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

Archive for the ‘Ministry’ Category

Feb 10 – Wrecked into Redemption

Wednesday, 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.

Aug 09 :: Crossroads SP 09

Saturday, 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

Thursday, 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.

the new Presentation

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

the Relevant Media Presentation

Check out our recent presentation. This will give you an updated look at what Rachel and I are doing with the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. You can also download our brochure there as well.

http://presentation.relevantmedia.org

If you have any questions or comments about our ministry and the work we are doing please feel free to make a comment at the bottom of this page. You can also contact us if you would be interested in meeting us or hearing more about what we are doing.

Sept 08:: Braden in Ministry

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

Rachel and Braden

Ever since Braden was born, I (Rachel) have been asked, by just about everyone, what I will be doing this fall. In fact, I have even asked myself. I have the wonderful opportunity to stay home with Braden, and eventually our other children, if that is in our future. However, I wish to remain as involved as I can in the ministry and invest my time in things that will help to change the lives of college students.

This fall, instead of being on campus 3 days a week, I will be mostly working from home. My responsibilities include managing our website (with Ryan’s help) Indianacru.com, helping to organize Fall Retreat, and coordinating our volunteers.

This role, the volunteer coordinator, includes helping volunteers get involved in the ministries on the campuses they wish to give their time to. I am working with 10-15 individuals, keeping them up to date with what our team is doing, resourcing and equipping them for ministry, and providing them with additional training that they might need.

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