Update from Campus Crusade Staff Team
While students at Virginia Tech wait for the identity of victims to be confirmed from Monday’s campus massacre, the media from around the world zooms in for a closer look.
They’re seeing students praying.
At Virginia Tech, Campus Crusade for Christ is nicknamed Cru. Ten staff members serve a group of more than 500 involved students on campus.
When the shootings happened, the Cru staff members were gathered together for their weekly staff meeting.
“We had a prayer meeting Monday night for our students and the students of some other organizations,” says Dave Broadwell, who has worked with Cru at Virginia Tech since 1991. “Most students are shocked and numb at this point, not sure what to think and feel. I feel the same way.”
The day after the shootings, the staff members agreed to spend the day in the local Cru office to pray with students and talk with them.
At noon on Wednesday, the team plans to pray with other Christian groups on the drill field, a very central place on campus, reported Broadwell.
The staff team invites the watching world to join with them in prayer, depending on God.
“Please pray that amidst it all that the Lord would be glorified, families would be comforted and students would grieve appropriately,” says Broadwell. “I have a feeling no one is going to know how to move on from here.
I have on staff for 4 years in the past too, but now I am not.
I heard this news on the web, it shocke d me. However it shock me more after I knew that Cho was a church goer in a big Korean church in Washinton D. C.
It shocked me even more when I heard that a Darakbang member reached out to him once to share the gospel to him, but he after hearing from CCC that Darakbang is a heresy, he rejected further meeting.
If Cho could continue to meet Darakbang member and hear the gospel that Jesus is the Christ, and has his spiritual problems been healed, will the result be different?
Without the influence of demon, making use of his scars, it could not happen.
I am not a Korean, but if don’t understand what I mean, then you can try mail Dr. Kim (ND of KCCC).
Comment by Mickey Law — April 23, 2007 @ 2:32 am
Leslie is right. God is very much in control, even when we perceive the world to have spun out of control and when we can’t comprehend them. I am convinced that He is using the VT CCC ministry as an instrument of faith because He knows your hearts and what you can do through Him….Just look at the growth in the ministry and the faith that binds you together! Stand firm and use this opportunity to reach people who still don’t know Him. The harvest is ripe. I am only one of the many who was discipled right there in the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry at Virginia Tech (along with Leslie!!) and thank God for those who reached out to me.
Tina
VT ‘85 and 2004
Comment by Tina Hyman Cook — April 20, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Wanted to respond to KKMD’s comment that her faith is shaken by this and how can she reconcile these events with the verse about giving thanks in all things…
Don’t let this be a roadblock to you growing in your relationship with Jesus. That is exactly what our Enemy wants. God is utterly and completely in control of all things - even the sin in the world. (After all, he ordained the most heinous of crimes - the crucifixion of Christ.) We are not told to give thanks FOR the horrible things that occur in our lives, but rather to give thanks IN/DURING/IN SPITE of these things. We are to thank God that He has a perfect will for us and that He is perfecting it in us and through us.
We cannot know all the mysteries of God and His ways. But we can know and be certain that God is right and good and just all the time. When Job was in the midst of all his trials and loss recognized that he could not possibly know the full extent of God and he confessed, “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?” Job 26:14 and then, “I know that You can do everthing, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” Job 42:2
Comment by Leslie Easton Sams — April 19, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18. give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
It is very difficult for me to reconcile this Bible verse with what has happened at Virginia Tech. I am grieving from miles away. Can someone take a moment to respond to me, please. This makes me severely question my alread shaky faith. Thank you. God bless.
Comment by KKMD — April 19, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
I am a Taiwanese college student of CCC, and we are also praying, too! Grace and Peace to you.
Comment by yuhui — April 19, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
My heart goes out to all of the families and friends of these young people.
My hope and prayer is for The Comforter to help those that are left with such terrible grief.
God Bless you all!
Comment by Bobbi Jones — April 19, 2007 @ 11:51 am
I can’t imagine how hard this must be. I am praying for you guys. I was involved with CCC when I was in college north of Seattle, so this hits closer to home than I thought it would. I’ve seen God work through tragedies in the past, and I know He will this time. Keep looking up.
1 Peter 5:7
Comment by Steven Sauke — April 19, 2007 @ 12:25 am
We’re praying too…and remember Jesus is too, interceeding on our behalf, our broken hearts and tears of sorrow, he is here with us.
In Christ,
Ed Beringuel
-Campus Intern-
Comment by Ed Beringuel — April 18, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
Praying hard for all of the V/T community. I came to VT for a seminar with Josh McDowell when I was in College and involved with Crusade. My heart has been so torn for you, but I praise God for His Faithfulness in having you all there to minister to students who need you so much.
