Would you like to know God personally?

Hello friends,

We have all answered yes to this question: "Would you like to know God personally?" We’ve said yes to His offer of salvation and Jesus call to "follow me". As a result we have a relationship with God that can have make a difference in every area of our lives.

We also know that there are hundreds and thousands of students on our campuses who don’t know Jesus. However, many of them do desire to know Him. How confident are you in knowing how to share your faith with someone who answers yes to this question? Could you explain the gospel to someone and bring him or her to a point of decision? What about others in your ministry?

In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter writes: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

We encourage you to be ready, (willing and looking for opportunities!) to share your faith and that you would help equip others on your campus. One tool that we use to share our faith is a booklet called “Would you like to know God personally?” It is a brief 4-point outline of the gospel with scripture for each point. There are diagrams; questions to ask and a suggested prayer someone may use to express faith in Christ and receive Him as Lord. Chances are you have some of these at your campus. If you would like some, please let us know and we would be happy to send you some.

I have included some helpful tips below that will aid you in sharing your faith and using the Knowing God Personally or other similar booklets. We hope you find them useful.


Sharing Your Faith With Others

Tips on designing your testimony:
(for a worksheet go to http://www.godsquad.com/evangelism/topics/testimony.htm )
1) Keep it short (3-5 minutes)
2) Know it well (write it out and practice it)
3) Avoid Christian lingo (“then I got saved”, “went forward”, “prayed the prayer”)
4) Present the gospel in it (I realized that God loves me, that I had sinned against Him, but Jesus died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin and by trusting in Him to pay that penalty I’m forgiven, able to go to heaven and have a relationship with Him…)
5) If you came to Christ as a child, you can share the gospel and talk about how God has made a difference in your life (How he satisfied your needs so you never drifted from God) or how your life is different now that you’ve given Him complete control etc.
6) Pick a theme and weave your story around that. “I used to struggle with trying to please everyone”, “I wanted to be liked and popular”, “I never felt good enough” etc.

Ideas about sharing your faith

1) Communicate love and care, don’t argue or get upset with them (better for the person to sense the love of Christ than for us to win an argument) “… But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Pet. 3:15
2) You are inviting people to take the next step in a process or journey of faith in Jesus. Decisions are great if people are ready, but we need to be good listeners & patient.
3) Ask questions and listen for the answers
4) Be aware that the person you are sharing with may have past hurts or struggles that prevent them from trusting God, be sensitive
5) If you don’t know an answer to someone’s question simply say “I don’t know, but I’ll check into that and get back to you.” And then do!
6) Go in the power of the Holy Spirit
7) It is God who calls people to Himself, we are simply His vessels “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (1 Cor. 3:6)

Benefits of using a booklet like “Knowing God Personally”

1) A leaving piece, something they can take with them
2) It helps you to focus on the person and not yourself as you try to think of what to say next
3) Aids you in staying on track, not getting off on tangents
4) Leads people through the gospel and up to a point of decision
5) The person you are sharing with knows you are not done, until the booklet is finished
6) It helps you to learn how to communicate the gospel, even if you don’t have the booklet with you. Memorize the 4 main points and 1 scripture reference for each, and you will be much more equipped to share your faith.


Pointers on using “Knowing God Personally”

1) Try to stick to the booklet and not add lots of other content
2) Hold the booklet so you both can see it
3) If someone asks a question unrelated to the page you are on, ask them if you can address that afterwards
4) Ask the questions that are printed in the booklet, listen to what they have to say
5) Ask them “does this make sense” often
6) Bring those who respond positively through, the prayer, it is so exciting to have the privilege of helping someone express their new faith in Christ.
7) When you bring someone to the prayer, ask them if they want to follow along with you out loud or quietly to themselves. Ask them to say amen at the end so you know when they are done. If they want to pray on their own later that is ok.

Want a way to beat the winter blues?

Hello,

Its sunny and cold outside, with snow in the forecast. I happen to like winter (I know I'm unusual in that regard) but I also like to think about the summer. Not because of the heat but because of the many wonderful opportunities students have each summer. This is such a unique time in your life, most students actually get 3 months each year that they can ask themselves, what do I want to do? This is most likely going to end when you graduate, unless you get a very unusual and exciting job (like being on staff with Campus Crusade)!

