March Prayer Letter

Imagine dozens of student leaders of a major Midwestern university gathered in one room. Three people take the stage; each have made millions of dollars in the business world. They share with the ins and outs of being successful in life after college.

But not only do they share their successes, they share their failures, their struggles, and their belief that pursuing Jesus Christ is the best aim in life. The final speaker at the forum clearly shares the Gospel with the group of students, and invites them to receive the Christ into their lives.

These speaking engagements are called Executive and Entrepreneurial (EII) Leadership Forums, and are sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. There are typically 8-12 forums around the five-state Upper Midwest region. This week there are two on Thursday night. One forum will be hosted at the University of St. Thomas, with over 60 students in attendance. St. Thomas is a Catholic school with over 10,000 students in attendance. The other school with a forum this week is the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with over 6,500 students enrolled.

We partner with business men and women to host these forums for a variety of reasons. They are strategic, as they focus on reaching important student leaders who have an influence on the rest of the campus. They give us the chance to work closely with students on campus to plan and prepare for the outreach, which gives them ministry experience for the future. These forums also increase the number of spiritual conversations on campus, and provide another venue for students to hear the Gospel.

Last week there was an EII forum at North Dakota State University in Fargo. After the speakers shared their stories, students filled out info cards giving feedback and contact information. Over 40 students indicated a decision to receive Christ at the forum! The following is an e-mail from the Student Body President at NDSU:

“I wanted to extend my gratitude for your invitation to the Executive and Entrepreneurial Leadership Forum. It really was a great outreach event that brought together a cross-section of emerging campus leaders to hear stories of faith and success.

Faith is a crucial component of life, and especially so in college, where the big questions are asked about life's ultimate purpose and direction. Thank you for putting forth three individuals from whom we can learn by example. Your important ministry is much appreciated on our campus.”