God radically changed my faith in college. He used Cru, and the people in it, to pull me closer to Himself and to teach me how to walk with Him for a lifetime. Through having this Christian community intentionally pouring into me, God changed the trajectory of my life and broke my heart for those that do not know Him.
College students are at such a pivotal time in their life. They are figuring out who they are, what they believe, and the impact they want to have on the world. They are also the up-and-coming generation: our future politicians, teachers, parents, etc. What a joy to help them navigate these things with the truth of the Gospel!
My vision for reaching college students started when I went on my first Summer Mission with Cru after my freshman year. I continued to lead with Cru throughout my time in college. After I graduated, I joined staff for one year at UNC, one year in Ecuador, and now I am honored to serve with East Carolina University and Elizabeth City State University!
God IS at work on college campuses across the world to bring students to Himself! Cru wants to introduce students to Christ, build them up in their faith, and send them back out to keep reaching others. We pray that every college student would know someone who truly follows Jesus.
Introduce people to Jesus: where I serve, most people have heard of Jesus; however, many people have misconceptions about who He is and what Christianity is all about. We get to tell them the truth of the Gospel and invite them into a personal relationship with God.
Build: We want to walk alongside students in their walk with the Lord to help them grow in their faith. We do this through Bible studies, discipleships, weekly "Large Group" gatherings, conferences and retreats, etc. We help students dive into Scripture and see how Jesus affects every aspect of our lives!
Send: We want 100% of our students to be "sent." We equip them with how to share their faith and live out the Great Commission with their lives. We want to live on mission wherever God places them: in their dorms, their classrooms, their careers, their families and friend groups, etc.
Summer Missions and spring break trips are another way we send students. I have had the privilege of taking students on Summer Missions to East Asia, North Africa, Sweden, and the Middle East! This is one of my favorite parts of my job--watching students learn about God's heart for all people of all nations and how He calls each of them to be a part of His Great Commission.
I absolutely love and am honored to be a part of what God is doing across the world to bring college students to Himself.
Please email me if you would like to hear more or you would like to receive my monthly prayer updates. I would love to talk with you!
payton.baker@cru.org