Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
The search for God and spiritual significance is alive on U.S. college and university campuses, including Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA anticipates a record year of campus ministry in the 2012-2013 school year that is now getting under way.
During the 2011-2012 school year, InterVarsity saw 3,354 new believers across the country come to faith in Jesus Christ. That’s an increase of more than 700 over the previous year, and more than double the same figure from seven years ago.
“In our 72 year history, we have never seen such a season of fruitfulness,” said InterVarsity president Alec Hill. “God’s Spirit is moving on campus and this is an exciting time to be involved in campus ministry.”
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a campus ministry which has worked with students and faculty on U.S. college and university campuses for more than 72 years. InterVarsity has almost 900 chapters active on 576 U.S. college and university campuses, from Ivy League universities to community colleges.
InterVarsity has a history in Terre Haute, and the Rose-Hulman chapter especially has been an important part of the campus community with small groups in every dorm and multiple Greek houses on campus. The Indiana State chapter has seen a resurgence in recent years with multiple key freshmen classes who have laid a foundation for a strong year of student-led small groups on campus. Strong partnership is forming at ISU among several ministries as more students now have opportunities to explore faith in college.
“InterVarsity believes that a diverse campus environment requires the presence of groups which authentically and faithfully reflect religious beliefs,” said Hill. “We will vigorously defend our right to be on campus and to contribute to campus life. At the same time, losing recognized status as a campus organization will not end our ministry on any campus.”
