Over the course of the two weeks following spring break, the Elizabethtown College InterVarsity students plastered the campus with 2000 pictures of mosquitoes (which is more than there are undergrad students on campus), representing the number of children worldwide who die each day from Malaria.

The mosquitoes definitely caught the attention of the campus and led us to last Tuesday evening where we hosted a benefit concert/coffeehouse to partner with World Vision’s campaign to end malaria deaths in the world by 2015.

A local singer/songwriter and a handful of Etown students shared music, poetry, and art throughout the evening to express Christ’s love and care for those affected by Malaria.

The atmosphere provided not just a place to raise money to purchase mosquito nets for families all over the world, but also created a space for students to take a break, have some coffee and cookies, and converse about their faith in Jesus, particularly with friends of other faiths who wouldn’t normally come to InterVarsity.  It was great for me to connect with students who I’ve been praying for all year with the student leaders.

The last Saturday of January, about 90 students from York and several other Central PA campuses met for a day of prayer, scripture study, worship, and discernment. Called Restore, this yearly gathering is a day set apart for spiritual re-calibration and inter-chapter fellowship. Just a week or two after classes resume, students gather to consider God’s call for them during the coming semester.

It was a rich, exciting time for students. Restore gave them space to listen for God, and opportunity to respond as individuals, as chapters, and as an entire area of campuses. After closing with prayer and worship, students left energized. What’s more, they left with a plan.

This is one of InterVarsity’s distinctives – we are not simply a loose movement of individuated chapters.

Our work is at its best when students from different campuses are given opportunities to hear and celebrate what God’s doing in their sister chapters. The sharing of stories, ideas, and challenges leads to prayer – hence the wonderful image of 90 students from seven different campuses joining hands in prayer for each other. Hence, InterVarsity.

Jay and Evan lead worship at Restore 2012

We began with a wonderful breakfast catered by the nearby Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, then gathered for a lively worship set led by Jay Baer and Evan Smith.

Bret speaks at Restore 2012

Area Director Bret Staudt Willet brought the message, from Nehemiah in the morning and 2 Timothy in the afternoon.  He invited students to consider which section of their metaphorical wall on campus God might be inviting them to work on (from Nehemiah 3), and to remember where their faith has come from (2 Timothy 1) and where they might invest in other people in the future (2 Timothy 2).

Seminar at Restore 2012

We also had a couple of hours in break-out seminars, with students able to choose to learn together about resolving conflict, group prayer walking, welcoming people into our lives, or life after college.

We ended the day with students gathering in a circle and praying for each other’s campuses.

Students prayer for each other's campuses

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the Restore 2012 conference.

I SNAPPED THIS ACTION SHOT SHORTLY AFTER TWISTING MY ANKLE DURING A PARTICULARLY EMBARRASSING FUMBLE

I am probably the world’s worst athlete.  You who knew me in college remember – if ever I got the ball, it was only a matter of time until a concussion, a sprain, or a broken pair of glasses ended my usefulness to the team.  But of all the sports I’ve tried, one stands out as being particularly humbling: Football.  God, in his infinite hilarity, has been teaching me to love this sport as a way of loving students this year! Paul articulates the challenge:

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8)

When Jesus became the word incarnate, it was in the form of those he came to love. So when I found that one of the guys I’m discipling (another Evan) is into football, and many  of his not-yet-Christian friends are too, I felt the tug toward this mystifying pastime. And then, a miracle! Conversations started, relationships grew, and Jesus spoke!

This is what incarnation looks like. It has been my privilege to go to campus, availing myself of every opportunity to build relationships and earn the right to speak what is true. By entering into the interests of York students, God is bringing his kingdom in unlikely ways.

Who knew that the Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, could choose to grow his kingdom through pick-up games of two-hand-touch and an athletically challenged former philosophy major? Praise be to our God, who shows up in unlikely places, calls unlikely disciples, and uses unlikely means to show his love!

Read more here about what’s happening with InterVarsity at York College.

Here are quotes from students at York College, from a great blog post from Evan, our InterVarsity staff at York:

“I didn’t realize I could have a personal relationship with God – Growing up, it was just sort of this communal thing, something everybody did.”

“I’ve been panicking about my future a lot lately. Asking a lot of questions. God’s showing me how to ask the right ones, and he’s interrupting that feedback loop that just fuels the panic.”

“That seminar really helped me… usually when I talk to people who don’t believe in Jesus, I just debate it with them. But now I get that I can have compassion, and ask questions. I can stop trying to ‘win’ the conversation, but see them like Jesus does.”

Check out Evan’s full post, and check back here for more pictures soon!

An exciting announcement today from InterVarsity Senior VP Jim Lundgren:

As we launch a new season of ministry, we have an exciting new discipleship resource for your staff and students – an online daily personal Bible study for students called “Thirsty”.  “Thirsty” provides a passage of scripture, accompanied by three inductive questions, delivered each day to your inbox or smartphone.  Those who would like to discuss the passage or share personal application can interact on the “Thirsty” site or facebook page.  Staff and students who use “Thirsty” will read through one-third of the Bible in the coming year, starting with Luke, beginning Sept 1.

Check out the promo video at http://vimeo.com/28412649 and tell your friends!

At York College, students wrestled with how to engage their friends during St. Patrick’s Day festivities.  From their InterVarsity staff worker’s blog:

As more and more young adults become convinced that this is the one and only standard by which to measure the good life, we see campuses devolving into communities of nascent alcoholism, addiction, and escapism. St. Patty’s Day offers an excuse get drunk in so spectacular a fashion that friends will be talking about it for weeks, though you yourself will have no memory of it.

Jesus managed to hang with some pretty unsavory types. He liked them. He went where they lived, he ate their food, he sat on their couches, and he listened to their stories. Jesus loves broken folks, dirty folks, poorly-behaved folks. Why? Because like a doctor making house calls, he’s come for the sick.

As a broken, dirty, poorly-behaved dude myself, I’m grateful.

Fast forward 2,000 years to this Thursday. Based on the kind of folks Jesus went out of his way to befriend, where would you see him? Some student friends and I have decided where we’re spending our Saint Patrick’s Day – How about you?

At Dickinson College, students are gathering their friends and new acquaintances to have spiritual conversations.  A recent update from their InterVarsity staff:

Our spiritual discussion group this past week went well. Those who came said that they were happy to see something like this on campus. They were engaged and actively participated in the discussion. One girl kept saying, “This is blowing my mind!” Our discussion really caused her to think in a new way. We are hopeful that this discussion group will gain momentum.

At Penn State Harrisburg, their InterVarsity staff has been working on calling students to a vision of connecting across campus.  A recent text message from the staff:

I stated the vision 100 times today.  Result: could interpret need to invite to “dessert party” after bible study today and participate in open mic night missionally. More students excited and articulate about mission.