What is InterVarsity and why did I choose it?

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship “is an interdenominational, evangelical Christian student-led ministry dedicated to establishing witnessing communities on college and university campuses.”

That’s the copied website version. InterVarsity (IV) was started in the UK a long time ago, and apparently in the UK the word varsity means university, unlike here in the states where it means sports. Most people end up thinking that IV is a sports club, like FCA. The better way to interpret it, however, is Inter-Campus or Inter-College Christian Fellowship. That makes much more sense.

Over 550 colleges in America have IV chapters, and we serve over 32,000 students and faculty. So what does a chapter look like? It basically functions as a church community within the campus setting. There are generally small group Bible studies, large-group gatherings, regular service projects and outreach events, etc.

Those are the basics. (I’ll be giving you some more Midwest/Iowa specific details later in the week – I wanted you to get an overview of the larger organization.) So why did I choose to apply and accept a position with InterVarsity as a campus staff worker who raises his own salary?

As an organization, I’ve been impressed more with IV than just about any other organization I’ve encountered. College ministries sometimes get a bad rap for being in-your-face and only about evangelism. InterVarsity most certainly values evangelism, but we also value a more holistic approach to ministry. Service and missions are a driving force behind nearly everything we do. Every summer hundreds of students do month-long overseas missions trips and local projects are regularly integrated into the fabric of each individual chapter.

I also love the uniqueness that IV offers each chapter. Each region, state and campus has its own flavor and personality. At Drake, for instance, we created our own vision statement that led our chapter in the direction we thought was best for it. There is no set protocol for how a chapter is supposed to operate, other than to radically love Jesus and show that love to students.

The most important factor, however, in my choosing to do college ministry is the simple fact that it is a largely forgotten and ignored mission field. Churches pour thousands of dollars into youth ministries and programming, but what happens when they go off to college? Nearly 80% of students who grew up in youth groups will not identify themselves as Christians by the time the leave college. That is CRAZY!!  It is too critical a juncture in one’s life to ignore.

As a staff worker for InterVarsity, I will be a missionary to students.

To your friends…

your peers…

your future sons and daughters…

and to the future leaders of our world.

The call it too important for me to ignore. Will you support the cause?

Love and Peace,
Jeremy