InterVarsity Spring 2007 Newsletter

I don’t usually post my newsletters on this blog…after all, that is kinda lame.  Nevertheless, I’ve had different people ask me how things are going with InterVarsity.  If you are curious, the latest info is below.  Be forwarned…I ask for money at the end of the newsletter!

Breakaway 2007

Minnesota and the Dakotas). Hundreds of students gathered together near Brainerd, Minnesota to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Dozens of students committed their lives to serving Jesus Christ—some of them first time followers of Jesus.

George Gardner (North Dakota Area Director) and I took 20 students through the Gospel of Luke on a “journey of justice,” asking them to dedicate their lives to following Jesus’ way of destroying the walls that divide us—walls of gender, race, ethnicity, class, etc. Our students got a glimpse of a radically compassionate, subversive Jesus. At the end of our time together, every student made a commitment to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by making his manifesto (Luke 4:18-19) our own. With Jesus, we all proclaimed:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

On the Road

I’m excited about the coming school year—that is when preparations will transform into reality as we officially launch our chapter at the University of Minnesota (more on that later). But in the meantime, my energy is tied up with planning, training, fund raising, and speaking. Here’s a sample of what I’ve been up to so far in 2007:

• In January, I spoke at Winona State about the “Myth of Religion”—I challenged the notion that Christianity is about going through the motions and, at the same time, said that certain spiritual practices like prayer, communion, baptism, can be profound if they are anchored in a real experience of the presence of Jesus Christ.
• In February, I participated in our region’s New Staff Training near Fergus Falls, MN. Since I’ve been to seminary and have years of ministry experience already under my belt, my involvement in new staff training involves helping train the other new staff. This time, I led a bible study on 2 Corinthians 4-6—which talks about the struggles involved with being ministers of reconciliation.
• Next month, I’ll speak at Hamline University about “Christianity that Changes the World.” We’ll explore ways to move past Christianity-as-Usual and get back to the roots of the radical movement started by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.
• In addition to speaking on campus, I preach at a different church each month—building relationships with these churches, letting them know about our ministry to students on the West Bank.

Looking Ahead to Coming School Year

The past year has been difficult. I’ve had to learn how to fit within a new organization—InterVarsity and at the same time network, fundraise, and scheme about what ministry could—and should—look like on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota. The U of M West Bank is home to the arts and social science programs of the University of Minnesota. It has a very creative, activistic, progressive vibe—but is also a bit adversarial to Christianity. It is my kind of place. A few days ago, my excitement amplified as I found out that I am the recipient of an InterVarsity chapter planting grant! This means that InterVarsity is taking a particularly active interest in my ministry. They are releasing about $30,000 for ministry expenses and training (which will primarily take place within the Chapter Planter’s Cohort—a national group of about 10 staff specially chosen to help plant new InterVarsity chapters.

It feels good to be so strongly supported in a new venture. Here are my current thoughts about what this venture will look like in the coming year:

• In late spring and summer, I will look for a few students to join me and my volunteers to plan for the coming school year.
• At the start of the school year, we will have new student outreach (more on that in the next newsletter).
• Also in the fall, we’ll begin to gather students. While we won’t have a big enough group to do a full-on large group gathering, we’ll begin to rally students around the radical teachings of Jesus in a series called “the Jesus Manifesto”—which is also, incidentally a book I’m writing that will be published (hopefully) in late 2007.
• In the winter, we will begin a seeker gathering we’re calling “the Pub Gathering.” The Pub Gathering is a ministry that I used to do through my church (Missio Dei) that we’re revamping for students 21 and over. The idea is to have a spiritual discussion around questions seekers and skeptics are already asking—and to do so in a place where they’d normally gather (one of the local college bars). Their questions on their turf. More on that in an upcoming newsletter.
• I’ve begun some planning for a conference that will be held in early 2008. The conference, tentatively called “Jesus and Justice,” will bring together a few national speakers, as well as a handful of other presenters. The conference—which will be held at the University of Minnesota—will explore how we can learn from Jesus’ radical stand against injustice in his day, so that we (as his followers) can stand against injustice in ours.

How You Can Help

Earlier, I shared about the grant I’ve received from InterVarsity. This grant will help with ministry expenses, but I still have lots of fundraising to do if I want to get fully funded before fall 2007. Currently, I’m 50% of my way there. Please help me get fully funded. Anything—and I do mean anything—helps. If you are unable to give what you’d like to give, perhaps you could get me to come speak at your church or event (I love to preach) so that I can let more folks know about our ministry on the West Bank. Contact me at: mark@missio-dei.com for more information. To support our new venture with InterVarsity, go to intervarsity.org/donate/. From there, you can choose your giving method (EFT, Mail, Credit, etc.). Make sure you specify “Mark Van Steenwyk,” since I am the designated staff for the U of M West Bank.

Peace of Christ to You,

Mark Van Steenwyk

for further reading . . .

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