Upside-Down Growth
University of Northwestern 2020 Campus Update
In March, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. Every area of our lives changed, perhaps especially the college campus. With almost no warning, students were sent home for the rest of the school year. Classes, group projects, Bible studies, and even ministry went virtual. Nothing felt normal or right as all of us scrambled to find our footing in an upside-down world.
In the midst of this disruption, we entered a new school year at Northwestern facing many challenges in meeting new students. We had a significantly smaller staff team, intensified restrictions on visiting the campus/interacting with students, and uncertainty over how long students would be permitted to stay on campus. However, as our staff team prayed and dreamed, we all sensed (with great excitement) that God was leading us toward a seemingly upside-down ministry strategy: one where we went deeper, not broader. We decided to focus primarily on discipling students already involved with us, praying that God would work through them to reach new students. We began discipling 33 students through weekly discipleship groups, one-on-ones with staff members, a weekly ministry training meeting, and studying through the Gospel of Mark together. And we have seen God work! Within just a month of being on campus, seven student-led Bible studies started with anywhere from five to fifteen students coming to each one! After teaching students about an evangelism tool called “The Bridge Diagram,” one of our students shared her faith with a friend using this diagram and the friend acknowledged her need for Jesus and prayed to accept him as her Savior! As students fall more in love with who Jesus is, they are freely and joyfully reaching out to others to share about him.
Alexis and Emma Garcia
Northwestern Campus Directors
Student Quote
“God has been teaching me to recognize that, through ministry, we are called to plant seeds, but he will ultimately cause the growth. It has been a humbling process to pour into other women with full assurance that God has full control and will bring things to fruition.”
–Kailey, Sophomore
NortHwestern Campus Staff
Taylor and Ellie Lindahl, Emma and Alexis Garcia