Chicago Summer Project Picture Slideshow

ENJOYING JESUS:
Thank you so much for your prayers and support of our summer in Chicago. We were able to experience so many wonderful things, but chiefly, one magnificent Jesus. The Lord really met us both in Chicago as we were able to enjoy him through time in the word, fellowship with other staff and students, and in the midst of proclaiming this magnificent Jesus to a dying and lost world. God was faithful to answer our prayers for the summer that we would be refreshed in our walk with Him and energized for ministry in the fall at Ball State. Both of these things were hallmarks of our summer. We both feel so refreshed and were able to just be flabbergasted afresh at the magnificence of the gospel message. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) What a magnificent God we serve!

ENTERING COMMUNITY:
One of the biggest life transforming agents in our lives is the community we enter into and allow to surround us. On project we try to create a biblical community that is authentic, open about sin, forgiving, and full of love. By God's grace, this was achieved both among the staff and the students. The 49 students on project from throughout the US and Canada loved one anther well and created an atmosphere of spurring one another on in godliness. The effect of this community will reach far beyond this summer as these students take what they learned here back to their campuses and from there to there churches and communities of faith when they graduate. The Holy Spirit used this community to root out deep sin, bring healing and point people to worship. Thanks for your support which made this possible!

ENGAGING THE LOST WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL:
3 days a week our staff and students were out on campuses in Chicago engaging with students with the message of the gospel. I (Josh) got to lead a team with another staff woman of 12 students and 2 other staff to engage the University of Chicago with the message of the gospel. This is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, and one of the spiritually darkest schools I have ever experienced. Our main strategy for the summer was to engage with students using a worldview survey called Perspectives. We hosted an event where we gave out free baked goods and asked students to answer this question "What is the meaning and purpose of Life?" We got a great deal of interesting responses and were able to engage in conversations that the students will be following up with for the remainder of the summer. Praise God for allowing us to "till up" the hard soil of the hearts on this campus!

So what is a summer project? What were we doing for 6 weeks in Chicago? What is happening now?

Well, here is a quick overview of what a summer project is, what we were doing and what is happening now.

A summer project is an intensive mission trip/ leadership training opportunity for students to engage with the gospel and the DNA of Cru: evangelism and discipleship. In Chicago this summer we had 38 Cru Staff, 30 staff kids, and 49 students from all around the US and even 1 from Canada. We all lived together in some student apartments just south of the Loop in downtown Chicago. It was and awesome view! Students got jobs throughout the city (every student got a job- praise God!) and we learned both evangelism and discipleship. Every week we had two large group meetings- the first to train us and set us up for the week and the second to teach us from the word. Three days a week we spend doing evangelism on various campuses throughout the city in an effort to both train our students in how to share their faith and to see God work throughout this powerful and influential city. We spent time together in bible studies and each student was discipled by a staff person.

Halfway through the summer (July 5th) us staff left the project. But before we did, we helped assign all the students to various jobs and leadership positions as the project will continue for another 5 weeks. Students will continue to work their jobs, disciple one-another in a biblical community, and share the gospel throughout the city of Chicago.

We talk about US summer projects a lot as staff and encourage our students to attend. Whitney and I had never attended a project like this (Josh was overseas as a student in East Asia on summer project) and now we know why we talk about it a lot. It changes lives! We were able to experience Christ in a fresh way, disciple students and see them take steps of faith in their lives as they reached out with the gospel to others on campuses throughout the city. It was a magnificent summer!

SNAPSHOT OF CHICAGO SUMMER PROJECT
2013
321 SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
158 GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS
12 PEOPLE TRUSTED IN JESUS
4 WEEKS LEFT FOR STUDENTS