Invitational 2010

Inviting, Training, Praying, Talking, Listening, Risking, Growing, Loving, Supporting, Encouraging, Resting, Seeing, Reading, Reaching, Going, Conversing, Offering, Asking, Committing, Questioning

These were all a part of the 5 days students spent Sunday, April 18-Thursday, April 22 during the Sonoma State Invitational. It was a fabulous time to partner with students, staff, supporters (like you), and the campus! One of the highlights was having a staff, Rick Mattson from St. Paul, MN come out to serve alongside staff and students. He works with IVCF in campus apologetics. He helped answer the question, "Is there only one way to God?" and gave students biblical evidence to help support their faith and talk about it with non-Christians.

Another highlight was seeing the amount of students take risks. Many students invited whole classes and others got their friend who promised them one IVCF event to go this week. Students gave up their time, classes, and extra activities to devote their lives for God's kingdom at SSU this week. Many students spent hours upon hours (like 6+) in the 24 hour prayer room praying on behalf of the campus and students!

Check out the pictures below and read on for more specific stories from each day! Also, here's an overall glimpse at numbers:
6= Number of students who made a commitment to follow Jesus
300= Number of students who attended the evening talks
600= Number of students interacted with during the afternoon tabling
96= Number of hours students and staff prayed straight
8= Number of GIGs (Groups investigating God) started
70= Number of students trained in sharing the gospel on campus

Monday, April 19

Jacki, a freshmen student who came to faith in October invited her roommate Ashley to tonight's event. After the talk Ashley said, "this completely opened my eyes to looking at pain differently." After that night for the rest of the week Ashley attended every single Invitational event! She said, "I finally feel like there is a place on campus that I belong and want to look more into this. I don't know what this is, but it is the happiest I have been at Sonoma this week. I have even been talking with my parents about what I am learning!" Not only a seeker, but also a witness to her family! Pray that Ashley would continue to figure out what "this" is!

Jamila had a lot on her plate as the Monday event came around. Not only is Jamila a freshman, but she helped to coordinate the entire day! While standing outside asking people about their scars and pain she met Shaun. Shaun was really interested in what was being talked about but couldn't go to the night time event. The next day (Tuesday) before the evening event Shaun was sitting in her dorm thinking, "I really don't want to go." But for some reason she forced herself to go. That evening she ended up coming to faith and saying yes to Jesus for the first time! Shaun said that all year she was feeling lonely and has been having a hard time finding the place she belonged, but Tuesday night she found it! She is already plugged into a Tuesday night bible study. Pray for Shaun as she continues to learn what life looks like as she follows Jesus.

Tuesday, April 20

Chris (IVCF student leader) invited his whole leadership class to come to one of the invitational events. Mackenzie, a junior transfer, took Chris up on his offer and came to this evening's talk. We talked for a long time before hand about her beliefs and she called herself a "seeker." At the end of the event she talked about how comfortable she felt being there and how welcoming everyone was. She enjoyed being there and stayed for an hour hanging out! When asking her what she liked about the evening and what stuck out to her she replied, "I actually feel like I have a lot of things to think about right now. I really want to go home and look up the scriptures she was talking about." Mackenzie actually came back again on Thursday night and plans on coming again! Pray for Jessica and I as we meet with her and talk about what following Jesus would look like for her!

Rose and Erin talked about how they have been "dating Jesus" but they are reading to get married. Rose explained it like this, "I liked Jesus and thought he was cool, but when it came to holding hands in public I was ashamed. I am not ashamed anymore and want to accept Jesus spiritually." These two women were so motivated by what God spoke to them this last week that they are going to start a BCM (Black Campus Ministries) bible study. Pray for them as they have their first one on Thursday. Already 3 non-Christians plan to attend!

Wednesday, April 21

Aaron promised Evan (one of our IVCF bible study leaders) that he would come to one IVCF event before he graduated. Aaron grew up going to Catholic school but didn’t acknowledge God. After going to the evening talk for this day he said, “Now I know there is a God and trust that one day I will experience God, but I haven't quite yet. I want to experience God for myself before I say yes to following him.” Pray that Aaron would experience God before he graduates in June!

As Kayla and Ryan met with the free thinkers club this day many more students were outside talking about Jesus being the only way to God. I got the opportunity to talk with a freshman student, Katie for almost an hour! She is very open to how God is working in her life and wants to study the bible more closely. Pray for us as we start to meet this week to look at scripture!

Thursday, April 22

Earth day 2010! In the middle of the quad stood the Earth Festival that Sonoma State held. We were amongst the others who were talking about how God not only cares about the environment but calls us to be stewards of the environment. We asked students to write on recycled paper bag leaves, "Why we should care about the environment." Two trees were made up of the many different answers like:
- For the future generation and our kids
- Because it is beautiful
- We're using up resources too quickly
- In order to have a sustainable life
- God gave it to us to take care of

That evening we had a speaker talk about how God and our environment intersect. Students were invited to make a commitment to changing one lifestyle choice in order to help the environment. Students made commitments like:
- Eating organic and locally grown food
- Biking to school, instead of driving
- Taking 5 minute showers

That evening we also saw students make new faith commitments to following Jesus. 2 students recommitted their lives to Jesus. One of the guys who recommitted, Adam, is a part of the ultimate frisbee team. All year IVCF students also on the team had been inviting guys to come. For the first time 2 guys actually came and Adam made a new decision! Praise God for faithful inviters like Jeremiah and Matt.