Most colleges just started classes several days ago. Let me share with you 2 emails from Bill Haller, the advisor of one of our newest BASIC groups at Binghamton University.
Hey Todd, BU has something called University Fest the weekend before classes start (which is today). Student groups can set up their info and make themselves known to the student body. Of course we were there representing BASIC. We gave out over 1000 of the postcard things we got at Propel [the BASIC leadership conference] with our meeting info and facebook page, as well as invitations to our free pizza and volleyball event tomorrow. There were 53 people who gave contact info on our general interest sheet and we are organizing rides for church already.
We are very encouraged with how phase one of our plans have gone and are excited for tomorrow and our first official meeting Monday. God is definitely blessing our efforts beyond what we were previously doing [before working with BASIC] and I’m excited to see the fruit from it. Of course keep the next 2 days in prayer, as we will see how many people we can connect to in a significant way.
-Bill
Today, I received this email:
Todd, More good news from Binghamton. Sunday was free pizza and volleyball on campus. We ended up having approx. 70 people come through (many of whom we had met Saturday tabling and handing out info). We added 20 people to the 53 we already had for general contact info. Everybody on that list was then informed of our upcoming meeting for Monday. Saturday and Sunday definitely set the stage for Monday’s opening meeting. Many of the people that came were people that we met during the weekend festivities. We had 35 guests come through the doors, plus probably an additional 10 people to account for our BASIC leaders and the people that came from church to play worship. This was the first time we used worship in a meeting, and the church rallied behind us and sent some people in the 18-25 range to help where we didn’t have the talent. We were also far more presentable and hospitable than ever before and had a nice welcome section setup, primarily run by my wife Christy and our BASIC secretary Jeanette.
My brother Tim preached the Word and gave a call for salvation, which 8 people responded to.
Given that our group [prior to joining BASIC and coming to Propel] was about 15-20 people (most of which were no longer undergraduate students), to see 35 student guests and have 8 salvations come from it on the first night was nothing short of incredible. We are looking forward to tapping into the enormous potential that God has put in front of us. I’ll keep you posted as things develop.
-Bill
Is that awesome or what? Sometimes you have to stop and actually think that this wasn’t just 8 decisions for Christ, but this is 8 lives that are on a new journey, 8 destinies that are awakening. But one of the coolest parts of the story is about Bill. Bill had never set foot in a church until he was radically saved at the age of 18 through a college ministry. Now he’s leading other students through the same experience. Amazing!
I’m incredibly proud of Bill, Tim, Christy, Jeanette, and everyone else at Binghamton University who are giving their utmost for God’s glory. Knowing BASIC Central played some role in this is very rewarding for me personally since they utilized some of the resources we designed and handed out at the Propel Leadership Conference, as well as applying some of the strategies we researched and taught from experience. I only pray we can impact more campuses in this way! Heaven is going to be a little bit bigger after today.
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