The InterVarsity chapter at Drake University, a small liberal arts institution in Des Moines, Iowa, has grown in the last three years from fifteen to seventy-five students. Growth has occurred not only in the number of students involved, but also in the depth of their spiritual understanding and practice. They have learned how to live out their Christian faith on campus.
During the large group meetings this past semester, the InterVarsity chapter has been exploring the extravagant kingdom of God. As the students looked at the great love, forgiveness, and beauty that God had given them, they began thinking of how they could share that extravagance with others on campus.
The idea was proposed to give care packages to their professors. The chapter gathered one evening to put together packets that included specialty tea bags, sticks of gum, and notes thanking the professors for sharing their knowledge with the students and being available to them.
The next day the students deliver the packets to their professors. The response of the faculty members was more than the students had anticipated. One professor told the students, “You don’t know how much I needed this today.” An InterVarsity chapter leader gave a packet to his business professor anonymously. The next day the professor stood in front of the class and with obvious emotion, thanked the person who had given him the gift.
Later in the semester, the students held a twenty-four hour prayer vigil. They taped the names of faculty members on the wall, so that students could pray for them throughout the prayer time.
InterVarsity is a student led ministry that desires to present the gospel to all of the university. At Drake, the students took that desire seriously, sharing God’s love with their professors.
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You can make a direct financial donation to support InterVarsity’s work at Drake University by following this link.
