InterVarsity’s mission field is the college campus. This past semester regional evangelist Mark Slaughter helped lead campus missions on three Wisconsin campuses.
At University of Wisconsin-River Falls, our theme was Is There Hope? We focused on hope in the midst of the brokenness of 1) failed love in relationships, 2) addictions, and 3) social injustice. Three Interactive Zones—kiosks with arresting visuals—were created to illustrate the three areas of brokenness and initiate spiritual conversations. Out of these conversations, 40 students wanted follow-up.
We also held eight Outreach Cafes over three nights for smaller discussions (in dorms, for Greeks, and internationals). Over 30 non-Christians attended. At the Harvest Event near the end of the week, ten students made responses to follow Christ (either as first-time believers or recommitting Christians), and at least four GIGs (Groups Investigating God—Bible studies) were started.
God was definitely working on this campus. Afterwards, Andy, who placed his hope in Christ for the first time, said, “I kept thinking that I wanted this guy to stop talking, because he keeps hitting home in my life.”
At Marquette, a Jesuit Roman Catholic university in Milwaukee, we highlighted Lent as a season to reaffirm your baptism vows and examine your Christian faith. Our theme was Got Purpose? with advertising patterned after the Got Milk? commercials. I did a Question Mark open Q/A on spiritual questions which was edited for broadcast on Marquette’s television station. We saw three first-time commitments to Christ, and ten recommitments.
At University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, our theme was Breaking Free. The week was similar to River Falls with outdoor kiosks depicting addictions, lies about body image, apathy toward God, and contrasting Jesus with religion. The week was co-sponsored by InterVarsity and Campus Crusade, and I brought an Indianapolis-based Crusade band, Chasing Elvis, in for two of the days. They played at a coffeehouse, and at the harvest event where their music and my talk were interwoven on the Breaking Free theme. At the Harvest Event, we saw seven first-time commitments, plus ten recommitments.
Bridget had been part of the Whitewater InterVarsity chapter for most of the year. She regularly attended a small group Bible study and had a great circle of Christian friends, and yet she still lacked one thing. Born with Spinabifida, Bridget struggled with trusting God. If God would allow an innocent child to be born with such a crippling disease, could she really trust Him?
At the Question Mark outreach event, Bridget indicated that she wanted to begin a relationship with Jesus. After meeting with Josh Bilhorn, an InterVarsity staff leader who answered her questions, she wanted more time to think. The following day, Bridget met with Josh again and decided to break free from her fear and truly trust God with the rest of her life. Bridget’s story illustrates the mission of InterVarsity. Hers is the story of God awakening the realization of the need for Christ, through many people reaching out to her in His love.
I am devoting myself full time as a Regional Evangelist to helping chapters with harvest events and multi-day campus missions. These missions synergize many InterVarsity initiatives, including conversions, launching GIGs, mobilizing Christians in prayer and outreach, raising social justice awareness, and building chapter vision and unity as witnessing communities. In my 17 years on staff as an evangelist this has been, by God’s grace, the most fruitful year.
