Sara Klingensmith's first day back at Virginia Tech was refreshingly ordinary. "It felt good to be back and see friends and have things be normal," says the 21-year-old senior. Although the April 2007 shooting deaths of 27 students and five faculty members were not far from her mind, Sara chose to focus on the freshness of the new school year and on establishing a familiar routine. "I almost had forgotten how to be a student because it felt like 10 years since I had been there."

For Sara, part of being a student has meant serving as a leader with Campus Crusade for Christ at Virginia Tech. Over the past few years, she has led Bible studies, helped organize campus events, and mentored women.

This year, while balancing those responsibilities with her own grief, Sara has learned deep lessons about dependence. "It's been challenging," she admits, "because a lot of times I have to say, 'I have no idea what I'm supposed to do right now, so God, it's totally in Your hands.'"

But this year has also been different because of an increase in students' responsiveness to the gospel. By the midpoint of the fall semester, 11 students prayed and received Christ as their Savior through conversations alone, a marked increase from fall semester the year before. An additional 42 decisions for Christ came through Tech's evangelistic Web site, Gobbletalk.com.

"The whole world was praying for Virginia Tech after April, and I think we are seeing the results of that," says Jeff Highfield, Virginia Tech's Campus Crusade director. "The students are really committed to reaching the campus and ultimately the world."

Sara has also noticed other signs of God working in students' hearts. "The number of people involved with Bible studies is the highest it's ever been," she says. "And, for our monthly 24-hour prayer events, every hour has been filled with at least one person. Even the 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. slots, which are normally hard to fill."

In October, shortly before the six-month anniversary of the tragedy, world-renowned Christian author and speaker Ravi Zacharias addressed the Virginia Tech community on "Finding Answers Amid Life's Greatest Losses." More than 2,500 students and faculty attended the first night.

"I feel like because of the tragedy, we see the necessity [to tell others about Christ]," says Sara. "We know anything could happen tomorrow because we've seen it."

For her and the other Campus Crusade students at Virginia Tech, the semester has been anything but ordinary.
—Sarah Freyermuth

Anuja Lal knew something was bothering the first-year art student. She had met Jennifer David at Delhi University in northern India, and since Jennifer was young in her faith, Anuja, a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member, began meeting with her on a regular basis. They studied material from Life Builders, a new ministry in India, talking about faith and learning to apply Scripture to life experiences.

"The study is great because it allows me to draw the girls out," says Anuja. "We can go deeper. It's not just taking them from verse to verse."

One day Jennifer explained to Anuja that things were tense in her family, especially with her father. The two prayed about the situation, and Anuja helped Jennifer apply her faith to her experience with her family. "We talked about the difference between 'What does my experience say?' and 'What does God say about that same experience?'" says Anuja. Because of what Jennifer learned in the study, she was able to be a witness to her parents and siblings, and now her father has reconciled again with the family.

Throughout India, the Life Builders ministry is spreading. In the north-India region where Anuja lives, all 42 staff members have been trained in the Life Builders one-to-one mentoring program. They are seeing it grow quickly and easily as one person mentors another. For more information, visit www.lifebuildersnet.org.
—Becky Hill

Growing up in Massachusetts, Nick Kovacs learned to appreciate the grandeur of nature. "It's so peaceful," he says. "It gives people a place to stop and think."

The love of things outside runs thick in Nick's blood—his dad is a park ranger and his mom worked at a wildlife refuge. Nick also combined his passion with profession by studying wildlife biology at the University of Vermont in Burlington. There he explored the Green Mountain State through hiking and snow skiing.

Yet even the solace of nature couldn't offer Nick the peace he sought, especially when his brother committed suicide. "I was looking for spirituality outdoors on my own," he says. "But I wasn't getting it."

One day at the student union, Nick met Dan Litchfield, the leader of Lifelines, the outdoor ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Lifelines takes students on various outdoor trips, as a way to build relationships with each other and especially with God. "We aren't just outdoor guides, but spiritual guides," says Dan.

