Last semester, I co-planned my first invited guest onto UT's campus. It started off as a semi-joke to see if these guys would even respond, which they did. Anyways, Cliffe and Stuart are huge evangelistic/apologetics Christian influencers, and their major online ministry features them going to college campuses and dialoging with college students about faith, Jesus, God, religion, Christianity, and so many other things. Somehow, we were able to land them for November of 2024, and boy was it awesome to see.
There were THOUSANDS of students who were able to speak, ask questions, and think about the very existence of God with these guys. Along with that, campus ministries like Cru, BCM & Vols4Christ took advantage of our guests to connect with people, ask them about their experience with faith and lead them in gospel conversations. We even got Cliffe and his son some UT swag as a thank you gift, and hopefully get them to come back in the near future. God is working on this campus, and I have had the privilege of being used for His plan.
Every year for at least the past 3 years, Cru at UT has done a very special outreach that involves some of the guys from our ministry going out with nice suits and roses and handing them out to girls on campus. What is very sweet about this outreach is that not everyone has a valentine on this day, and for students in this age range it can feel tempting to feel lonely or sad. However, the good news of God is that we are SO loved by Christ that He died for us! Attached to the roses are little QR codes with a video explaining just that. It is just a unique way for us as guys to be active opposers of the enemy's lies that convinces so many that they are unloved.
Men's night started (or picked up again) at UTK Cru following the Clearwater Beach Summer Mission that some friends and I were a part of in 2023. Some of the awesome men that were on that trip decided that this thing that was Men's Night should continue on campus. An entire classroom full of the Christian men of Cru gathered together on this day to learn what God commands us to be like, how we should walk together and ultimately how to rely on the powerful blood of Jesus Christ. It was a great night of testimony, encouragement and fun.
So, this is one that I have never done before... but this year I actually did get to take part in it. That being said, UTK's graduate student Cru started off the day with setting up a table in our student union with cards, snacks and the spirit to reach students to reach their professors. Students got to write their professors some thank you cards to show their gratitude for teaching them and leading them in education. The grad students and staff at some point will be delivering these cards personally to the professors and might possibly lead to some very neat conversations about Cru and/or the gospel!
This next semester for me has posed A LOT of uncertainty my way. Long story short, I cannot register for classes for the Fall until the Summer. This gave me a ton of anxiety as it may delay my college graduation another semester, which directly correlates to a lot of money being spent, etc. However, in the face of uncertainty and shakey foundations of my own idea of comfort and security, God reminded me of my lack of control--BECAUSE HE HAS IT. He is in control! He has provided me with where I am at, He knows where I will be, He knows where I fall short, He knows what I need.
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;" (Psalm 103:11)
"The Rock" at the University of Tennessee is a giant rock on campus in which students use as a big canvas. This can be used for anything from social messages, political messages, club announcements, or even just painting on to say that you painted the Rock. UTK Cru paints the rock every year around Easter to celebrate our Rock and the rock that was moved, signifying that He is Risen! This year was awesome as every year is! Last year, our design lasted a few days before getting painted over, but this year it lasted a little over a week. Thousands were able to see it on campus tours, walking to the T-Recs or class and it even got some attention online. It is such a great way to be public about our faith and the character of our God!