Short Circuit Vol 7 Num 1

Short Circuit

Volume 7

Number 1

Apr. 2006

University of North Carolina - Charlotte

Photo of Weekly Bible study/fellowship meeting

The 05-06 school year is the third year that CBF has been organized on the campus of UNC-Charlotte. Each year brings new challenges and extreme growth on the part of our students to whom we minister, but also to us as we learn more and more how effective and fascinating this kind of outreach can be!

UNC-Charlotte is a beautiful, southern-influenced campus, quickly expounding itself as an up-and-coming research university. An edge more than 20,000 students tread the sidewalks of this campus almost on a daily basis, all of them with various degrees of spiritual needs. While the flavor of southern universities may seem mild and religiously tolerant for the most part, we are fast becoming aware of the unrestrained growth of "cult religions" and relativity of truth permeating this campus.

Literature Table

Throughout the year (including the summers), UNC-Charlotte SGA (student government association) gives student organizations the opportunity to put out what they are offering to the student body. In the winter these outreaches will be in the Lucas Room, but during the fall and summer, many of these outreach times will be outside in the warm Carolina sunshine. Jeff and Kim believe in student involvement in many ways. It is through the students that other students feel comfortable enough to approach them. Students frequently man the literature tables during the week along with Jeff or Kim, and also are involved in the outreach opportunities.

Three days a week we man a literature table either in the main food court in the Cone Center - a hub of organizational activity or in front of the central book store on campus. Both places have been hubs of searching for truth, for comfort, for answers, for belongingness, for fellowship, for definition.

Thursday night main group Bible study

Through the week, Jeff and Kim invest themselves into the lives of those who have asked for deeper study than what they would normally get during the weekly Bible studies. These meetings can take place anywhere on campus, depending on the students' schedules and preferences. Some of these one-on-ones are strictly for discipleship and growth in the life of the student and others are mainly for accountability and belongingness.

Jeff has a Monday Men's Bible study on campus. This year the topic has been "Eschatology". Kim leads a "Girl Talk" time on Wednesdays at noon. This entire year has been devoted to the study of the book of Proverbs. Thursday nights is the main group Bible study in Cone 111. Kim always prepares a light supper, then there is prayer time, praise and worship time, and an in-depth Bible study. "Comparative Religions" has been the topic for this spring semester and has been well-attended. Just this month of April before the Easter break (after electrical problems on campus made it impossible to meet on campus in our regular place), we brought the Thursday night Bible study to our home and had the highest attendance for the whole year.

Chili Cookoff and Samaritan's Purse Project

The fall saw a new tradition started as the first annual "Chili Cookoff and Samaritan's Purse Project" was introduced at the home of Ben Raborn, CBF president at UNCC. This was entirely because of the planning of our fantastic officers!

The students initiated a Bible Giveaway last spring. They are planning to give away 400 more Bibles during the week before final exams this year. Inside the Bible is contact information for CBF and a tract simply explaining salvation through Christ.

Progressive Dinners at Christmas time, monthly fellowship and game nights at the Abernethy's house, Lake Day to kick off the fall semester, and other "off-campus" events have all helped build the bridges to get to know those students who are not willing to yet attend a Bible study.

Progressive Dinner

The first two years saw a great influx of international students; however, this year has not been as rich with these particular students. Several international students have come through the doors, graced us with their presence for a while, and then have moved on to prepare themselves for their futures. However, any amount of time we have with any student is a gift that we do not want to take lightly.

"Searching for Real Treasure" is the motto for CBF on the campus of UNC-Charlotte! It is our desire to help these UNCC students be able to find the only treasure that will last - Jesus Christ! He is worthy!