Cru® Inner City - Chicago is excited to be able to host Urban Immersion™ once again! Participants will spend time on Chicago campuses doing evangelism and meeting students as well as serving with Cru Inner City partner ministries and churches to serve the needs of children, teens, and the poor throughout Chicago. You'll have great opportunities to both minister cross-culturally and engage in cultural learning.
This covers housing, breakfast, most dinners, materials, supplies, and outings. This also covers a Cru background check, which is required because you will be ministering to minors as a part of this trip. (Not included in the cost are several dinners, all lunches, and transportation around the city.)
The Agape Community Center is owned by Cru. It is our central meeting place during Urban Immersion. Most of our meetings, trainings and celebrations will take place there. Some campus groups will be housed there. Many groups will have the opportunity to minister there throughout the week. For more about the Agape Community Center visit click here.
We are once again opening up the Agape Center as a housing facility for college groups. Men and women will be separated in various rooms and the Agape Center will provide sleeping mats for individuals to sleep on. There are also bathrooms and showers that will be available. The Agape Center will also provide continental breakfasts in the morning, and most of the dinners at night. Participants will be responsible for bringing money for all lunches while they are out on ministry assignments and for one dinner.
You are responsible for your own automobile transportation during Urban Immersion. Groups should either coordinate rides using their own cars or plan to rent vehicles upon arrival to Chicago via plane or train.
Participants will need to arrive on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The last meeting for the trip is Thursday night and housing ends Friday morning. The trip will be a mix of ministry and evangelism on college campuses and urban ministries and churches. You’ll also get teaching from Chicago pastors, training from Cru Campus and Inner City staff, and chances to explore and have fun in Chicago! Our detailed schedule is still in the works, but if you want to get a feel for what it will be like you can look at this schedule from a past trip.
Bible, sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, towel, gym shoes, work clothes, casual wear, money for lunches, gas and other minor expenses.
Primarily you’ll have the opportunity to share your faith with Chicago college students. You’ll have the opportunity to use surveys, Soularium, and the Perspectives tool to engage students in spiritual conversations.
I was in the juvenile detention center where I ate dinner with 4 young men who have been convicted of serious crimes. For awhile, we just talked about life, their hopes and dreams, and other interests. Eventually I was able to bring up God and talked to all 4 of them about his plan for them. They all seemed very invested in what I had to say and all asked for me to pray for them by the end of the dinner. It changed my whole world about being quick to judge. I was scared of these men and of this part of the trip. After talking to them, I realized how wrong I was and how they are all just kids. It gave me a new compassion for the crowd that is generally looked down on.
— Rowland from Indiana University
It was one of the first times I have initiated a spiritual conversation with a stranger and I felt like I really connected with her. I was even able to answer some of the questions/doubts she had about God. Praying for her was also a big first step for me.
— Talia from Minnesota State University, Moorhead
I think I realized that people everywhere are made in God’s image. I want to be someone who seeks to value the person hear their story and have empathy. I also really want to grow in loving my neighbor by serving more.
— Katrina from Indiana University
Questions:
All questions can be directed to Alejandrina Higgins or Anilda Barbosa.
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