It's hard to believe, but it's already here:  Classes at the University of Illinois begin 2 weeks from today!  About 400 new freshmen will step foot on campus for their first year of classes and in addition to questions like "How do I get to the classrooms in Brookens?" or "Will my icard work at Starbucks?" (the answer is yes!), there will be some other questions, maybe buried a little deeper, but still there.   Questions like,

"Is anyone going to think I'm valuable?"
"What is my life going to be about?"
"Do I have anything to offer the world?"

Christian Student Fellowship is a place where we hope students will find those answers.  (See, we've already helped with your coffee addiction!) .  We believe that all of us were created by a God who loves us and wants a relationship with us.  But humankind started looking elsewhere for meaning and love, and that just led to a place many in the world find filled with frustration and pain and emptiness.  CSF believes that God wants to bring his children back to that original plan for relationship.  CSF is all about helping students find their way back to God.  We hope you'll join us in that this Fall!

Students, parents, local churches, and community partners from CSF's first year (1993) until now, gathered to celebrate what God has done in 25 years of campus ministry at the University of Illinois Springfield.  CSF's 25th Anniversary Fundraising Banquet was held last Saturday at Erin's Pavilion in Springfield, and was a night of stories from students, alumni, and staff.    THANK YOU for so many of you who attended, gave generously, and celebrated with us.  God is doing great and mighty things!

Special thanks to our sponsors: UTG, Financial; Isringhausen; Robert Hendrickson, Realtor/Broker; Robert Nevill, Realtor/Broker

It is hard to believe that God has been using the ministry of Christian Student Fellowship to help students find their way back to Him for 25 years!  Hundreds of students have been discipled while on campus and sent out to impact the world for Jesus.  CSF has alumni in elementary school classrooms, court rooms, accounting firms, on the mission field and more.  They are continuing to be disciples that make disciples wherever they go.  Join us for an evening of sharing stories about what God has done and what He has in store going forward.  This evening will help fund that critical work. 

It is hard to believe we are half through the Spring Semester this week!  Students are currently away, resting and spending time with family and friends, after eight weeks on campus.   

In the couple of weeks leading up to Spring Break, CSF students were able to do two different outreach/service projects events for the campus.
1. Free Hot Chocolate! - The CSF Outreach Team set up a table in the Student Union providing a free hot chocolate bar to anyone who would answer a question.  The question? "What is your dream job?" This provided a chance to engage fellow students in thinking about what gets them excited in life.  This led to several spiritual conversations and opportunities to invite fellow students to our Monday Night Worship Service. 
2. Food Drive for Campus-  The CSF Service Team collected food items for the on campus food pantry.  This food pantry serves UIS students who may need help with groceries and necessity items while on campus.  The service team set a goal of 50 items and blew that out of the water with collecting 100 items.  We pray these items will be a blessing to those who need them. 

Every year after a month of classes and the first onslaught of papers and tests, CSF gets away for a weekend to decompress and make space to hear from God.  Through worship, time in community and just pockets for silence and solitude, we find every year that God has a way of speaking clearly at Winter Retreat.  This year, Charlie Welke, Pastor of Students and Young Adults at Eastview Christian Church guided us through the book of Ephesians, helping us understand that we are loved by God and through His love, are given a hope and a purpose.  Every student walked away with something significant that God was speaking to them!  Special thanks to our fellow ACM ministry, Encounter up at ISU for spearheading the weekend.  It was a blast!!!

Students gave away cake pops on campus last week and asked the question, "What are you thankful for this season?"  It was a great opportunity to start up some spiritual conversations in the Student Union and surprise students with a sweet treat!   Would you join us in praying for the spiritual seeds that have been planted this semester?