From the smallest to the largest groups on campus, NC State University’s over 700 student organizations strive to find a place for each student to live out their passions and connect with similar students, or even expose students to those completely different than them. During my time at NC State so far, the student organization that has impacted and pushed me forward the most has been Campus Crusade for Christ, or Cru. Cru is a bible and Christ centered ministry focused on sharing the life-changing Gospel to everyone. Cru is a ministry that welcomes all who attend and is itself a very diverse organization, while holding to core Christian beliefs and concepts. Offering a weekly, large-group meeting (worship/speaker) on Thursday nights, as well as small group bible studies in each campus dorm, Cru is committed to making sure each student has a place they feel comfortable. Along with these meetings, Cru offers summer mission trips, retreats, social events, and even sports opportunities. Overall, Cru’s mission and goals can be described through its motto, “Win, Build, Send”. Cru wishes to win people to Christ, build up strong Christian students, and send out believers with a vision to impact the world. My exposure to this organization began even before I arrived on campus, through my older brother, who is a current senior at NC State. Our family has always focused on a relationship with Christ as a whole and individually, and my brother attending NC State and becoming deeply involved with Cru allowed me to gain exposure to his friends, activities, and learning through Cru. From the moment I experienced some of what my brother was involved in at State and Cru, I knew it was the place for me, and I ultimately ended up in Raleigh. While I have been a member of the Pack and Cru for only a short time, I can easily say that Cru has become my favorite part of college and a ministry I look forward to becoming involved in during my next few years on campus.
The organization and function of Cru, when analyzed, can easily be framed into the relational leadership model. First, Cru maintains a solid and steady purpose in each in everything they do. Working to keep Christ and the truth of the bible at the heart of messages, worship, and student interaction, Cru is transparent and honest. The art of winning people to Christ and getting the word out about the Gospel is the core belief and purpose in any true Christian’s life. Secondly, Cru practices inclusivity through actively encouraging all students to attend and listen at events, even if they do not agree with their theological perspective. This inclusivity means that not just those who can recite bible verses or have a personal relationship with Christ are allowed to participate, but welcoming all not matter their background or beliefs. Next, Cru embodies the empowerment aspect of the model through its building up of students, teaching of the word, and discipleship programs. Students are taught directly from the word, encouraged with weekly messages, and invited to meet with older students and staff members (disciples) during the week for accountability and fellowship. Cru maintains ethical standards by adhering to student organization rules on campus, practicing the work of Christ in building up others, pushing students to practice love and pursue God’s path for them. Lastly, Cru embodies the process aspect of the relational leadership model through the path it takes to affect college student’s lives and win people to Christ. In talking with many of the Cru staff and interns I have become friends with, Cru focuses on not directly setting kids up with Christ. Rather, an indirect approach and process is used. Students are invited to join a bible study, attend a social event, or just play spikeball or volleyball and meet new people. The community and fellowship created may spark a conversation about Christ, or may just encourage that person to come back for more fellowship. Cru is not concerned with just shoving the Word into your face, but just becoming friends with you and seeing where Christ takes the relationship.
From my own experience and the stories and experiences from my brother, I have personally seen the power and effectiveness of Cru, even on a large campus like NC State. Cru has allowed me to have a Christ-based ministry I can call home, new friends that have the same goals, aspirations, and likes as myself, and given me the opportunity to take a look into my own spiritual life and begin to change my habits and behaviors for the better. I was very impressed in seeing the planning that goes on for events, the extent of prayer and thought that goes into everything done, and the true focus they put on meeting with students and being active components of their life during college, a time when many go astray and tend to drift from a spiritual relationship with Christ. Overall, I would not change anything related to my interactions with Cru so far into college. Cru is a great organization, and I can’t wait for many more fun times, events and exploring how the NC State Cru branch uses the relational leadership model to impact college student’s lives!