A FCA/CRU Slam Dunk

Last night at Wayne State, FCA and Crusade rallied together to put on a Dunk and 3 Point Contest. They invited the campus, and invited FCA State Director Ron Brown to speak. God moved last night in powerful ways in the lives of students----the power of the gospel to change lives! I'm excited, blessed, and pumped to hear what happend last night from Chris Hruska, the student president of Crusade at WSC. (below) -Craig Johring

Today I praise God fully, with out hesitation. With something more than a lip service but today I in Awe of Gods powerful call on peoples hearts. Last night at WSC Ron Brown spoke after FCA/CRU sponsored a Dunk & 3 Point Contest. As Ron spoke about the eternal truths facing us and the life with or with out Jesus peoples hearts responded and twenty college students said "Yes" to Jesus for the First time. Lacey, a girl on campus who was know for winning "Wet T-Shirt" contests at local bars was the first to get up out of the stands and approach Ron. As she Knelt down on one knee and began to cry others were moved by Gods leading. People's testimony's include, just running from Christ, Hiding from his loving hands and believing lies that dictated and enslaved their lives. Praise God today!! For the Power of Christ to redeem the worst of sinners including both you and me.

The story goes on... After Ron gave an invitation for first timers, he invited people who had already committed their lives to Christ, but for some reason had turned their backs on Christ, to rededicate their lives. Over 150 students crowded around Ron to pray and once again meet with their Lord and Savior. Praise God for the Fruit he produces and the Harvest that is at Hand. -Chris Hruska

18,840 Volunteer Hours

I get excited everytime a hear stories of lives that were impacted through Hurricane Katrina relief trips. I'd love every single story of how God worked, and how the experience is impacting lives back on campus. In the meantime, there's some incredible stats:

- 471 Catalytic students, staff, and parents went on Nebraska Campus Crusade for Christ Hurricane Katrina relief trips in September, October, and March.
- At least 10-15% of the students who went on the Spring Break trips in most of the groups were not yet Christians.
- The 471 who went gave 18,840 volunteer service hours in the Gulf Coast.

That rocks.

-Craig Johring

Katrina Spring Break Relief Trips

I'm amazed, blessed, and pumped to see students from our 28 campuses in Nebraska going to the Gulf Coast over Spring Break. During the past three weeks 322 Nebraska Crusade students have spent their Spring Break on relief trips to the Gulf Coast.

This week 44 students from Dana College are in Slidell, LA along with groups from Doane College and Hastings College. This past week over 70 Crusade students from UN-Omaha spent the week in Slidell along with groups from Nebraska Wesleyan, and Kearney. You can read the list of teams who went from Nebraska the NebraskaRelief.com website.

This past fall after Hurricane Katrina hit we sent 170 students to the Gulf Coast on 7 separate trips. This winter Omaha Metro staff member Tyler Zach built the www.NebraskaRelief.com website and recruited leaders for the Spring Break trips.

-Craig Johring

Southeast Community College - Milford Trap Shoot Outreach

On this blog you constantly hear talk of "multiple movements" and "missional communities." What exactly is that all about?

We desire for every college student in Nebraska to have the opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus through being involved in a student group on thier campus. To see this happen we need movements or missional communities on every campus that are a cool place for the students on that campus to get involved and sort out what it means to follow Jesus.

Every campus in Nebraska is unique, so the every Cru and missional community on each campus will have different ways of connecting and reaching out to other students. A great example is the outreach held this past week at Southeast Community College in Milford. The Campus Crusade advisor and students at Milford put together a Trap Shooting competition. They invited friends from their classes and thirty students spent the evening having an great time together shooting guns and later connecting around a fire. What an awesome outreach to reach students at Milford.

-Craig Johring

What Deters Volunteers?

Why do some people come back day after day to serve, while others try it once and never return? According to Dr. Don Simmons, “We don’t have a recruitment issue with volunteers; we have a retention issue.” Simmons gives his Top 10 reasons volunteers quit or fail to perform their services:

1. A sense that their service is not valuable.
2. A sense that they do not matter as a person, only as a “worker.”
3. A sense that their contribution is not as valid as others.
4. A lack of community.
5. A lack of connection with a bigger purpose.
6. Poor leadership and management.
7. Poor communication/direction.
8. Lack of appreciation.
9. Failure to recognize them as a donor.
10. Lack of development of them as a person.

This is taken from Jay Lorenzen's 'On Movements' blog. Jay always has really great nuggets like this- you can access his blog by clicking on his link under the "blogs we're reading" column to the right.

the SLAM!

Hey Ethan... I just wanted to drop you a line about what is going on at Wayne.

Recentely our Fellowship of Christian Athletes group teamed up with our Campus Crusade ministry to present an event we are calling The Slam! Basically, next Monday night we will be having a 3-point contest, a slam dunk contest (judged by a few coaches and some students) massive prizes for the winners, door prizes for everyone and following the activities Ron Brown will be speaking... We are all really excited about the event.

This entire week we are wearing t-shirts that say "Ready for the Slam?" and wearing buttons asking the same question. Obviously, this has gotten people's attention so we hope that our publicity efforts will be seen in our attendance. We are hoping for amazing opportunities as Ron will present the gospel and have an alter call... keep us in your prayers! We'll let you know how it turns out!

And honestly, Ethan, I have to admit that the greatest part of this experience has been the excitement everyone has to see it happen when FCA and Cru leaders to combine... and when that happens, the servitude of Christ is present! Such a simple event has made people ask questions, get involved, and brought our leaders together. Finally we can share what God is doing on our campus!

in HIM,
Halie Hughes

Doane Men's retreat

This weekend I got to be part of the Doane men's retreat just outside of Milford. It was awesome! FCA president Robbie spoke on leading/obeying God, Alum Jordan delivered the goods on sexual purity, CCC leader Wes talked about brotherhood, and I explained the gospel. Robbie and Wes planned and led all the activities for the weekend and did such a good job...

The first night we broke into two teams (designated by the colored bandanas) and then had different games throughout the weekend- low ropes course, capture the flag, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee. The winner of each game obtained the travelling trophy, which was a sweet lawn gnome, and the cumulative winner was crowned the weekend's champion.

It was awesome to see all of the Doane guys coming together as the body of Christ and making comitments to God and one another; comitments that will change the eternal desitination of souls at Doane. I can't wait to hear the stories of these comitments coming to fruition back on campus.

Here's the link for pictures: www.2overflow.com/Doane

-Ethan Wiekamp

Ignite

Adrienne, Terah and I just got back from Hastings College yesterday. I got to hang out with Tim and Ryan to talk about giving every student at HC the opportunity to say 'yes' to Jesus. It's really awesome to see these men of faith step up and really follow God as they minister to their campus. It was a good night for these men: Tim was the high-point man for their intramural basketball team (dominating win), Ryan delivered the message at Ignite, and they both led the biggest Ignite meeting of the year.

About 10% of the campus was in one room hearing about what it looked like to have a personal relationship with God. What is really exciting, however, is that the leadership team is asking the right questions, and they're not content. Tim and the rest of the leaders are still on their knees in prayer asking God for a clear strategy to reach those students who are currently unreached.

Dan and his sister, Hannah, were also at the meeting. Dan is the student president at Hastings community college and is one of the best community college leaders that I've been around- he's humble and at the same time he's very bold. Just last night Dan was in conversation with a non-Christian who had all sorts of intellectual arguments in opposition to Christianity... Dan is going to Alaska this summer with Craig.

-Ethan