Cru Summer

Cru Omaha continues to function during the summer months, but it takes on a different form. Instead of the students meeting as groups on their own school campuses, they gather together in two different locations. Five of our campuses are in Omaha, and five are in Washington County. So during the summer months the students meet once each week at these two locations. 

May 22nd was the big day to transition! And everyone met all together at a location mid-way between Omaha and the hub of Washington County. Todd & Angela's beautiful acreage was the perfect place for students to come together for some fun activities, some food (of course), some inspiration, and to hear the scoop of the summer plan.

Our part-time staff guy, Jake, does an amazing job of leading Cru Summer. He starts months ahead, and carefully gathers a group of college students, many who have been discipled through their high school years by Cru. Jake coaches them and trains them to disciple the high school students throughout the summer. 

In the photo above, you see one of the college student gatherings. As volunteers they meet together with Jake and Gary each Sunday evening. Then they divide up into two teams to lead the student meetings on Monday evenings. They are on mission, and are being equipped to lead and disciple high school students. And they are also experiencing discipleship and lasting connections between their own peer group of college students. It's a win-win situation for these capable and amazing college kids, and we are incredibly thankful for their hearts to love on and to draw high school students to Jesus.

Snapshots of Students

The school year is flying by, and here are some photos from a few of our Cru campuses ... snapshots of students as they are part of Cru in our area.

Accelere Alternative in Omaha ... students gather each week over their Friday lunch hour. In this photo Ron, one of our Cru volunteers, shares the Gospel with the students.

Bellevue East in Bellevue ... still in the beginning stages, Cru volunteers are gathering students together in their home while seeking permission to meet on campus.

Central High in Omaha - besides their weekly student gathering on Monday evenings at their high school, other gatherings occur as well. Here Gary meets with two students to connect and build into each other's lives.

Marrs Middle in Omaha - two of our new volunteers, a teacher at Marrs together with a UNO student volunteer, have started up student meetings this spring at this multi-racial middle school. 

South High in Omaha - students gather each Monday after school to learn and grow in their walk with God. The two students in front are key student leaders.

Please pray for these students, and the students in our other Cru campuses in the Omaha area.

Cru Omaha Lock-In

It was a very full fall season of activity with Cru Omaha! Our number of campuses where we have Cru has grown to nine, with the opening up of Cru with Bellevue East. Another campus will be opening up in the next few months, as well. Our volunteers are what make it all happen, and we are very grateful for more volunteers coming on board these past few months. More are currently in the process of applying to join our amazing group of 25+ volunteers! 

An annual event that we hold for our students for the various campuses groups together is our Lock-In at the Omaha Downtown YMCA. The staff there are so gracious to host us for the all-night event, and our part-time staff guy, Jake, does a great job of giving leadership to this event. 

Here's a photo of the group taken in the early morning hours.

Our guest speaker, Andy Allan, drove up from Lincoln where he is the Cru leader of the college student movement there. His talk (at 1 am!) resonated with the students in a deep way. Mike, another staff guy also from Lincoln, shared his story of coming to know Christ. 

Both talks were perfect for our students to hear, and we received many positive comments afterwards. Here are a few ...

I really like this topic and I want to see people for how Jesus sees them.

I decided to make a fresh start.

This was exactly what I needed to hear.

It's good to know that I'm not alone.

I want to see the world as God sees it.

Tonight I feel like God has redeemed me.

We praise God for working in students lives that night. Thank you for your prayers for Cru High. Please pray for these students, and for others in our campus groups, that they will be changed forever by the love of Jesus.

A New School Year for Cru Omaha

A new school year is beginning for high school students ... and with it, a new year of opportunity for Cru Omaha to be part of God's heart for high school students. We have the privilege of being part of what God is doing on nearly ten campuses in our area, and there are more opportunities on the horizon. 

All of these opportunities call for many volunteers. Our part as Cru High staff is primarily to listen to and follow God in what He is doing, and to connect with those who are being called to partner with us in sharing God's love and forgiveness with the high school students in this area.

