IGNITE

last semester, Cru was a newly established club with one Bible study on Tuesday nights. after we arrived, we decided we wanted to start taking steps to grow the movement. we added two more Bible studies, an all-women's one led by Christine, Amanda and a student named Morgan, as well as a lunch time one led by Nikki and Albert. we also started up a weekly fellowship meeting- we started out in a small meeting room and had only about 4 students coming regularly, less than half the number of STINTers, and we didn't have a set meeting day or time. then we moved into a huge lecture hall and set an official day and time- wednesdays at 4 pm. we put together a worship band- Kylan on bass, Kent on guitar/vocals, and one of students Matt on keyboard. we created a mission statement collaborated with Matt to print up "Cru cards" with our information on the back, as well as getting flyers printed and posted around campus. and we gave a name to our weekly meetings- "Ignite," a name we felt encompassed the nature of our island (we live on the largest active volcano in the world) as well as what we wanted God to do at UH Hilo- ignite the students' passion for Him and spread His name like wildfire across the campus.

and since then, that's what's been happening. slowly, mind you, but we're getting there. our movement has grown into several committed students and many more coming more often than not. there have been a few times where our Ignite meetings have had over 20 students attending. our Bible studies, while still not huge, have at least a few students attending every week. and the name of Cru is starting to get out there. we've had several events where we've had a table or two in the Campus Center Plaza with our huge CRU banner across the front, and having Cru cards has been a wonderful way to inform people about us.

it has been so encouraging to see God growing our movement and see where it started to where it is now. i am confident that God is going to work in amazing ways through Cru next year, especially because Katie and Nikki have decided to intern here again starting in the fall.

Cru banner on campus during our 1,000 Cranes event 

"Ignite," our weekly meeting

while Cru hasn't ignited into wildfire yet, the sparks are there and God is fanning the flames! (and yes, i realize how cheesy that sounded...it's past midnight. that's what happens when i write this late)