In 2005 all 800 students in the Governor’s residence hall at the University at Buffalo woke up on the Tuesday after Easter to find colored plastic Easter eggs outside their doors. Inside each egg was a piece of candy, a Scripture verse, and an invitation to an InterVarsity sponsored game night.
The students were surprised and excited by the treat. “They were trading candy and eggs with each other,” said Brian Tofflemire, the campus staff member.
The Easter egg blitz was initiated by an InterVarsity Bible study that met in the dorm on Monday evenings. “Each small group is encouraged to reach out,” Brian said. “This was probably one of the most creative.”
The blitz did not result in a flood of new students for the game night. Most of the new students who came already knew someone who was already a part of InterVarsity. But Brian called it a success because it raised the profile of InterVarsity on campus. Other outreach events have included giving away coffee and hot cocoa on cold winter mornings at the shuttle bus stops in front of the dorms.
The following year, Brian was encouraged by the health of the Buffalo student chapter. “They had talked a lot about evangelism for a couple years but it was mostly that, just talk,” he said. Then things started to happen. Soon there were two GIG’s going on. (GIG’s are Groups Investigating God, exploratory Bible studies with non-Christians.)
Brian credits more than innovative outreach events for the numerical growth. Chapter leaders also met weekly over the previous summer to pray for InterVarsity. That helped them start the academic year off with a much improved New Student Outreach. “God provided strong leaders in answer to prayer,” he said. “I’m excited, it’s been a fun year.
InterVarsity students celebrate Easter in a variety of ways that reflect their excitement about the holiday and the new life they experience through faith in Jesus Christ.
