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The fall quarter was to start in a week at UC Davis. Thousands of freshmen stood in line to register the bikes that would be their main source of transportation for the next year. Tiffany, a young Latina, with long, straight, brown hair was among them. As she waited in line, Tiffany was asked if she wanted a Subway coupon.
In order to receive the coupon, Tiffany, along with 3000 other freshman, filled out a card to indicate her interest in spiritual things. She marked on her card that she would like more information on developing her relationship with God. Within the next week, she was contacted by a senior in our ministry named Jessica who sat down with her between classes. Jessica quickly recognized that Tiffany was a fairly new believer who was seeking to grow in her faith.
Tiffany was quickly plugged into a Campus Crusade small group in her dorm led by Amy. She like the other four girls in her small group was eager to learn how to grow in her walk with God and how to share her faith with her classmates. Tiffany quickly demonstrated a desire to reach out to other students on campus by constantly inviting her dorm mates to Crusade events.
It was through Tiffany that our freshman small group first met Linda. Linda was a young Latina who was curious to find out what was so obviously different in Tiffany’s life and in the lives of her friends. She had been on the fringes of the Crusade ministry for weeks, coming to various social events, but it was at our fall retreat that we really got to know Linda.
Late Saturday night in the mountains of Tahoe, after everyone had gone to sleep, our bible study’s cabin was wide awake. Linda was new to our group and the four girls from our study were curious to get to know her better. After talking with her for some time, it became apparent to all that Linda did not have a personal relationship with Christ. Although she had grown up in a Catholic Church she had no understanding of God’s grace or the gospel.
Then the most amazing thing transpired. Fueled by confidence from learning to share their faith earlier that afternoon, Tiffany and the other three girls from Amy’s study began to explain the gospel to Linda. And then one by one each of them recounted their testimony of how God came into their lives to her. After a few questions from Linda to clarify things she didn’t understand, Linda said she wanted to place her trust in Christ! Bowing her head, Linda prayed in the midst of the cabin!
night was the first night most of the girls in Amy’s freshman group had ever shared their faith much less seen someone come to Christ first hand! The girls of that study recounted that night as the highlight of the fall retreat for them and are excited to take more steps of faith for God.
It is because of students like Tiffany and Linda that we have committed our lives to sharing the life-changing message of Christ with college students. God is at work, drawing students to Himself and transforming a generation of future leaders.
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