Our gift to you: Urbana 06

If we were to see a young woman walking down the street, a backpack slung over her shoulder, a cell phone flipped open, and an iPod hooked into her ears, we would immediately assume she’s a college student. But for all our assumptions, that woman could just as easily have been a graduate of the class of 2006.

In 1896, one hundred and ten years ago, C.T. Studd, a missionary to China, spoke to students at Bucknell University. He encouraged them to serve as missionaries wherever God might call them. Since then, generations of Bucknell alumni have continued their passionate witness of the gospel.

ON PURPOSE is the focus of Greek InterVarsity's lineup of student conferences for the 2006-2007 school year. Greek InterVarsity, a ministry to fraternity and sorority students, will hold two conferences during the 2006-2007 school year: February 2-4, 2007 in Indianapolis, IN and February 16-18, 2007 in Charlotte, NC.

In June of 2006, Yumi arrived at Portland State University from Japan to continue her nursing education. Shortly after arriving, she found FOCUS, an international ministry co-sponsored by InterVarsity. She started going to an international Bible study, and by the end of the semester she had become a Christian. But this was not the first time this woman from Japan had heard the gospel. God had been seeking her for years.

The St. Louis community is invited to attend the Urbana 06 Community Night on Saturday evening, December 30, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Edwards Jones Dome. The focus of Urbana 06 is on the theme Live a Life Worthy of the Calling. This program will feature Rick Warren and Lisa Espineli Chinn who will speak about embodying God's call. Anyone in the St. Louis area is invited to attend this evening of worship that will include the Urbana Unity Choir, made up of musicians and singers from across the community. The Urbana 06 Community Night is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken for missions projects around the world. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Edward Jones dome worship service

On Friday, December 8, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents adopted a policy change that directly impacts student organizations such as InterVarsity. We are thankful that the regents recognized a change was necessary.

The marketplace-faith movement offers a challenge to Christians in many cultures where calling or vocation is the privilege of only a few super-saints among us who are employed by religious institutions.

With every earthquake and war, understanding the nature of evil and our response to it becomes more urgent.