UPSTATE CRU
  • Home
  • About Us
    • For Parents
    • For Churches
  • Movements
    • Greenville Tech
    • Limestone College
    • Spartanburg Methodist College
    • Converse College
    • Spartanburg Community College
    • North Greenville University
    • Faculty Movements
    • Don't See Your Campus?
  • Resources
    • Upstate Cru Discipleship Plan
  • Contact Us
    • International Partnerships
    • Ministry Partners and Giving
  • Coronavirus

the cru blog

Through the eyes of a freshman

7/16/2012

0 Comments

 
Below is a true story of how God changed one freshman's life. As you read, ask yourself, "where do I find myself in this story?" This fall, might you, like AJ, have an opportunity to help a freshman like Sam discover what really matters? Or, are you more like Sam? Could God be calling you to find true, lasting satisfaction in Him?

Take a moment to put yourself in the shoes of this upcoming freshman class, and pray that God would open their hearts to Him and His great love!


Picture
When Sam attended his first week of college, he was not looking for a Christian group, in fact it was not on his radar at all.

Raised in a Christian family, he routinely went to Sunday School and youth group. However, when he started high school, he questioned the reality of God. By year 12 he was less interested in church, starting on a destructive path fueled by the approval of friends and lust of the world.

After an unexpected break-up with a girlfriend, Sam was shaken. He says: “I was dating a girl from youth group. She went to some camp, came back and didn’t talk to me for a week. She said ‘God’s telling me that it’s not His plan for us to be together.’ I was like, ‘He didn’t tell me that!’ I took it really bad.” Sam found solace in drinking. During his gap year after high school, he began clubbing, eventually pushing boundaries by experimenting with drugs like ecstasy. “I wasn’t happy. I knew something was wrong,” says Sam.

When the first week of classes rolled around, it had been two years since Sam attended church. That week, Cru ran a booth where they handed out spirituality surveys. Sam filled one out. A few days later, he received a call from a missionary AJ. Although hesitant to meet AJ, Sam did. Through their first meeting, God began to turn Sam’s life around.

AJ was there to listen, but strongly prompted Sam to make a decision about what he already knew to do. Sam checked out his first Cru group meeting and was refreshed by people different from his friends. They were not trying to impress each other and talked about things that really mattered. Sam started attending church again.

Sam began to recognize his sensual life of lust and drugs was eating him alive, and he could not break free. He says: “During the worship session I was on my knees and was crying; I was a mess. I knew something wasn’t right--something had to change. I remember surrendering my life to God.” From that moment the pleasures that consumed him lost power, and he began seeing victory over the sins that had plagued him.

The satisfaction Sam finds in pleasing God far outweighs his old habits, and he now lives with a passion to do what God is calling him to do. He lives in the ecstasy of new life in Jesus. Having open, honest and accountable friends from Cru has been a huge encouragement. Furthermore, being discipled by AJ has made a lasting impact on Sam’s life.

He says: “Every time I share my story, it just reminds me I have a lot to be thankful for. It’s God that has brought me this far. I can never go back.”

Sam is now happily married to a wonderful young lady named Eldora.

This story was written by Gina Liu on June 25 2012. You can find more stories like it at www.cru.org.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    A community where Jesus Christ captures hearts, transforms lives, and launches men and women into a life long adventure with Him.

    Archives

    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    Categories

    All
    Ashley Tripp
    Ben Rivera
    Bonhoeffer
    Changed Lives
    Cru Press Green
    Desiring God
    Devotion To Christ
    Family
    Freshmen
    God
    Jeff Grant
    Jessica Vaughn
    John Piper
    Kevin DeYoung
    Marriage
    Overflow
    Randy Newman
    Ray Orlund
    Sharing Your Faith
    Spiritual Growth
    Suffering
    Summer
    Surviving
    The Gospel Coalition
    The Resurgence
    Tony Reinke
    Trisha Wilkerson
    Trusting God
    Waiting

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
    • For Parents
    • For Churches
  • Movements
    • Greenville Tech
    • Limestone College
    • Spartanburg Methodist College
    • Converse College
    • Spartanburg Community College
    • North Greenville University
    • Faculty Movements
    • Don't See Your Campus?
  • Resources
    • Upstate Cru Discipleship Plan
  • Contact Us
    • International Partnerships
    • Ministry Partners and Giving
  • Coronavirus