Campus Crusade for Christ has some fantastic opportunities for you. You can spend your summer growing in your walk with the Lord, learning ministry skills that will not only help you on campus but equip you for your future, have opportunities to share your faith with others and hang out with and meet Christians from all over the country! Most stateside projects are set up to have you working 35-40 hours a week in the community, so you can still earn money for school!

The Northeast has partnerships with US summer missions projects at places like New York City, Wildwood, Yellowstone and Acadia summer projects. Internationally we partner with Uganda Hope, South Africa (Praetoria), East Asia (Northeast 1) and Italy: Milan. Go to http://www.gosummerproject.com/ to learn more about summer missions and to begin an application.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Please pray about it, ask some questions from me (john.mitchell@uscm.org) or another student or campus crusade staff person who has participated in a summer project, and apply! For many of you, Summer projects are a great opportunity to make the most of this summer. You won't regret it!

Jesus loves you! Jesus loves me!

Dear friends,

Happy Valentines Day! This week we get to celebrate Love. As believers, we also get the experience and privilege of celebrating Jesus love for us! Many people may fail us but nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. It is amazing to think about his love and the significance of that love for us.

Sometimes we may be hard on ourselves. For example, I often feel overwhelmed with things to do and my failure to accomplish what I desire and plan to do. I have difficulty measuring up to my expectations for myself, never mind even beginning to measure up to the perfect standard of God's holiness. Thankfully God demonstrates his love through Christ. Christ died in our place and even made us holy! Hebrews 10:10 "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

God often reminds us of His great love. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us who are weary and heavily burdened to come to Him and He'll give us rest for our souls. In John 1:12 we learn "to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." There are many other passages and verses where God tells us of his love. Please take some time to read and study some this week. Here are a few references that you may want to look at where the scriptures talk about God's love for us:

Romans 8:31-39, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 5:6-11, 1 John 3:1-2 & 4:9-11

We need to continually remind ourselves that God loves us as His precious children. Its not because of anything we've done but because of His great compassion, the great love that we see in Jesus as we read the gospels and experience a relationship with Him now.

Please take time this week to think about His love for you. I know that I would like to take some time to think about His love for me.

Hope you have a great Valentine's Day

Are You Catching Spring Fever?

Hello,

We're not sure what the weather is like where you are, but it is about 32 degrees and snowing here in Cranston RI this morning - a little cold, with more cold weather over the next several days! With weather like this, the longing for spring begins...

• Are you looking to escape the cold?
• Desiring to take a road trip with some of your friends?
• Want to have a destination with an eternal purpose?
• Want to learn more about God and have lots of opportunities to share Christ with others?

Check out: http://big-break.com/ ! Big Break is Campus Crusade for Christ's annual spring break conference in Panama City Beach, Florida. Lots of our campuses have gone in the past and have had a great time. Fun on the beach, amazing teaching and worship, training on how to share your faith and lots of opportunities to talk to others about Christ!

or if you would like to help reach students in another warm spot check out: http://mexicofocus.blogspot.com/2006/12/spring-break-2007.html This will help you learn more about investing your springbreak to help reach Mexican students in Mexico City, or how to participate in Big Break Acapulco!

If you would just like to help make a difference with the love of Christ by reaching out in the inner city then check out (You may not escape the cold! but you will have the privilege of serving others with the love and message of Christ): Here’s Life Inner City http://www.seizeit.org/

We find that students who participate in Spring Break missions opportunities not only have a great time but the fellowship and community within the ministry grows a great deal AND their heart for the lost increases as well as evangelism back on campus.

So check out these opportunities and consider what God may have for you this March.

Spring Break Opportunities:

Ø The Big Break Panama City http://big-break.com/

Ø Mexico City http://mexicofocus.blogspot.com/2006/12/spring-break-2007.html

Ø Big Break Acapulco http://mexicofocus.blogspot.com/2006/12/spring-break-2007.html

Ø Here’s Life Inner City http://www.seizeit.org/