Vision for influencing institutions

This summer I saw a glimpse of what I believe is to come on the Georgia Tech campus.

In May, almost 80 students from around the Southeast met up with Campus Crusade staff in Destin, Florida, to live and learn together for three weeks.   This was my "summer assignment."

Greek Summit students and staff

While not all of these students were mature Christians (yet), they were all Greek -- members of fraternities and sororities on their respective campuses   --  and they all had a desire to be some kind of influence for Christ in their Greek houses.   As I worked with the fraternity men in my group, I saw fresh examples of how God is at work in these students' lives.  

For example, last year there were only a handful of University of Alabama students at Greek Summit, but this year 20 Alabama students came, and they gave numerous accounts of friends coming to know Christ over the past year.   The handful of students from last year had been immersed in God's word and Christian community and had been empowered by the Holy Spirit in such a way, that when they returned to campus, their enthusiasm for Christ was contagious.   Being Greek, they had a natural network of trusted friends with whom to share the love of Christ.  Now God is using the faithful influence of a few to bless this influential, yet secular, campus institution.  

Bean (L) a student leader at Eastern Kentucky University invited his fraternity brother, Dalton, to Greek Summit. Dalton came to know Christ and the result was life-changing for them both.

Shortly after I returned from Greek Summit, I had lunch with Drew Johnson, an alumnus of the Tech Greek ministry.  Drew and I were discussing how his new company might help us equip students to live effectively for Christ post-graduation. Drew became a believer through the outreach of students involved in Crusade's fraternity ministry in the mid-nineties. Talking with Drew was a great reminder of the potential impact of Christ-centered, missional movement that begins with the leaders in a community.

Gt Greek Alum, Drew Johnson
   

Georgia Tech is a campus teeming with leaders and potential leaders. The Greek System represents nearly 30% of the student body and one of the most open institutions on campus to share Christ.  While we don't focus solely on the Greek system, it has proven to be a fruitful ministry ground.

Our ministry plan for 2011-2012 includes creative cookouts, talks to pledge classes, outreach Bible studies, and life-on-life ministry among fraternities and sororities in order to influence the Georgia Tech Greek community. Please join us in praying for two things:

1) Full funding for the McEntyres and the Georgia Tech campus budget. My wife and I are excited to be leading the Georgia Tech ministry this year. But, one of the challenges we face is raising adequate support to cover our expenses as well as the central budget for our team. For example, we need $1,500/month for just the amount we need to raise for our role in the Greek ministry. We also need $20,000 in one time gifts for our summer and fall ministry expenses.
     2) An effective leadership and staff team for engaging student leaders at Tech. We are leading a team of two full time staff men and potentially three full time intern women. Please pray that our influence among leaders at Tech will be an overflow of the community and vision of our staff team.