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On the Thursday before Fall Retreat, I (Rachel) got an “urgent” email from a Greg, a Butler student. In this email, he tells me that Allie, another Butler student, is dying to go to Fall Retreat, but just can’t afford to go. He is practically begging me to scholarship her. I emailed him back, telling him that of course we will give her a scholarship, and that she should come.
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Later that day, I got a phone call from another staff member, telling me that another Butler student, Adam, had just given his life to Christ and wanted to attend Fall Retreat as well. He wanted to know if he could just come and if we could scholarship him. Again, I said, of course.
A month later, Allie is a changed girl. She told us that she truly gave her life to Christ at Fall Retreat, and is growing like a weed. She has graciously let us share her story in her own words:
“I had never been involved in CRU before this, and had just happened to attend one of Butler CRU’s monthly meetings, where I heard about Fall Retreat. I was informed of this amazing news [scholarship] only 20 minutes prior to when everyone was going to leave for the retreat. I had no idea where I was going, who the people were that were going to be there, what we were going to be doing, and why in the world I was going. Let me tell you, there was a reason that God wanted me on that trip! It was then that I realized what I had been missing and longing for.
I was putting Christ in a corner and I was sitting on the throne. I looked to him when I needed something (healing, a good grade on a test, safety, etc.), but pushed him aside the rest of the time and said “I got this, I can handle it.” I actually believed that what I had in mind and could achieve would be better than what God has planned for me. I was WAY wrong. My life before Christ was filled with anxiety, stress, fear, frustration, and disappointment.
Now, I can truly say I live a Christ-centered life. I live a life filled with security and safety. I live a life that is both satisfying and fulfilling. Jesus Christ has become my #1 love and priority. I am looking now at a new chapter of my life. The pages are blank and just waiting to be filled with a new story of a glorious, spirit-filled life!”
Adam, too is growing like crazy. An interesting thing about Adam is that his roommate is Albert, a student who has been involved with Crusade at Butler, but who has yet to give his life to Christ. Albert has lengthy, in-depth conversations with the staff, and we are all praying that seeing Adam’s life transform will be instrumental in him trusting Christ.
Although my job running registration and finances was small and behind-the-scenes, it is always amazing to be a part of what the Lord is doing. These two stories of changed lives are only two students out of the 150 that were there that weekend. I have no doubt that the other 148 experienced God in powerful ways as well, whether they are a part of the 20 plus Butler men who have committed to spending time in the Word everyday for a month together, or the 5 African-American students from Indiana State’s Impact movement who came to Fall Retreat for the first time.
Please Pray
> For Allie and Adam as well as other students who went to Fall Retreat…that their faith would be strengthened and they would walk closely with the Lord.
> For Ryan as Staff Conference and Christmas Conference demand much of his time directing and running multiple aspects of technology.
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