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So are there unique opportunities for Christian students at a two-year school? InterVarsity leaders at the College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) think so. Because most COD students live with one or both parents, they identified a natural opportunity for witness to their families in a way that may be unavailable to chapters at most four-year residential schools.

What did they do? A few years ago the COD chapter planned “Family Night,” a large-group meeting to which chapter members invited parents and other relatives. The idea was to give them a chance to see and hear for themselves what the fellowship was like. Parents who were concerned about the new spiritual enthusiasm of their sons and daughters relaxed when they learned about the solid focus of the chapter. Because of its positive impact, Family Night has become a spring tradition for the chapter at College of DuPage.

The program for Family Night reflects a regular chapter meeting. It opens with worship, followed by a Scripture reading. Then student leaders come to the front and introduce themselves, explaining the main I-V activities and what their particular roles are. Students then introduce their parents, grandparents and other relatives who have come as their guests.

Sometimes the program includes a version of the Newlywed Game where several parent-student pairs volunteer to play. The students leave the room while the parents answer five to eight questions about their sons and daughters. Here is an example: “On weekends, what time does _______ get out of bed in the morning?

a. 7–9 a.m.
b. 9–11 a.m.
c. 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
d. Morning? What’s that?”

Open-ended questions are also used, such as “What was ________’s most embarrassing moment?” When the parents have answered all the questions, the students return and give their own answers. The pair with the most matched answers wins.

For another Family Night, the chapter leaders decided simply to invite testimonies from students about how God had blessed them through their families. A remarkable time of affirmation followed, and a couple of students even apologized publicly to their parents for immature behavior, confessing that it is hardest to be a Christian in one’s own home.

Last fall, the group decided to go further and put on a dinner for parents. The students got permission to use the fellowship hall and kitchen at a church near the campus. This also helped build ties with the church, which had expressed interest in campus ministry. On the afternoon of the event, COD’s leadership team and staff worker gathered in the kitchen about the time of the regular leaders’ meeting, but instead of pulling out agendas and making lists they began chopping vegetables and setting up tables. They had decided on a menu of bread-shell pizzas, vegetable curry and rice, salad and cake.

Of course the preparations didn’t go altogether smoothly, but cooking together was a hilarious experience. Students had to run out to the store for some forgotten items, and a few people had to stay in the kitchen after everyone else had started eating to keep shoveling the pizzas in and out of the oven. Miraculously, the rice turned out perfectly, and the curry was not overcooked. Afterward, several of the parents said in a surprised tone, “The food was good!”

All through dinner, Paul Bertsch, staff worker from Indiana, played and sang folk songs. Later the exec members introduced themselves, and students with birthdays that month were called forward to receive gag gifts and endure a raucous rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

A good number of parents came to the dinner. Christian parents were pleased to have a chance to meet the staff worker and learn more about their student’s involvement in an active Christian group. Even more significant is that several non-Christian parents came and had a good time, plied with hospitality from their own sons and daughters and their friends.