Natalie, a freshmen, stopped by one of InterVarsity’s information tables on campus to talk to an InterVarsity student she knew. Natalie wasn’t interested in Christianity, but InterVarsity leaders invited her to the freshman Bible study anyway. “I’m interested but don’t know if I can come because I’m not “hard-core” about Christianity. I’ve had a hard year and kind of turned away from the Lord,” Natalie said. InterVarsity leaders told her that whether she was strongly committed to Christ or studying the Bible for the first time, she would be welcomed at the Bible study.
“I’ll think about coming. I have a friend who might be interested,” Natalie replied. The next night Natalie came to Bible study with her friend Diane, and they returned the following week.
Seiko came to InterVarsity’s Large Group meeting with a friend she had met in Japanese class. After that meeting, InterVarsity students continually invited Seiko to outreach events, but she seemed shy, reserved, and politely turned down their invitations. Later, the InterVarsity student in her class learned it was because Seiko was raised Shinto, an ancient Japanese religion, and didn’t know much about Christianity. Seiko felt embarrassed about coming to InterVarsity’s events with her limited knowledge about Christ. InterVarsity members assured her that it was alright for her to attend and Seiko continues to attend InterVarsity’s weekly meetings and went to her first Small Group last week.
Natalie and Seiko are just two of the many new students getting involved with the Fellowship. Through the friendship InterVarsity students are showing, the chapter has doubled. Last year there were 10 members, and this year about 25 students are attending the weekly meetings. “We haven’t just grown in the number of people hanging around,” said one of the sophomore Small Group leaders, “we’ve grown in the number of people who want to lead and fully participate.”
