Chicago Summer Project is now complete for those of us on staff but is now being lead by the 70 students on the project.  You can see pictured above, we are praying for for the student leaders as we handed the project off to them.  Our whole family was in the city from May 25-July 7 with 110 staff and students.  Over the summer we focused on two things: First, reaching out to students and faculty on campuses in Chicago.  And Second, developing students and staff on the project.

Could not be more encouraged by our time in Chicago and continue to be burdened for the students & faculty of this great city.  

350,000+ college students and faculty in the city 

80 Colleges and Universities
You have campuses like University of Chicago (which is raked #5 in the US and continually has graduates and faculty that are influencing the world, like our current president) or different city colleges that have incredibly diversity but only have about a 10% graduation rate (these are the toughest campuses to have any presence on but are the ones where the future politicians and educators in the city are currently going to school).

Over the summer most of our time was spent at University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Chicago.  We talked with hundreds of students and faculty about Jesus.  Many indicated that they were placing their faith in Christ for the first time.

One afternoon I meet with two students (I wont mention their names here), one was Pre-Med going into his senior year and the other a chemistry major starting her junior year.  Both were first generation Americans from India, he was Muslim and she was Hindu.   Both had neutral to favorable views of Christ and Christians but knew nothing about the message of Christianity.   That afternoon we spent about an hour together walking through the gospel.  In the end they told us how grateful they were to know the purpose of Christ's death and resurrection. 

They did not place their faith in Christ but they now have the gospel and know what to do with Jesus if they want to begin a relationship with him.  These two students represent so many today who just do not know and have never heard.  (One side note, throughout the summer our one of our main goals was to introduce students we were meeting those Cru staff who live and minister in the city through out the year.)

Another highlight was that over the first 5 weeks were talked with students from 41 different countries.  The world is coming to the US to go to school.  Personally I talked with students from Saudi Arabia, China, Spain, Mexico and India.  

So grateful for you and your partnership with us!