Publicity plastered the campus of the University of Nevada–Reno. More than 3,000 flyers, posters and picket signs covered the campus in three waves of publicity designed to raise curiosity and stir interest in an event called the Point. We hung signs in every building, dorm floor, fraternity and sorority house, and even on the windows of cars.

The InterVarsity chapter worked like an army, dividing up the campus and getting the word out. The bolder students accepted the challenge to stand before their classes and invite students to the Point. More than 20 classes and approximately 800 students heard about the event this way. Everywhere on campus, people started asking, “So, what’s the Point?” The InterVarsity students, clad in Point T-shirts, would answer by inviting people to come and see what The Point really is. The campus newspaper even sent a reporter and photographer to cover the event.

The Point was a new evangelistic effort planned by a group of ten talented students at UNR. They chose the popular topic of romantic relationships and used video, live drama and music to communicate a penetrating truth—that one’s search for the ultimate romantic relationship is really a search for something far deeper. InterVarsity staff Amy Smith talked about how the intimacy and fulfillment people hope to find in a relationship is often elusive since human relationships never measure up to Hollywood’s fantasy portrayal. The love that Jesus demonstrated and offers to us answers the deep longing for dynamic, enduring, sacrificial love.

This was the message we wanted to communicate to the campus. The 60 members of our fellowship were praying for 60 other students to come to the event for a one-to-one ratio. We were surprised when 120 non-IV students showed up! For every Christian in the room, there were two non-Christians hearing the gospel. We don’t know of any Christian event at UNR that has actually had the guests outnumber the members. God gave us much more than we asked for!

The purpose of the Point was to help students see how God is relevant to their lives and give them an invitation to begin the process of discovering, believing and eventually following Jesus. There were 16 people who signed up for a GIG (Groups Investigating God) to help them discover Jesus and ask any questions about what it means to become a Christian. Twelve students signed up to meet individually to talk more about relationships and God. And some other students decided to join our regular Bible studies.

All things considered, this was a very encouraging effort. Our fellowship is more united, and there is a greater understanding of our purpose on campus. Our student evangelists have come out of the woodwork and are setting a higher standard for the fellowship to spread the gospel. Our talented Point Team is enthused about doing another event. And our faith in God has been increased. Of course, the point of it all is Jesus, and we give him the glory and praise.

—Shawn lives in Reno, Nevada with his wife Caryn and his children Kalena and Nathan. He has served on InterVarsity staff in both Las Vegas and Reno.