Name: Kristi Major: Biological Systems Engineering "The first time I came to an InterVarsity small group, we really dug into Scripture. a lot. I was intimidated, because it was very different from anything I'd done before. I went to a different bible study, but I went back to an InterVarsity study after a few weeks, because I realized I was missing the big picture of the passages I had been studying. I was still a little scared, but then I realized that even though I'm an engineering major who is not good at analyzing literature, God still had big things to say to me through really digging into His Word. As community developed while we studied Scripture, I found a lot more than just a bible study. We ate together, prayed together, served together. These weren't acquaintances that I saw once a week for bible study who asked me "How are you?" they grew to be close friends who could ask me, "How was your big chem exam?" My parents couldn't figure out why I spent so much time with the people in my bible study, and I couldn't explain it to them other than to say these friends are different than other friends I'd had before. My small group last year was the highlight of my year, and I'm really excited to lead a small group this year." Name: Peter Major: Russian Language & Literature “I've been involved with InterVarsity at UW-Madison since my sophomore year, and in these last three years God has done amazing things in my life. He has transformed me into a person who tries to follow after him in everything and seeks to serve him with everything I do. God has really given me a heart for students and for the campus. I long to see the campus renewed and transformed into a place where God is glorified rather than rejected, and honored rather than defamed. God has called me to pursue these goals for him vocationally. I decided to come on staff with InterVarsity, and God granted me a place at UW-Madison. I am very excited to see how God is going to use me in the coming years to establish his Kingdom on the UW campus." Name: Steph Major: Journalism "I grew up going to mass every Sunday. I stood, I kneeled, I sat, and I responded when I knew I was supposed to, but I never really listened. In the spring semester of 2006, one of my sorority sisters invited me to Greek IV. That next fall I started coming every week and I really loved it. Greek IV was the first religious, Christian thing I’ve ever done truly because I wanted to. This year I went to Greek Conference and attended the track on Christian Sex and Intimacy. For the fist time in my life, everything people said about God made sense. It clicked in my head and I thought “Why didn’t I think like this before? Saturday night we broke off with our campus fellowship and took some time of quiet personal reflection. That’s when I realized that I never had a personal relationship with the Lord. I’d thought that just going to church made me a Christian, but I now knew that having a personal relationship with God is so much more then that. So I prayed with my chapter and turned my life over to God. I thank Greek IV and Greek Conference for helping me get here.” Name: Davi Major: Psychology Exchange Student from Brazil “Olá! (“hello” in Portuguese). My experience in Madison can be summed up from a passage in Jeremiah 29: “Build houses and settle down, plant gardens and eat what they produce seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you.” Madison was the land where I planted my gardens. The land turned out to be very fertile and I received many great fruits: friendships, knowledge and even more passion for student’s ministry. God used Intervarsity to equip me to serve him in a better and more mature way. As I return to Brazil, I’m taking new ideas for our movement; I am even considering joining staff in Brazil.” Name: Sam Major: Engineering “As a UW college student, the Asian Christian Fellowship (ACF) Spring Retreat from Feb 8-10 was a chance for me, to reenergize and reprioritize my life. We had great messages, powerful praise; and great bonding times. What I loved about the messages was that they were honest and convicting. From the message on 1 Samuel 3:1-21, I learned that I had become like Eli: blind and deaf to God. I want to become more like Samuel: an obedient servant of the Lord. I also learned that God was trying to talk to me, but I had literally "shelved" his Word right next to my chemistry book. God also showed me that He has been waiting to speak to me and to answer my prayers through the Bible. Now I am trying to get back onto the path that God has prepared for me through prayer and my devotional life.“ Name: Matt Major: Psychology, Ethnomusicology, Philosophy “Intervarsity helped me bring my two worlds together. I had always had a love for relationships with the average guys that was separated from my Christian life. I felt like I had to choose one or the other. IV helped me take all I was learning as a Christian and apply that wisdom into my life with people outside of the church. IV also empowered me by showing me what real relational evangelism was about. They challenged me to see how relational God is and how we need to invest our lives into people we hope to see come to the Lord.” Name: Aaron Major: Computer Engineering/ Computer Science “I was raised in a Christian environment. I went to church every Sunday and was involved in youth group. Unfortunately, towards the end of high school , I started to slip away. When I came to college, going to church and getting involved in campus ministry weren’t exactly high on my list of things to do. All I was really worried about was doing well in school, and meeting lots of new friends. So I did that for a while. Eventually God put a desire on my heart to reconnect. One of the ways I did that was through InterVarsity; which has been an extreme spiritual growth experience for me.” Name: Janice Major: Neuroscience "Before the global project began this summer, I expected to grow both personally and spiritually, to learn more about Taiwanese culture and religion, and to build new friendships. During a global project to Taiwan I saw firsthand how deep God’s love extends, from the dedication of the minister at the prison in Tainan to the commitment of Pastor Chu and his wife with the children at the shelter and with the local community in Douliou to the heart and compassion our director had for the Taiwanese people. Furthermore, it motivated and affirmed my desire to work overseas after I finish medical school, and I hope that I will be able to find a purpose that I have as much passion for as those I served with in Taiwan. I am excited to see where God will lead me. Recently, I received an e-mail from one of my Taiwanese students from the trip who just began graduate studies in Colorado. She has started checking out Christian groups on campus and is interested in continuing to attend an international student fellowship!” Name: Lance Major: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences “I was afraid of being bold for Christ and had doubts/fears about contact evangelism . I prayed, challenging God to show me that public evangelism could be effective…and He sure did! During contact evangelism, I had some great conversations where I knew God had set up a divine appointment. But more significant for me was the way God gave me a true sense of joy in calling others to follow Him. He showed me a glimpse of what evangelism should be. Rather than something to be afraid of, I now see it more as a great opportunity to partner with God in the things he is already doing. My challenge now is for this to become more of a lifestyle rather than a one time event. I am excited for what He can and will do on our campus this upcoming year.” Name: Eric Major: Computer Engineering “SLT was amazing for many reasons; one was that I experienced true Biblical community. My family group was a diverse group of people and we were able to get really close. It was encouraging to hear about the things God was doing on campuses all over. It gave me a bigger picture for how this ministry really extends beyond me and my campus; it really has the potential to impact the world. At SLT one of the things we are trained in is evangelism. I was convicted and I prayed for opportunities to share the gospel with some specific friends back home. The first full day home I had the courage to share the gospel with one of them!” Name: Karen Major: German “Just hours after attending an evangelistic Bible study training, I returned to my dorm and heard my neighbor talking to Brian. God reassured me that if I gave Brian my time He would guide our conversation and we would end up talking about God. That’s exactly what happened! Argumentative, full of questions, and a pro playing devil's advocate, he fueled a conversation on God for over 2 hours! Our discussion left me needing to nd answers... the perfect excuse to meet again the following week, which he agreed to! Afterwards I ran to the bathroom to pray for Brian and our next meeting. Praise God for His faithfulness!” Name: Kayla Major: Communicative Disorders “God changed my life in two signicant ways last year through IV. First, I learned about a daily quiet time. I didn’t become a Christian until later in high school and I had no one to model how to live a Christian life. Life can be stressful on campus dealing with homework, roommates, and tests. During my daily time with the Lord I get strengthened, encouraged and nd direction for my life. Second, my perspective on college was changed; God called me to be here at the UW Madison and has a plan and a purpose for my life here. I am on Campus on Purpose. Just being reminded of that simple fact has eased my mind. God is in control and I need to trust Him.”