Recent Grads, Incoming Freshman, and Ministry Update
We’re excited to share with you two stories that reflect the heart of our ministry. One story of a recent graduate written by Kurt Heinold, the University of Michigan Cru staff that worked with him, and one story of an incoming freshman, the son of some of our dear friends.
Nate Veldhoff, U-M ’16
Headed to Seminary for a Masters of Divinity, Plans to be a Worship Pastor
A thoughtful musician and architecture major, Nate — along with Connor and Jordan — came into my Bible Study his freshman year, and I also began discipling him.
Nate joined our Cru worship band right off the bat, and lead throughout his four years. He was a Bible Study leader for two years and went to the Virginia Beach Summer Mission after his sophomore year, growing in his heart for the mission.
But the biggest thing God did that summer was give him the courage to surrender his future to God, and follow his passion for worship. In that process, God has lead Nate to pursue being a worship pastor as a career. He has taken on a worship internship at the church he and I attend, as well.
In Nate’s own words: “Cru helped me to step out in faith to trust God and try things I hadn’t before….
I went from being terrified of evangelism to being comfortable with it and recognizing we’re all called to God’s mission. I came to understand God is working through everything– the hardships of being a student, the challenge of surrender of my future. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for Cru and the challenges and opportunities God has given me through it.”
Luke Zimmerman: WIHI Grad “16
And member of the incoming class of ’20 at U-M
Luke, the son of dear church friends of our family, will be starting at U-M in September and attending orientation this week.Its an exciting but anxious time for him and most upcoming freshman. He has been walking faithfully with the Lord for as long as he can remember and is looking forward to finding a place to belong and thrive during his time at Michigan.
Luke said this about starting his time at Michigan. “In terms of growing in faith, I would say building a network of friends who are believers and interested in having rational and engaging discussions about our faith is pretty important. [I hope] to develop friendships like that which will endure beyond college. As far as fears go, one of the worst feelings is watching as a friend with whom you’re close walks away from God. College ministries would do well to provide opportunities for open discussion with people who are on the verge of losing their faith to which friends can be brought.”
Bryan and I are excited to be a part of doing the very things Luke described. We desire to connect students to Jesus Christ and walk alongside them as they navigate the challenging atmosphere of the college campus. We hope to be a place where students can grow in their understanding and devotion to God while imploring those around them to be reconciled to Christ through conversations and compelling testimony of God’s work of redeeming our fallen and broken world.
It’s a privilege to be invited into the lives of students to help them develop a solid theology of work, friendship, family and church life. We look forward to the upcoming school year and the opportunity to raise up the future leaders of business and society. As our world wrestles with gender and sex politics, religious freedom, race relations and business ethics, pray for our students as they are integral decision makers for the future of our world. As its often been said, “as the campus goes, so goes the world…”
Knedgen Family Update
We’re almost done! With under $400 in monthly giving commitments left for the Lord to provide, we are looking forward to working with the team this fall. While we need to see all $400 in monthly gifts committed and given by the beginning of the school year to work with students on campus, we are confident the Lord will provide that through our current ministry partners and other concerned individuals and churches that desire to see college students walking with the Lord and participating in God’s Mission. Please Pray:
- For continued and timely financial provision
- About increasing your monthly giving
- For incoming freshman to find Christian community
- Current students to reconnect with our ministry in September