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Volume 2 |
Number 2 | March 2001 |
C.B.F. at The University of Iowa
In 1973 Hal Miller, founder of Campus Bible Fellowship, began traveling 2 hours each week down to the University of Iowa in Iowa City. A CBF group was formed and staff went down for 1 1/2 days each week for many years, but it wasn't until 1982 that Tom and Nancy Miller and Elva Craig actually moved there as permanent staff. In 1985 a campus house was purchased by the Eastern Iowa Campus Ministries for CBF use. It is across the street from the football stadium and close to the campus. Tom, Nancy and their daughters live in the upstairs, while downstairs is Tom's office and a very large lounge for parties, meetings, etc.
We begin each semester with literature tables in the Union, trying to get new students interested and involved. Our large group meeting is held Thursday evenings with singing, sharing and a Bible study. During the week various small group and one-on-one Bible studies are held all over campus. This year we had about 15 gals from the Ladies Softball Team attend one of our studies. Only four are Christians; so we are praying for the others.
Various activities such as picnics, volleyball, make-your-own-pizza, progressive dinners, etc. are held bimonthly to encourage students to invite their friends. Also throughout the year are retreats and seminars with students from the University of Northern Iowa, Drake, and Iowa State University. We close the year with a banquet for our church people to hear the skits, music, and testimonies of our students and see how God has worked in their lives.
At the University of Iowa there are 28,000 students, 1600 of whom are from about 35 different countries. We've had many opportunities to reach out to them through Orientation, host families, dinners, etc. Each fall we hold an International Dinner on Campus, with our churches helping with the food. Last September we had 90 in attendance. The program consisted of special music (including a Thai band), testimonies, and slides of Taiwan. Many signed up that were interested in a Bible study and other activities. As a result, we had 33 students attend our church hayrack ride. Each week Elva has a Practical English class for International Ladies where she teaches them cooking, crafts, American holidays, slang expressions, etc., followed by a short Bible story.
Because of this many have started individual Bible studies and attend other activities. One Chinese couple has begun to attend our church. It's exciting to see students like Haixia, Elva's host student, come to the Lord.
We thank the Lord for giving us opportunities to reach students here at Iowa with the Gospel that we could never have reached in their home countries. Opportunities abound. Laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest for more laborers.