Thanks from a Parent

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:33:50 +0000

Amy Hauptman

Thanks from a Parent

On a recent drive home, I received one of the most encouraging text messages in my five years on staff with ��ñ��:

“Keep up the good work! I think ��ñ�� was one of the reasons both my kids are walking with Jesus!”

Marty Carraher and many other ��ñ�� alumni parents have encouraged ��ñ�� staff like me with their gratitude, whether in person, over email, or through text messages.

And every time, I am reminded of why ��ñ��’s ministry is worth it.

Nothing More Encouraging

There is nothing more moving or encouraging to a staff member than hearing from the parents of transformed ��ñ�� college students. The gratitude that flows from a parent’s heart awakens staff members’ hearts to the beautiful and personal reality that God is in fact using ��ñ��’s ministry to transform their kids’ lives.

I asked Marty if he would mind meeting up with me for coffee and sharing a little more of his own story.

A week later, we met at a local coffee shop near campus, and Marty began to share:

“One of the first things you need to know is that when I went to college at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1966 to 1971, I never really ‘got it’ about Jesus,” Marty said. “I also honestly didn’t care that much.”

“Now looking back, I realize that I didn’t care because I had never experienced the Holy Spirit,” said Marty.

While Marty had grown up his whole life in what he called ”secular church,” he never really understood what following Jesus looked like.

Taking God Seriously

It wasn’t until after college, getting married, and having two children that Marty began to seek God for himself. When a new church started in Reno, Marty and his wife decided to check it out. They liked it so much, they got involved.

“We realized that we couldn’t expect our kids to take God seriously if we weren’t taking Him seriously,” remarked Marty.

So every Sunday as Marty and his wife dropped off their son and daughter at the children’s Sunday school classes, they started attending the adult Sunday school classes. It was in those classes that Marty began to really study the Bible for himself.

While Marty and his family got more involved at their new church, Jesus invited Marty to take the next step—to follow him. Except this invitation didn’t happen at church.

Marty remembered the night that he and his wife went to a Phil Driscoll concert in Caesar’s Palace in Lake Tahoe, where he began to feel like the Holy Spirit was directly speaking to him.

“Phil Driscoll is an amazing musician, and a passionate person. During Driscoll’s concert, he shared his life story and how Jesus had impacted his life,“ said Marty. “After hearing Driscoll’s story, I decided that I wanted to give Jesus my life.”

Since then, Marty’s life has been transformed. When his kids started going to college, he was overjoyed that they both found ��ñ��.

Involved in ��ñ��

“Both of my kids were involved in ��ñ�� during college,” remarked Marty. “My son helped with set-up for large group meetings and my daughter led a small group Bible study.”

His kids also attended life-changing conferences like the Urbana Student Missions Conference and the Mark Bible Study Camp. His daughter was intentional about living in community with other Christians during college.

“I am so proud of my kids and who they’ve become,” said Marty. “My daughter met her husband at ��ñ��. They are both now teachers at North Bay Christian Academy in Novato, California, a K-12 Christian school wanting to make a difference in the lives of the next generation.”

“My son has returned to school in Farmington, New Mexico, and has blessed me with four grandchildren,” continued Marty. “Both he and his wife are helping teach couples about personal finances, getting out of debt, and staying out of debt through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University ministry.”

Marty shared that he is thankful that ��ñ�� taught his kids the value of changing the world while in college. Because now they are living it.

“The best thing in the world is to lift others up, to encourage someone, to be the hug that someone might need,” stated Marty. “I didn’t learn that until much later after college.”

“I hope that those who are in college now will take advantage of every opportunity that ��ñ�� has to offer,” declared Marty. “There is nothing better than knowing Jesus and serving him and others with your whole life.”

News Keywords

University of Nevada Reno

Thanksgiving

parents

Second Chances

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:25:46 +0000

News

Abi Christian

Second Chances

“Western Nevada College is in need of people who are willing to step up and do what ��ñ�� is called to do,” said Rebecca Van Sickle. For the second time, Rebecca is starting school as a new student at the two-year commuter college in Carson City. This time, she is also starting an ��ñ�� chapter. “I know Intervarsity can offer students at WNC a place to get into the Word through Bible study, connect with other Christians, learn to make a difference, and transform the campus.”

Rebecca first arrived at WNC three years ago after graduating from high school. She felt solid in her faith and was excited about the challenges of college. “I knew that God had great plans for me. I couldn’t wait to see what happened,” said Rebecca.

While there, Rebecca saw a need for Jesus in students’ lives and shared her faith when she could. She tried to start a Christian group on campus, but did not have the resources or support to keep it going. After two years, she transferred to finish her degree at a four-year school. “It hurt my heart to leave without having been successful,” said Rebecca.

But God still had plans for Rebecca

At the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Rebecca contacted the ��ñ�� chapter and connected with Ron and Amy, two Bible study leaders on campus. They both invited her to ��ñ��’s large group meetings and their Bible study. “The friendships forged in that first week were my encouragement for staying involved,” said Rebecca.

Over the year, Rebecca’s faith was challenged and deepened as she studied the Bible in community. She went to the chapter’s fall conference and leadership training events. “Doing up to 12 hours of inductive Bible study a day for an entire week will not only get you into the Word of God but will get you talking to other people. For someone who is normally a shy introvert, this was a big deal,” said Rebecca. “It made me stronger in my commitment in Christ and made me even surer of what I believe.”

After a year at UNR, Rebecca prayed about her major in education and her next steps. She felt that education was not the right field to be in and changed her studies to graphic communications. But to do so meant transferring back to Western Nevada College.

“At first I was upset to leave UNR and the family I had there,” said Rebecca. “But then I was reminded of what God had been showing me all year: the power I had to transform a campus in need of him. The reason I had gone to UNR was to gain the connections I would need to reach out to my previous campus.”

A New Chapter Starts

During the summer, Rebecca planned the start of a new ��ñ�� chapter.She met with Jackie, her ��ñ�� staff member at UNR, and joined student leaders from UNR in their new student outreach training. Rebecca has also connected with ��ñ�� leaders at another two-year college in the area.

“At first I felt like I was doing this alone, but God has shown me that I have so many people, as well as himself, to help me along the way,” said Rebecca. She has already met five students who are interested in forming a chapter and meeting for Bible study on campus. Though it will be challenging to find ways to connect with students who commute to campus only when they have a class, Rebecca has faith that God will provide many connections.

“One of the things I learned while being involved with the UNR chapter was that no matter who you are, God will use you for things greater than you think,” said Rebecca. She is excited for people to experience the growth and community she experienced at UNR. This fall, ��ñ�� students like Rebecca are actively reaching out to new students on campus, knowing that God can and does transform lives.

News Keywords

Western Nevada College

University of Nevada Reno

University of Nevada Reno

Thanks from a Parent

Thanks from a Parent

Nothing More Encouraging

Taking God Seriously

Involved in ��ñ����

Second Chances

Second Chances

But God still had plans for Rebecca

A New Chapter Starts

Involved in ��ñ��