Phyllis
Comment by Phyllis Mincey — April 18, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
I am a mom of 4 children, three of which are past college age and one in high school. My heart is so very burdened for the college students living through this tragedy. The parents need such prayer and supplication and “white knuckle” praying to deal with this horrible event. One never knows their appointed time to leave this earth. I pray for the “peace that passeth all understanding through Jesus Christ our Lord for all involved. Remember that God Himself knows what you are feeling. He knows because He watched His only Son hang on a cross and die for yours and my sins. Take care to all
Comment by DEBBIE WRIGHT — April 18, 2007 @ 10:46 am
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I work with teenagers at my church, many of whom will be going off to college by the end of the year and recent events help me to realize that many of the attacks that we have been facing are against the hearts and minds of the young adults who will be shaping our country and our world in the years to come. I pray that you all will have peace and comfort through your time of mourning but I encourage you to remember what Paul said that we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Comment by Coby Black — April 18, 2007 @ 10:36 am
I was on staff w/CCC at Va Tech from ‘87-’89 when Tommy Bridges was the campus director. I am so sorry to hear of this awful tragedy and am saddened to hear that 2 of the students who died were involved in Cru. How I pray Jesus will minister to your hurting hearts. ‘May God be your refuge & strength,and a very present help in trouble.’ I also pray He will comfort you as students & staff as you comfort others across campus. I know He’ll use you to give hope in Christ just by being there for others.
Comment by Kathy (Kehoe) Attardi — April 18, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Holocaust Survivor’s Final Act of Heroism. How touching and prophetic, an elderly Shoah survivor and outstanding Israeli professor Librescu lovingly gives his own life trying to bar the door to a madman and save the lives of Gentile students. At this time of shock and sorrow for the victims and their families let us not forget that there are other dark and violent forces apposed to the little democratic State of Israel which needs our prayerful support. These spiritual forces of wickedness are anti God and His Word and will not stop at the annihilation of God’s ancient covenant people. I pray that we will be strong and courageous at this time and stand together against another Haman like plot against all of God’s people. Shalom and blessing in the Name of Jesus on all that are suffering at this time. Lord I pray that You will raise up the Ruths and the Esthers at this time.(see Psalm 83 also). David Gray from Somerset, England, UK.
Comment by David Gray — April 18, 2007 @ 7:26 am
My prayers are with you folks there at Virginia Tech. I pray that the Lord’s name will be honored and glorified through this horrible tragedy and that many, many lives will come to Him and be touched by His truly amazing grace!
Comment by Mike Nobles — April 17, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Grace and Peace to you.
I’m a senior at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA and involved with CCC. I just wanted to let you know that we are praying for you, and we have scheduled a prayer vigil this friday night. If there is anything you need, or if you just need to talk, feel free to call upon the Body of Christ around the country. We love you!
Comment by Daniel Kert — April 17, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
We on the Rio de Janeiro Metro team are praying for all of you CRU folks at Va Tech! Know that your Brazilian brothers and sisters will learn some hard lessons from your pain, and the campuses here will not stay the same. In the words of Mark Cahill (www.markcahill.org), “Every second 2 people die. Over 150,000 die each day. 90% of those are ushered into hell. Do you care? The tougher question at hand: Do you care enough to do something about it?” May God give you all the strength you’ll be needing over these next days, weeks and months to personally, as well as help others, deal with this tragedy. But one thing I know: God didn’t get caught by surprise by all this, and God is still good!
Comment by Bill Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
wow… such senseless violence. i cant believe among those who were killed were involved in Cru. it really really breaks my heart. im praying for all you guys. Come Lord Jesus!
Comment by Katzy Serrano — April 17, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
My husband and I have been praying for the Christian students and your witness on campus at this time, and when we heard on Christian radio of a strong CCC movement on your campus, we were encouraged. I came to Christ through CCC in 1975 at Miami U. of Ohio. We are “just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14), but our inheritance in heaven, our faith, the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God are imperishable (I Peter 1:4, 7, 18-19, 23-25). May Jesus Christ be lifted up and draw people to Himself and to His imperishable gift of eternal life.
Comment by Wendy Hedlund — April 17, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
I graduated from Tech in ‘84 and joined the staff of CCC for the next 7 years. I’m horrified by the shootings in WAJ where I lived for two years, one as an RA on the third floor, where I first was introduced to CCC as a freshman. We are praying for you all and mostly for the God of all comfort to comfort you not for your benefit but so that you may comfort others with the comfort you yourselves have received. May God be glorified and bring revival to this campus to turn it “rightside up.”
Comment by Kim (Kennedy) Slye — April 17, 2007 @ 4:29 pm