Collegiate

In this issue you’ll discover how Jesus can answer your questions, meet your needs, and help you in your day-to-day life. You’ll read about discovering where true joy lies and how we were created and called to impact those around us. Plus you’ll learn a lot of practical stuff—like great Christmas gift ideas under $15, how to get on your professor’s good side, tips on surviving a J-Term, ways you can help defeat global hunger, and much more. And don’t miss information about signing up for BeachReach 2010 in Panama City. I can’t think of a better way to spend Spring Break than serving pancakes and giving van rides at 2 a.m. to share the love of Christ.

We have gotten a few requests for a promotional poster for this Fall’s Collegiate Bible Studies and thought everyone might like a copy. This poster is 11 x 17 and ready to print on any standard printer. Happy Bible study promotion to all.

I’d love to be the kind of believer who oozes spirituality, but the real me is a scattered, messy, stumbling Christ-follower. My life is filled with to-do’s, deadlines, meals on the go, and Skype. Is there any reason to think I could ever be good at prayer? Of course! And if that’s something you’ve ever wondered, you can too. The reality is, most of us are way too busy to ignore the mystical, practical, whimsical, illogical gift of prayer.

The beginning of the fall semester is the most opportune time to reach students on a college campus. And boy do we put a lot of energy and resources into those first few weeks. But once the semester is in full swing, how do we continue to be a visible and welcome presence on campus?

Ah, the inner workings of the editorial world. Here’s a video snippet of the editor/graphic designer relationship as we wrapped the Fall 2009 issue of Collegiate. Sometimes it’s amazing that we get anything done …

Did you know that one billion people on our planet (that’s 1 in 6) don’t have access to clean drinking water? Did you know that our generation alone has the means to eliminate this problem? Donating just $20—possibly giving up a dinner out or pocket change for the month—means one thirsty person can gain access to clean water for 20 years. Charitywater.org is asking that all people with September birthdays give this month. How about adding one more thing to that long list of why the world should be glad you were born?

Every fall thousands of alumni flock back to their college campuses to celebrate Homecoming. Amid the pep band playing the fight song and old friends laughing over favorite memories, I realized Homecoming, for me, is a little different. After graduation, I spent several years as an academic advisor to student-athletes at my alma mater, Western Kentucky University. It’s given me a unique perspective on college life, well, post college. So here are a few things I learned about finding deeper meaning while you’re still on campus.

Looking for an easier way to connect music to your Bible studies? Collegiate now has its very own iMix on iTunes. Just go to the iTunes Music store to view the Fall 2009 Collegiate playlist.

The Threads team is gearing up for National Collegiate Week 2009 at Ridgecrest, NC and Glorieta, NM during the first week of August. It’s a time of authentic worship, encountering God’s Word, and gearing up for the new school year. Choose between more than 100 breakout sessions covering topics from dating to discipleship, money to missions, and everything in between. Hang out with student leaders, seminary recruiters, mission agency reps, and friends—all eager to see where your life goes.

If you haven’t heard of singer/songwriter Lanae’ Hale, you’re missing out. She’s got a fresh, sweet sound that keeps replaying in the Collegiate team’s heads. Lanae’ is on tour this summer with Building 429, 33Miles, and Kimber Rising. She’s doing a mini tour called Moments of Worship with Jaime Jamgochian and Daniel Kirkley in August, and is confirmed for a Christmas-themed Bethlehem Skyline Tour in December. But if you aren’t able to catch a concert, read more about Lanae’s story in the Fall 2009 issue of Collegiate, available now for purchase.