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Students worshiping at Urbana 25

Love God, Love His People: Kaitlyn's Urbana Story

I stepped into my first large group session at Urbana 25, longing for my bed, after a 27-hour road trip from Wisconsin to Arizona. But that first night Jennie Allen told us to open our eyes. To ask ourselves what was holding us back from receiving what Jesus had for us. To listen. I realized that there were more important things than getting enough sleep that night. By the end of the week, I understood why the Lord had brought me to Urbana.
Students at Native IV conference smiling and holding food

Coming in a Good Way at Tribal Colleges

Coming in a good way means asking permission when arriving at a new space and being invited there by Creator God and the local community. It involves taking initiative to build relationships and connections with people you meet and thanking Creator God for witnessing his works. Eventually, it should lead to partnership.
Sam smiling and holding stuffed lamb toy named Gerald (the unofficial InterVarsity mascot).

Christ and Nothing Else: Sam’s Story

In November of her freshman year, Sam had a conversation with an InterVarsity student leader that she would vividly remember a whole year later. 

The leader told Sam that if he lost everything –– his family, his belongings, everything and everyone –– he would still be okay, because he has Jesus.

hand holding tea light

Cultivating Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love this Advent

It’s been a really hard year. Two of my grandparents have been in and out of the hospital all year, and my dog passed away at the age of six in July due to cancer. I’ve had to walk with students and friends through some really complicated circumstances. And to put the sarcastic cherry on top, I’ve had to wrestle with all the death and destruction I see in the world.

Blue sky full of clouds

Cloud-Like Dreams: Does God Care About Your Dreams?

From the get-go of human history, one of our shared universal experiences has been cloud-watching.

Clouds are one of the few things we have in common across time, geography, culture. We’ve always had an “up” to look towards, and in that up-space, the “sky,” we’ve always seen them: wisps and blankets that wander the expanse above us. 

man smiling reading a book

InterVarsity Alumnus Brian Chung Shows the World a Beautiful God

Growing up in Hawaii in a Buddhist household, Brian didn’t have any Christian background when he started college at the University of Southern California (USC). During his freshman year, InterVarsity students invited him to their first party of the semester, and even though they just played board games and got to know each other, Brian remembered it as the most fun he had at a college party.
stained glass church

Do I Need to Go to Church?

College can keep us in a bubble. Some colleges are their own small cities where nearly everyone is in the same life stage. But we still need to be a part of diverse communities that remind us that there is more to life than our current experiences.
man smiling

Discovering the Source of Love and Compassion – Nurlan's Story

In high school, Nurlan had a friend who was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Despite his thoughts about faith, he accepted his friend’s invitation to an FCA meeting after hearing there would be free pizza. For the first time, his curiosity was sparked.
group of students eating and laughing

Good Food Good Community

I often say, “Food is the love language of the Chinese people.” If you’ve ever been to a Chinese banquet, you know that we love good food and lots of it! We celebrate birthdays, weddings, memorials, and all special occasions with food. Good food is the way we share love and celebrate relationships. I’ve found this to be true in every culture I’ve experienced.

Roy & Mac smiling in professional photo

From the Middle of Nowhere to Everywhere: Mac and Roy’s Stories

Both Mac and Roy landed at the humble University of South Dakota with big dreams. While Mac was a new Christian exploring living for Jesus for the first time, and Roy was a church-raised evangelist hoping to be a pastor, neither ended up where they expected.
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