A majority of students at Augustana College (IL) come from a church background and have heard of Jesus, but many have not understood the idea of having a personal relationship with him. As the chapter planned for Jesus Week last year, the outreach team decided to focus around the theme of a personal relationship with Jesus. They planned a full week of events, including a band, speakers, student testimonies and a talent show.

The outreach team was particularly creative in their publicity, making bright orange t-shirts advertising the week. They also took the time to make handwritten personal invitations to all 2,200 students on campus. Part of the idea of the handwritten invitation was to provide a personal touch that accented the week’s theme of a personal relationship with Jesus. We learned the hard way that anyone who undertakes writing personal invitations to a campus should start writing them early and send them out later. Recruit as many people to help as possible!

I-V students lingered at their mailboxes to watch reactions as students picked up their mail the day invitations were sent out. Many unsuspecting students were surprised that someone would take the time to write an invitation to them. One I-V student delightedly reported that few were thrown in the trash—an indication that invitations were not viewed as just another piece of junk mail. At least one person became involved in a GIG afterward. Yet the reaction was mixed. One student was insulted enough to write an article in the school newspaper. Overall, there were many good opportunities for students to invite their friends and consider Jesus.

—Vicki Pothoven is on InterVarsity staff in Illinois.  She enjoys doing anything and everything with her husband Dave and her daughter Larissa.