Praising God for Cru’s Student Winter Conferences

Cru hosted Winter Conferences at twelve locations across the country from late December through mid-February. 7000+ college students attended.

Winter Conferences

We’ve heard encouraging stories of how God worked powerfully in the students’ hearts through these events. One of our Cru staff spotted a group of students praying in a circle with their arms around each other. Once they finished, they began introducing themselves. Remarkably, they were strangers until that moment.

Shawn from St. Louis

Shawn grew up going to church occasionally, but faith never felt personal or transformative to him. As a freshman at Harris-Stowe State University, he was invited to a Cru Bible study. It wasn’t something he normally would have attended, but he said yes.

After that first Bible study, Shawn planned to slip out quietly. Instead, two student leaders stopped to talk with him. They invited him to come back next week. Once again, he couldn’t say no.

“Almost two years later, I’m still going,” Shawn explained.

During those two years, Shawn attended Fall Getaway, New Orleans Spring Break, and Winter Conference. At a recent Winter Conference, something shifted deeply in his walk with Christ. Shawn began reading Scripture on his own—every day.

Cru’s Event Registration Tool

Mike is encouraged by stories like these because of the years he’s spent working with Cru’s Event Registration Tool (ERT). This software tool, developed by Cru, allows students to register for each event, make payments, and request scholarships. The conference administration staff uses the information collected by the tool to manage many aspects of the conference. In addition, the ERT tool sends data to our “Connections” tool, where our field staff can form a more complete picture of their students and all the Cru activities they have been involved in. This allows campus staff to plan and challenge students to take “the next step” in their journey with Christ.

When systems work well, students like Shawn can say “yes” to opportunities that change their lives, and our field staff can focus on people rather than logistics.

Thank you for praying for the thousands of university students who attended winter conferences. Please pray for them to 1) walk more deeply with Jesus, 2) be motivated and mobilized to reach their campuses this spring, and 3) go on student mission trips this summer.

Without your financial investment and prayers, we would not be able to come alongside Cru missionaries to help make a difference in the lives of people like Shawn. Many ministry partners like you are discovering simple, tax-wise ways to maximize their impact. Read more on Cru’s Give site to explore how (go to give.cru.org/more-ways-to-give.html).

We’re so grateful for your partnership in ministry. You are a great encouragement to us!

In Christ’s service,

Mike and Sus Schmitt

NOTES:

• Read more about Cru’s main student conferences: Fall Getaway, Winter Conference, and Big Break (spring).
• Give securely to our ministry at give.cru.org/0124650.