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A Cola
for Your Thoughts!

"In early October, we set up the table in a busy spot, planning to run it from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. for three days," says Andrea. "The first day, our three cases of pop were gone in an hour. We ran out to get more, and the students kept on coming. Overall, we went through 16 cases of cola in three days."

When students came up to the booth, InterVarsity students handed them a slip of paper. On the paper were the words, "I believe . . ." followed by just four blank lines. Displayed on the table were suggested questions to respond to, such as, "Is there a God?" "Do you believe in life after death?" "What is God like?" and "Do you believe in absolute truth?" Also on the slip of paper was an opportunity for students to leave their name, phone and e-mail address. It was clear that such information was optional. At the bottom of the slip, students could respond to the question, "Would you like to talk more with a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship?"

Students at the booth also handed out flyers advertising the chapter's large-group meetings as well as a variety of IVP® booklets. "We gave everyone the opportunity to respond verbally, telling what they believed," adds Andrea, "but most preferred to write it down. About 160 of the 400 people who responded wanted to talk more. Following up on those people was harder than we thought it would be!"

There was a weekend retreat just before the "cola table" during which students learned more about talking with people about their faith, including how to give their own testimony to the work of God in their lives. During the week of the cola outreach, about twenty students students paired up to talk with people about Jesus Christ all over campus.

The chapter continues to pray for several of the respondents each day at the daily prayer meeting, even for some of those who said "no" to follow up. While phone and face-to-face contact was difficult, some student had more success with e-mail conversations, some of which are continuing even now. At least one woman became a Christian as a result of the booth, and others attended an evangelistic large-group meeting.

"It's impossible to know all the fruit that came of the booth," says Andrea, "but I know it changed our chapter. Our hearts were broken as we saw the lostness of students at Western. We wept for the campus, and we were motivated to pray and to share our faith. But we are encouraged by the openness of the students to talk about spiritual things!"

Since last year, the WMU chapter has doubled in size from 150 to 300 strong, and nearly 40 students have come to Christ. "It's been incredible to see God moving," says Andrea, "and we're praying for the seeds we've planted to grow in good soil."

What did the WMU chapter learn from their "Coke^® table" experience? They suggest these tips for other schools:

• Pray, pray and pray.
• Expect God to move.
• Buy a lot of cola.
• Train your chapter in evangelism skills.
• Try to reach every "Talk to me more" response within 48 hours.
• Intercede for respondents.
• Share the results of the outreach with the larger chapter.
• Plan for the next one based on what you learn.