conversations

Seton Hall student, Damaris, who I disciple, 

with me just before sharing our faith at campus blitz

Much of my life consists of conversations with college students. I even live with one!

Most of these conversations are simple “get to know you” types but there are also the very specific interactions I plan with students for the sake of their spiritual and professional development.

As the female team leader in New Jersey, I also have many conversations with national Cru leaders whose concern is to reach these students for Christ, build them in their faith and send them to reach the lost.

Cru has set a goal to send 1 million “multipliers” (people who know & share their faith in Jesus) into the world by 2020.

During Spring break many students stay home to catch up with their shows on Netflix, visit family out of town, or simply sleep all day. This year, our staff planned another option for the students to consider spending 2/7 days they have off.

Jersey schools are split over which week to have spring break, so for each week, our staff planned to reach those campuses not on break. This past Monday & Tuesday, we trained students who participated in different methods and tools for evangelism.

We prayed and shared the Gospel with 13 different people, initiated spiritual conversation with 65 more people and led one person to Christ.

 

New Jersey is very diverse. At Rutgers Camden, day two, we wrote the words “Only Jesus Saves” in chalk on the ground in front of the student center in over 15 different languages. The spelling was acquired through random students on campus who spoke those languages. Many stopped to watch and take pictures with their primary language.

God is reaching students of every nation in very unique ways!

Follow @JerseyMetro on Twitter or Instagram to see more photos & celebrate more good news!

Social Media

As I mentioned in November of 2013, social media is an advancing avenue for our students to use to start spiritual conversations with their peers.

#getoutthere is the slogan we have been using as @JerseyMetro to track  spiritual conversations on various social media outlets. One tactic we use to start these conversations is called “The Bi-Weekly Buzz”, where members of our staff team send out a video that can be re-posted, shared, and commented on. We’ve also started a blog on our newly designed website: JerseyMetro.com

On which, staff member, Joey Sforza recently posted:

Virality is in high demand.

Everyone on social media wants their posts to have more likes, shares, comments and re-posts. There is a deep emotional high that fills the soul when you see your post is getting lots of attention.

As part of this social media generation, Joey admits in his post his desire, like all of ours, to be known and loved. He then connects the reader to the terrible news that none of us will ever have that void filled through “likes” or “shares” or even in relationships. Joey then follows up with the good news that God can fill that void! J

Joey’s post was shared by nearly 30,000 people. This follow-up blog about it with a spiritual correlation was shared or liked by only 99.

It’s sad how so many people now live seeking purpose through how many “likes” or “shares” they receive. People are distracted with taking “selfies” in hopes to be “liked” while the enemy rages war against true loving community.  

Our hope is that through stepping into this social media world, we can engage people where they are and usher them into truly loving community with God and His family. That’s exactly what Joey did through this post and that’s exactly what our staff and students work toward in sharing the bi-weekly buzz (set up by Christine & Chris).

Join us on social media to #getoutthere with the good news that Jesus truly satisfies! You can follow @JerseyMetro on twitter or Facebook.