Campus Outreach New Year's Conference: Dec.28-Jan.1, Chattanooga, Tennesse, thousands of students from over 75 college campuses, one message - One Life.
Here are a few snapshots from our supported missionaries serving on the mission field locally at Davidson College, UNCC, and Elon University...
Heather Conarroe, Davidson College
Picture: a room of 5,000 college students from all across the nation lifting their voices in worship, before hearing daily from some of the most gifted speakers in the Christian community. Across the convention center, I see students with their Bibles open, taking copious notes in their journals.
The overarching message of the conference was that God wants us to come to him, not out of a sense of duty or obligation, but out of a deep joy, as one who has discovered a great treasure. As John Piper so eloquently put it, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Many students were struck personally by this message of the gospel, and were compelled to make new commitments to Christ and his kingdom. One of the Davidson freshmen shared that she had prayed to receive Christ for the first time while at the conference. She told us that she had felt God drawing her throughout the whole semester but that conference was the first time that “it really made sense.” Others shared a desire to grow closer to God, and to be used by Him in the lives of others. Nearly 600 students made commitments to enter into the foreign or stateside mission field their first two years after college. Stories like these are a powerful testimony that gospel is going forth on the college campus and beyond, and that lives are indeed being transformed!
"God, thank you for bringing me to this Conference and giving me the chance to accept your Gospel." - freshman Davidson student who professed faith in Christ for the first time
"For the first time, the millions of unreached people are more than just numbers to me. I want to be used to reach the nations, and I want to start now by praying." - two Davidson juniors, football players
Andrew Hathaway, UNC Charlotte
God performed quite a few miracles at the campus outreach national conference this year in Chattanooga Tennessee. Let me tell you about one in particular:
We had a student named Joe (name changed). I met Joe through a mutual friend and asked him what his religious beliefs were. A relationship began and we started to discuss Christ about once every two to three weeks together over lunch. Eventually we were able to convince him to attend conference with us where he came to Christ after the overwhelming quantity of information presented to him and evidence that the gospel was truly what he was missing in his life. Joe also happens to be the top ROTC recruit at UNCC and has 200 people at his command. The first week of school began and I marveled as he and another close friend brought 15 new ROTC students to hear the gospel with them at a packed out campus outreach weekly meeting. Now Joe is dying to share his faith. He is tearing through the scriptures and downloading sermons whenever he has free time.
We had 110 people come with us to New Years Conference this year. This is more than we have ever had come from UNCC. We are poised as a ministry on Charlotte's campus to continue growing and have increasing levels of influence. Soccer players, fraternity brothers, and freshmen students are texting me because they had friends who were on this conference who got rocked by the gospel, and they want to know how their lives can be changed too.
Thank you Lake Forest for the financial and prayerful support of our ministry. We are grateful to be partnering with you in the advance of God's kingdom on the college campus.
Artie VanSciver, Elon University
I do not think it is an understatement to say that as far as singular events go, this Campus Outreach National Conference may very well prove to be one of the most significant in which we will have ever participated. The Lord blessed this event beyond our anticipation, and I am absolutely certain that He heard and answered your prayers throughout. The Word was preached powerfully and the worship was incredibly uplifting. Evidences of God’s goodness and grace abounded. Here are just a few snapshots:
- Over 5100 students, staff and alumni gathered in Chattanooga, TN to worship God and to hear His Word proclaimed.
- Nearly 15 students from the Charlotte region made professions of faith, and it appears that among those are 2 from Elon's group. Hundreds more across other regions also professed faith in Jesus.
- Nearly 600 students formally declared a commitment to give their first 2 years out of college to Gospel ministry stateside or overseas.
- Several Elon students communicated a growing vision for the local church and a desire to be more deeply connected.
I pray that this news brings you great joy and encouragement in the Lord.
http://www.cocharlotte.org/
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