the ministry of Ryan and Rachel Strandt with Campus Crusade for Christ

Feb 10 – Wrecked into Redemption

Ryan| February 3rd, 2010
Wrecked into Redemption

3 days after Christmas, as the world prepared to bid farewell to the first decade of the new millennium, nearly 2,000 young men and women from the college campuses of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio gathered in Indianapolis for IndyCC, the annual student conference held by the Great Lakes Region of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru).

This year, the IndyCC theme was both delicate and personal: “Wrecked into Redemption.” As the title implies, IndyCC ’09 was all about God’s redeeming work in the lives of those who would be willing to be broken by Him—completely taken apart, shattered, wrecked. The main speakers, James MacDonald and Greg & Charmaine Lillestrand, spoke on the topics of repentance, revival, and responding to God’s calling. While the atmosphere throughout the main sessions was worshipful and even solemn, the speakers’ messages to students carried the hope of deep healing, rooted in the simplicity of God’s all-encompassing love.

James MacDonald

James MacDonald, a critically acclaimed author, radio host, and founder of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, didn’t waste any time and cut right to the heart of the matter. As he began his first talk, he warned the students that God was about to do “some major taking apart” in their lives. “Can you take it?” he asked the students earnestly. Throughout the conference, he plunged deep into such difficult and uncomfortable topics as sin, our rebellion against a Holy God, and our need for genuine repentance.

The next speakers, Greg and Charmaine Lillestrand, are quite renowned for being pioneers in international missions. Since the 1980s, they’ve started many Christian ministries in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc and are currently serving the Lord in Italy, reaching the young people of Western Europe. Charmaine highlighted God’s unrelenting pursuit of those who seek Him and His work among the nations. She concluded with a question each of us must ask: “Where He leads, will I follow?” Greg echoed this challenge on IndyCC’s closing night. “It’s not about us, it’s about Him,” he affirmed, adding, “I’m asking you to lay down your life for the King.” Greg then challenged the students to commit a summer or a year of their life to ministry. Over 1200 students accepted this challenge. 600+ of them indicated that they would go on a summer project with CCC and over 500 students indicated that they would give 1 year of their lives to ministry for the Gospel.

The conference closed with the traditional “praying in” of the New Year. While many of their peers all over America were out partying with their friends, the young men and women at IndyCC were praising their Lord and Savior in song and prayer, ushering in the New Year and new decade in worshipful adoration of the One and Only, Jesus Christ. Please pray with us that, as our students are processing what they learned at IndyCC, they would allow God to continue His redemptive work in them and use them for His Kingdom on their respective campuses, in their home towns and around the world.

Please Pray

> That students would not get buried in distraction and continue to process with the Lord over decisions they have made.

> We will be taking some time this spring to focus on our support needs.

> Praise for the mini van we were able to purchase this month and not having to take 2 cars when we travel.

Checkout the new http://GradCr…

Ryan| September 8th, 2009

Checkout the new http://GradCru.org website helping graduate ministries launch all over that region.

Aug 09 :: Crossroads SP 09

Ryan| August 22nd, 2009

This summer I had the privilege to lead the Crossroads Project again and be a part of what the Lord chose to do through 8 uniquely gifted students. In their words…

Crossroads Students in the office

“Campus Crusade for Christ bills summer projects as experiences that will change your life. To be honest, we were a little skeptical of this claim. There are only so many opportunities in life for real change. But that’s what Crossroads Summer Project has done – changed our lives for the better.”

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CSU 09

Ryan| August 13th, 2009

With all the craziness of the summer and preparing for our second little one to join our family, we had to separate for a short time (10 days) during the CCC National Staff Conference. I went out to Colorado this year by myself since Rachel should not be traveling this close to her due date.

CSU (Colorado State University, the host campus) summers are always a little more of a strain with the extra traveling, but this year was one of the better times that I have had at CSU. It was hard being away from my family and felt strange without Rachel with me, but the content and focus on the conference was really great.

If I could sum up my time together with 5000 staff members, I would say I left the conference encouraged that CCC was taking a hard look at changing our own internal culture in order to reach the ever changing culture around us.

We heard from speakers like Tim Keller, Larry Crab and Rev. Keith Battle. Even though some parts of the conference were hard, I have come away encouraged by our ministry direction, … for our own ministry… for His Kingdom.

RT @mashable:10 Ways Universit…

Ryan| July 23rd, 2009

RT @mashable:10 Ways Universities Are Engaging Alumni Using Social Media – http://bit.ly/gn7ZL