Our Cru High staff team is small ... two full-time staff, and one part-time staff. But we are blessed to have nearly 25 volunteers who serve and love students on our eight campuses where we are presently active. And there are more campuses that can be opened to Cru if more volunteers are available.

The key component is PRAYER, as we connect with God's heart, and as we depend on Him. This is a key time of year on our campuses as a new school year is beginning.

Would you join with us in praying for God's direction in leading us to more volunteers ... and for a fruitful year of harvest on the high school campuses of Omaha and the surrounding areas?

Cru Tournament of Champions

Is it really nearing the end of summer break for students already? The Cru students of Fort Calhoun and Blair have continued with weekly meetings throughout the summer, holding a joint weekly meeting with their two campuses. On August 4th they gathered at a home outside of Fort Calhoun for their grand finale of the summer. 

Cru Tournament of Champions

August 4th, 7 pm

An end of summer celebration

put on by Cru.

Food, drinks and a huge tournament 

of awesome games!

Students were divided up into four teams ... 

There was fun competition between the teams with a variety of crazy and challenging games including greased watermelon toss, bucket ball, and pudding drop. Our college volunteers led much of the evening, under the leadership of our great part-time staff guy, Jake, with his wife, Chelsea.

The evening ended with all the students gathering together for some life-giving inspiration. Two of our students shared with their peers ... one, the story of his coming to know and follow God, and the other, an interesting life application of something that God had taught her while on a missions trip earlier in the summer. Jake finished off the time with a clear sharing of the Gospel.

Next week these students from Blair High, and Fort Calhoun High will be headed back to school. Jake is making plans for another year of Cru Blair, meeting on campus each Monday evening. And Gary will be meeting with the student leaders from Fort Calhoun High this next Monday as they finalize plans for another year of Cru for Fort Calhoun High students.

Please pray for a fun and fruitful year for the students from both of these campuses ... that those who know Jesus will grow in their faith, and that many more students will be impacted by the love of God.

Cru Summer

Student meetings take on a different look during the summer months. Taking advantage of the great outdoors, and also of some of our college student volunteers who are often back in their home towns during the summer, we gather high school students together for what we call "Cru Summer".

We're grateful for Jake, our part-time staff guy, who works with these college student volunteers (some of our students who have been in Cru during their high school years) to put on Cru Summer. Jake does a great job training them, and leading them ... as they, in turn, lead the summer meetings for students.

Jake and college volunteers preparing for another Cru Summer meeting at the Depot in Blair

Jake says, "They have been leading the youth of Blair and Fort Calhoun in a series called 'Can I Ask That?' It has been very encouraging to see God work in the lives of students as we ask hard questions about cultural issues and faith. This has been a great opportunity to start conversations about questions that many times go unaddressed.  Our goal is to talk about these issues because, 'Doubt isn't toxic to faith. Silence is.'"

Mid-summer the students met for a fun evening at a beautiful acreage between Blair and Fort Calhoun. It was an awesome night with water games, other fun activities, an outdoor movie, and inspiration.

Please pray for high school students to continue to be challenged to grow in their faith these remaining weeks of summer, and then, as our regular Cru meetings start up again next month on each of our campuses. 

Staff and Volunteers with Cru Omaha

We had a very special treat the beginning of May when two out-of-state Cru staff traveled to our area to spend some time with us and our Cru Omaha team. A huge blessing to have Benton (from Dallas), and Kevin (from NYC) here in our area from May 4-6!

Our time with them started with a staff and volunteer gathering in our home the evening of May 4th. It's always hard to get all of our volunteers together, as they are scattered around the area, helping with Cru at nine different schools ... while also being involved in their own full-time jobs. But what a special evening to have a portion of them together in our home for the evening, sharing and interacting together and with our visiting Cru staff. Our volunteers are an integral part of what God is doing on each of our campuses - they are an amazing group of people with a passion for reaching students.

Benton and Kevin gave us valuable input during their visit, and were able to be part of several campus meetings. And the insight they gained from being here will reap benefits in the months to come, as they assist with advice and input from a distance.