminded that we hold a Bible study in almost every dorm.  I began to pray that the Lord would raise up strong Oaks that would be grounded in His word and bare fruit. Continue reading →