As long as we have been at U of I (10 years), there has not been a ministry at Kappa Alpha Theta! Praise God with how He has connected these women with Greek IV. Katie wrote an explanation of why she wants to start a ministry in her sorority…

“My desire to be a leader derives from the profound change that’s happened in my life because of my faith. I want to share my experience and my knowledge with other people who may also be going through difficult times and don’t know where to turn. Especially given that my house has never had a successful, ongoing Bible Study, I want to create a place of discovery that will continue on after I graduate. I feel that leading girls in my house in discussing the most important life quest would be the most significant way I can give back. I want to be a guiding source of light and encouragement in such a formative time in these young women’s lives.”

We are excited to see how God uses Katie’s step of faith to lead a ministry in her sorority. Please pray for Katie and Kristen as they start a house ministry for the first time in Kappa Alpha Theta. We desire to see a house ministry in every fraternity and sorority house on campus led by a student in that house. It is exciting to think a whole new network of sorority women will be exposed to the truth of the gospel.

We saw that as Caucasian, upper middle class Americans we were oblivious to what was going on around us…just a few neighborhoods away. We learned about God’s heart to make right all that has gone wrong in the world as a result of sin. We were challenged to think about what our role as individuals could be in this redemption process.

Lauren’s service for three days was in the neighborhood of Cabrini Green working with Kid’s Club, an after school program. The kid’s received help with their homework, learned about Jesus through chapel and other fun activities like chorus, praise dancing, bucket drumming and art. Lauren will never be the same as a result of this week, and neither will the three Greek IV women who went with her.

God also moved mightily on the Habitat for Humanity trip Brian led. There are three reasons why we go on a Habitat trip each year: first, to serve those in need and fight against poverty, second, for the students in Greek IV to grow deeper friendships with one another as they serve together, and third, to bring some non-Christians on the trip to see God through experiencing scripture and Christian community. All three goals were accomplished this year.

Of the 13 students on the trip, three were not yet Christians. One student in particular, James, had not come to any Greek IV activities at U of I before going on the Habitat trip. He went on the trip because one of his fraternity brothers was going and invited him to come along. James said that the Habitat experience has motivated him to look for answers to the tough questions that were preventing him from believing in and following Jesus. Since returning to campus, James has joined the Greek IV community and also attended Chapter Focus Week after the semester ended.