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

Archive for the ‘Relevantreport’ 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.”

(more…)

May 09 :: Our Part in International Ministry

Monday, May 18th, 2009

When I was involved in Campus Crusade for Christ in college, I was looking for ways to use the gifts that the Lord has given me for ministry. While I was at NIU, I did this as a student leader on campus. After school, the Lord called me and Rachel onto staff with CCC, to use my gifts to support the staff that are on campus.

Some students, when approaching graduation, are not sure about full time ministry. Sometimes the Lord has called them to commit a year or two of their lives to ministry – which is why Campus Crusade offers internships. Every year, about 150-200 students, mostly recent graduates, in the Great Lakes apply to do an Internship with CCC for one or two years. This number is equal to the number of full time staff in other regions.

(more…)

Mar09:: Campus Crusade for Conferences

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

With all the work that goes into our conference season, one might wonder why we put on so many conferences during the school year. Is it that students don’t have enough to do? We know that is certainly not the case.

Sagamore BallroomSagamore Ballroom

So, why does Campus Crusade for Christ put on multiple conferences during the year? It is because, although God is not limited to, He chooses to work in the hearts of students through these weekends away from the stressful, hectic college environment. It was at a Christmas Conference that I felt God tug my heart towards investigating what He might have for me within this ministry called Campus Crusade for Christ. It was during the next summer project that the Lord called me into full time ministry, to use the skills and abilities that He has given me.

(more…)

Jan09: You Can’t Walk Standing Still

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Sagamore Ballroom

The lyrics of the hymn “Come Thou Fount” resonated throughout the Indianapolis Convention Center in powerful unison, as the praise band Hello Industry led more than 1,850 animated young men and women in worship. This was the first night of the Indianapolis Christmas Conference, an annual event hosted by Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru). College students from 92 campuses all over Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio took four days out of their Christmas break to worship God, to fellowship with each other, learn to follow him more intimately, and to have an opportunity to impact the lives of those around them.

This year, the conference theme was, “You can’t walk standing still.” The students heard from four speakers about what it means to have an active faith in God and learned about practical steps they can take to grow in their personal walk with Him, to surrender to His will, and to become a part of His redemptive work in this world.

(more…)