Campus Impact Stories

Last year, Kenzie and Deidra routinely fasted and prayed, asking God to lead them to other students at their high school to share about Jesus. Kenzie noticed a boy who had been sitting by himself, day after day, and felt God nudging her to talk with him. She approached him and asked if he was a Christian. Jake responded that he’d started a relationship with Jesus just days before by watching videos on TikTok!

Kenzie was the first Christian he’d met; he didn’t know any other followers of Jesus. So he began to participate in the small Cru® movement on campus and began to grow. Last spring, Jake was baptized and now regularly invites friends to join him at Cru gatherings. This year, he’s a leader, along with Kenzie and Deidra, helping to reach other students in this growing movement.

Four years ago, after COVID, Cru® at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) was struggling with only one student leader. Taking steps of faith, that single student saw God grow the movement to 12. Together, students went on a spring break trip where they learned to share their faith and began to put it into practice back on campus. As a result of their commitment to share their faith, the number of students tripled the following year. Today, 90 students on campus are meeting to grow in their faith and to trust God with sharing the gospel at Ole Miss.

Jackson noticed when one of his professors was struggling with a friend in hospice nearing the end of his life. Jackson responded as the Lord led him … he turned in his quiz, quietly asking if he could pray for his professor after class. “Nobody prays for me. I would love to have somebody pray for me.” So, Jackson waited for the end of class, then prayed over his professor, who wept, saying, “Thank you for offering me peace and comfort, I never expected that from a student.”

As new Bible studies kicked off at Texas A&M, a freshman asked, “Is it OK if I come? I haven’t been to church since my freshman year of high school, and I don’t really know the Bible at all.”

She wasn’t alone. Several freshmen joined Bible studies without ever owning a Bible. Their eagerness to learn about Jesus and gather in community might seem unique, yet this year these groups are overflowing!

One student, who grew up in South Africa, was so eager to learn about Jesus that she bought “The Jesus Storybook Bible,” written for children, to help nurture her young faith.

Research shows that young men in Gen Z are returning to church-related activities. One student said, “Last year, I checked out Bible studies to see friends, but this year I am coming to really get into the Word.”