Collegiate

For the Fall 2010 issue of Collegiate magazine, we profiled Brent Gudgel and David Mahanes, the guys behind Deidox, a series of short documentary films telling true stories of how everyday people are being used by God. Here’s Lindsay’s film, about a young teacher who discovers how her past experiences have prepared her for a unique ministry. Go to deidox.com to check out the complete series.

Collegiate Week 2010 was an overwhelming success with more than 1,800 people in attendance and at least 10 students who came to know the Lord. We can’t wait until Collegiate Week 2011. It will be here before we know it!

The first month of school shapes collegiate ministry for the entire year. Sure, God can and does move in October or April, but typically what does or doesn’t happen the first month of the university year matters in October and in April. Students set their patterns the first three weeks of Fall semester. They often decide quickly where they’ll park, when they’ll eat, who they’ll spend time with, and whether or not they’ll be involved in church or campus ministry. Bam! Decided. Tuesday/Thursday schedule set. Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule set. Collegiate ministries have a key window of opportunity to enter into a student’s life during the first month of the year.

My favorite air to breathe is fall air on a college campus. Believe it or not, fall and the arrival of students, new and returning, is here! Football players, resident assistants, sorority recruitment leaders, and band members are likely on your campus right now. Others will quickly follow! Wooo Hooo!

Nearly 19 million college students are preparing to begin class next month. How will you and your church seek to be involved in their lives? Consider the following: make the first three weeks of the semester count, develop a specialized ministry to at least one people group on campus, and have a plan for your collegiate ministry.

Imagine signing a dream-come-true record deal right out of college and moving to Nashville to make it big—then walking away from it all a year later. That’s exactly what Canadian-born singer/songwriter Matt Brouwer did.

If you’re considering using Collegiate for your personal Bible study or small group, or if you haven’t received your copy of the Winter issue yet, we’ve posted a free, downloadable PDF of all the December Bible studies. It’s a rare look inside the Bible studies of Collegiate magazine. And while you’re there, don’t forget to download the free teaching plans and commentary. Happy reading!

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.