Nick (above) went rock climbing with Dan and also on a snowshoeing trip. After several conversations and times of just hanging out, Nick prayed and received Christ as his Savior.

Nick, 23, graduated but is now back in Burlington to volunteer with Lifelines. "I'm so passionate about my experience," he says. "I want to help students with their spiritual growth as well as find other people who care about the environment and enjoy the outdoors."

Through his new faith, Nick has learned it's not just nature that offers peace, but the Creator who made it. "The outdoors is a way to be in touch with God," he says.
—Chris Lawrence

When the end comes, only one thing matters and escapes the grave—only a good name lasts," wrote John Weber, chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys football team, just months before he died of a heart attack on November 1, 2007.

John, who joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1971, helped pioneer Athletes in Action's pro ministry. He continued to serve with AIA as the Cowboys' chaplain for 23 years, encouraging team members and challenging them to live a faithful life.

So big was his mark that more than 1,000 people gathered at his funeral including about 75 current and former professional athletes, his wife, Carol, five children and four grandchildren.

"One thing I'll never forget about John from the first time I met him till the last time I talked with him," linebacker Kevin Burnett said in the Dallas Morning News, "he always asked about your family and before he'd leave he'd always tell you he loved you. Always."

"[He] was everyone's 'best friend,'" wrote sportswriter and columnist Mickey Spagnola. "Problem was, some of us probably didn't realize it, because this 59-year-old man made everyone he met seem as if he was his best friend."

John (above) was friends with so many in the franchise—athletes, pilots, sportswriters—that his wife says he introduced countless people to Jesus over the years.

"John had one of the most consistent walks with Christ of anyone I have ever known," says Bob Tiede, who joined the staff of Campus Crusade with John more than three decades ago. "What is really important comes clearly into focus at the passing of a friend. I too want to leave a legacy like my dear friend John Weber."
—Jennifer Abegg

Sarah Boruta loves basketball. It led her to become the student manager of the women's basketball program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. But she never dreamed her love for hoops would lead to a radical life change.

One Sunday during her sophomore year, Sarah attended church because "it was the right thing to do." There, she heard women touring with Athletes In Action, Campus Crusade for Christ's sports ministry, talk about God's work in their lives. That afternoon, when AIA played her Lady Bulldogs, Sarah witnessed something new on the hardwood. "I saw their love for God shine on the court," Sarah says. "You could actually see that they were playing for Him. It made me realize that I wanted that same thing for my life."

A few months later, Sarah (above, back row, far right) recommitted her life to Christ, and before the school year ended, she recruited golfer Raquel Hansen to help her launch AIA at FSU.

Now about 15 students, including three women from the basketball team, attend weekly meetings to study the Bible, and a monthly event draws around 50 students. "AIA helped me to compete for God, not for self or my score or the coach," says Raquel. "It doesn't matter what I shoot when I have that foundation in Christ."
—Bill Hunt


Australia

Rebekah Peterson's spiritual journey began at her elementary school.

Taking an elective religious education class in New South Wales, Australia, she learned about how to know God. "I grew up in a Christian family, but never understood about having a relationship with God," she says.

In the class, taught by Campus Crusade for Christ staff member Shayne Hamilton, Rebekah (far left) prayed and invited Christ into her life. Shayne teaches the class as part of his role of chaplain at the school, a position often welcomed in Australia's public schools.

Rebekah, now 14, has gone on to become a student leader in Campus Crusade's Youth Ministries Australia at her high school. "Before, I wasn't so worried about my language or how I looked to other people," says Rebekah. "But now I'm trying to show people I'm a Christian through the ways that I act."
—Becky Hill



GAiN

Global Aid Nework plans to deliver 6.5 million meals this year to people displaced by famine and war, mainly in Sudan. The effort by GAiN, Campus Crusade for Christ's compassionate aid ministry, opened doors for partner ministries to tell 600,000 people about Christ over the last four years; at least 220,000 indicated decisions to accept Christ and 60,000 people are now in small-group Bible studies. For more information, visit www.gainusa.org.
—Bill Hunt