I got involved with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ back then) at the beginning of my freshmen year at Iowa State. I wasn’t looking for a Christian group at all, but was invited to a root beer keg on campus, went to their weekly meeting, people were friendly so I kept going and God greatly changed my life! As a student I went on 2 summer mission trips – Wildwood, NJ and Toulouse, France. After graduating from college and doing my student teaching, I interned with Cru for a year at the University of Iowa, then joined staff with Cru full-time in 2005. Since then I have had the privilege to serve with Cru at the University of Minnesota, Montpellier (France), the Twin Cities, Iowa State/Central Iowa, the University of Iowa/Eastern Iowa, the University of Iowa/state of Iowa, and now the People & Culture team. I’m excited to share with you more about what the Lord is doing through our ministry and what we’re trusting Him for!
WHAT WE DO…
The Need
There is a tremendous competition for the hearts and minds of students today. I recently heard from someone that their son no longer believes in God because of things his professors at Iowa State taught during his college years. This statement can be replicated by students at colleges and universities across the state of Iowa and the US. The party scene lures many away from seeking God during their college years as well.
This video is a great glimpse into the realities on our college campuses!
Build
Our ministry is about changed lives, which we seek to do through life-changing community. We help students grow in their relationship with God through conferences/retreats, small groups, mentoring/discipleship relationships, and learning how to tell others about Christ. Cru Winter Conference is a highlight of the year for many of our students as they gather with other college students from across the Upper Midwest.
Win
In the midst of these competitive forces, God is bringing an increasing number of students into a relationship with Himself! As we trust God to reach every student, we actively engage in introducing people to Jesus. We do this through one-on-one conversations, outreaches, and digital/ social media strategies. We start off the fall semester doing spiritual interest surveys with students on campus so we can later follow up to get to know them and have a spiritual conversation – hopefully sharing the gospel with them!
Send
We want to see students living on mission – now and for a lifetime. From the university campus a great missionary force is being raised up to impact the world for Christ! For students, we offer spring break and summer mission trips. After graduation, we’re trusting that students will be equipped and sent out to serve in church leadership, have a ministry influence in the workplace, and some sent out as full-time laborers in ministry.
How God is Working!
WIN
Last fall University of Iowa students planned a week to focus on doing evangelism with other students. One of the goals was for all the student leaders to take younger students out to help give them experience and to see these conversations modeled. I was able to meet up with Hannah (student leader) and a girl in her Bible study to have some conversations. We were able to talk with 3 girls that day…and all of them have created their own belief system based on pieces of various religions that they like. As we heard their story and shared about Jesus/what we believe we trust that God was working through those conversations!
BUILD
I LOVE getting invest in students through Bible study and discipleship! One of the highlights a couple years ago was getting to lead 19 men and women in a Life Group. It sounds like a lot, but it went really well and we had great discussion. In the fall we studied the Gospel Centered Community, which led to great discussions. In the spring we did an inductive study (Observation, Interpretation, Application) of the book of Galatians. Each week we would break men/women to share more in-depth prayer requests and I loved that time going deeper and praying with the women!
SEND
One of the key reasons I joined staff was to be a part of seeing laborers raised up to take the gospel to the world. Our students know that my favorite passage is Revelation 7:9-10, that one day we will worship Jesus with people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. And getting to invest in men and women who are raised up to be used by Jesus to help make that a reality is the part of ministry that I’m most passionate about! This picture is a glimpse into how God is working – these are women I have discipled over the years who have given at least a year in full-time ministry! Praise God for His faithfulness to follow Him, be used by Him, and for how He has worked through them in Minnesota, Iowa, Montpellier (France), the Middle East, and other places!
My Role
In the past I was leading a staff team to help win, build, and send students across the state of Iowa. We have not had a long-term staff team for Iowa, so I have stepped into a new role with our People & Culture Team. Iowa Cru is currently student-led but I will be helping them. I will also be discipling a couple of student women.
People & Culture Team serves staff and teams in IA, MN, WI, ND, SD, NE, KS, & MO (aka Geography 7). We help shape the culture of Cru by sending & developing missionaries, equipping life-long followers of Jesus, and caring for our people and teams.
My specific roles:
Part-Time Field Staff Coordinator: Core for the PTFS in our Geography and take care of all the HR logistics for them, including the hiring process.
Core Training Coordinator: Resource leaders in our Geography to invest in all new staff and interns through their 2 year Core Training curriculum. Work with a national guild on big picture aspects of the training.
University of Iowa: Coach the student leadership team and disciple a couple women. Help with admin and finances.
P&C Special Projects: sending quarterly newsletter to Geography 7 staff, setting up & leading weekly prayer call, team visits, various admin tasks.
Special Events: Helping lead Life Options for Cohort 15 (IA, ND, SD, NE, KS, MO), Vision Trip to France, Vision Dessert for Iowa Cru.
International Partnership Leader – France: Help cast vision & recruit from the US for Summer Mission, 1-2 year interns, and long-term staff to serve in France.
Who Is Cru?
Hear from Cru’s president about how God is using Cru around the world in this video.
Cru is an interdenominational ministry in the US and around the world. Learn more about the history of Cru in this video.
Cru is the name for Campus Crusade for Christ in the United States.
We are a caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ.
Our objective is that everyone in the world would have the opportunity to hear the gospel.
Partnering
We invite others to partner with us to reach others for Christ.
Cru has no central funds for paying salaries and ministry expenses. Like many other missions organizations, Cru depends upon the consistent financial support of concerned individuals and churches. These contributions are used to fund our staff members.
I must find a team of ministry partners who will give $100 monthly (or another amount) to support my ministry. Once my team is complete, I can turn my full attention to reaching people for Christ.
My commitment to my partners:
I will work diligently to touch the lives of people for Jesus Christ.
I will regularly let you know how God is blessing the ministry.
I will be financially faithful with the funds given for my ministry.
We will share prayer concerns with one another.
Your partnership can make a difference in reaching people for Christ!
Would you make a monthly commitment of $100 or some mother amount?
You can give a one-time gift online or set it up for recurring transfers. Please contact me with any questions or about mailing a check/setting up regular giving without using the online system. I sent out a (mostly) monthly prayer letter and update. Please use the contact me (or email katie.smith@cru.org) to give me your info for either an email or mailed version.
Note: all gifts to Cru are tax-deductible.
Reach the Campus Today 