If you are going to be in Rochester for the summer, please contact Stefan to find out about summer IV Large Groups and Small Groups, as well as other events.
You can also join the summer IV Facebook group to get all the up-to-date event information.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29470447040

Outline:
1. Basileia
2. Senior Night
3. Evaluations
4. A Personal Note

1. If you haven’t registered for Basileia yet, do so now. Thank you to all who made the Basileia Debit Dinner and the Car Wash a success. Between those two events and the generosity of some individual contributors, we were able to raise the money we needed for scholarships. If you would like to go to Bas and are in need of a scholarship, contact Nicole.

2. Senior Night. Our annual night of bittersweet is this Friday at 7pm in Webb Auditorium (7A-1350). Come say goodbye to our graduating seniors and hear some of their final words of wisdom.

3. Attached is an evaluation for this year. Please take a few minutes to fill it out, as these will actually help our future leaders minister more effectively to us and to our campus. Email the completed evaluation to Mark.

4. Some closing thoughts from m a t t. We had our final Servant Team meeting last night, and I am still feeling pretty sentimental, but I’ll refrain from gushing all over your inbox. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as president this year. My love for our chapter and our campus has grown tremendously throughout the year. Thank you for your support, encouragement, criticism, your prayers. I praise God for each of you as I thank him for what he has done on our campus this year. Students at RIT know about InterVarsity now, and we’ve seen that people really are interested in talking about God. Joy wells up within me as I hear the many ways that you are boldly sharing your lives and the gospel with those around you. Be strong and courageous, friends. If God is for us, who can be against us?
I am delighted to be passing the torch of presidency to one more competent than I. Such confidence as this is our through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. I urge you to lend your support through prayer and encouragement to Arricka and the new team (Allison, David, Harry, Sara, and Troy). The weight of the burden and the height of the joy are greater than any of them yet imagine. And so I exhort you: pray for them; now, and through the summer, and throughout the coming year pray for those who will lead us by the power of God’s Holy Spirit in doing his work on our campus and in our world. All this is for your benefit, that the grace of God that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now, and forevermore! Amen.

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline:
1. Basileia Registration
2. Basileia Scholarships
3. LargeGroup (the unveiling)
4. Basileia Debit Diner
5. Basileia Car Wash

1. Register now for Basileia. Friday is the last day to sign up before the price increases! Computers will be available at LargeGroup.

2. Basileia Scholarships. The cost for Basileia (if you sign up by Friday) is $330. There is s deferred payment option which allows you to pay $160 of that at the end of the summer. $100 is required as a deposit, and the other $70 can be payed at the door. Money should not prevent you from going to Bas! If you need financial assistance, contact Troy or Nicole.

Everyone, be sure to get involved in one of our scholarship fund activities: the Debit Dinner and Car Wash!

3. LargeGroup: mystery speaker, just to keep you guessing. But one thing I will tell you about the meeting at 7pm this Friday in 06-A205 is that the new Servant Team will be unveiled for your review.

4. Basileia Debit Dinner: n. This is a dinner to raise money for Basileia scholarships. This is accomplished by students with extra food debit buying food at the commons for other students (who are not on debit) who pay five real dollars for the food. All the real money collected will be used for Basileia Scholarships!
Friday, May 9th
At the Commons
After Large Group
Cost: $5 real money or as much debit as you want

5. Car Wash! Not only is washing cars with your friends fun, but it will help send students to Basileia, where God is transforming lives! The skinny:
Saturday, May 10th
Kwik Fill on 15/West Henrietta
11am-4pm
Bring yourself for one hour or five!

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline:
1. Prayer Walk (tonight!)
2. Basileia
3. Bonfire

1. Prayer walk. Here’s a note from Adrian about our final inter-fellowship prayer walk of the year!

Hello everyone!

Tonight, there will be another prayer walk for the campus with our brothers and sisters from all Christian groups.

We will meet at [06-A205] at 8 PM and will go on until 10 PM. We will start there and visit each spot where our different groups meet and pray for the requests of each fellowship, as well as the general needs of our campus. We will finish up at the dorm side by the Sundial before 10 PM.

It will be nice to come together again in prayer, especially after the “I Agree with Josh” campaign.

I hope to see you tonight.

-Adrian M.

2. You can register for Basileia here! Or, take a moment to check out the promo video.

The info: Basileia is Kingdom Training. Basileia is Greek for “kingdom”-the kingdom of God! We’ve named our summer training Basileia because we want to deepen our knowledge of Jesus Christ as King and improve our capacity to be His ambassadors. Basileia is a week-long multi-track conference designed so that your whole campus fellowship can attend and benefit. Some tracks emphasize leadership training, others discipleship. But for all, Basileia is a time for worshipping God, studying the Bible, broadening your vision, and deepening your faith. It’s also a great chance to make friends with fellow Christians from one of the 70 other InterVarsity fellowships in NY/NJ! For details and registration information, visit our regional site.

The funds: The cost of this 5-day retreat and conference is $330. $160 of that can be deferred to August, and there are scholarships available to help cover the remainder. **Money should not hold you back from going to Basileia!** Please contact Troy or Nicole if you would like scholarship information. Several fundraisers are being organized, including car washes and a “Basileia Debit Dinner” after Large Group week 9! (If you have even a little debit you’re willing to share, please contact Chelsea.)

3. The Bonfire is this Friday! Details:
When: Friday, May 2nd.
Time: 5pm-11ish
Cost: $5 (for food)
Directions: 5004 Collett Rd. 14548
We’ll meet at 5pm at Gracie’s Circle to carpool.
There is no schedule, but there will probably be music, and maybe time to share a story or two, depending on what people feel like doing. You’re welcome to stay and camp out, but the official IV event ends at 11pm. There will be nothing going on in the morning.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline:
1. I agree with Josh
1.1. Posters
1.2. Tables
1.3. Josh Speaks
2. Basileia
3. Inter-fellowship Prayer Walk
4. Bonfire

1. The ‘I agree with Josh” campaign is underway! Over 250 people are involved in the facebook group, and we’ve distributed over 175 green T-shirts. Our campus is responding, people are asking questions and generating dialog. A few personal comments in this regard:

* The question, “Who is Josh?” is often asked first. Ultimately this is not about Josh, but about Truth, about the gospel. I encourage you to focus your conversations on the things you believe, not on who Josh is.
* Respond with gentleness and respect. No matter how angry or irrational the comments you get, do not respond in kind. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

1.1. Posters. 6pm at Ben & Jerry’s tonight to hang I agree with Josh posters.

1.2. Tables. We still need people to sign up to sit at tables for a few hours between 11 and 3 for the next three days. Volunteers email m a t t.

1.3. Josh Speaks. Friday, April 25, 2008. Free concert and cookout at 5:30, followed by Josh speaking. Invite your friends! The gospel will be clearly presented.

2. Basileia. Sign up this week! The price goes up this Saturday!
Basileia is the IV regional conference. Five days at a camp in the Adirondack mountains is an amazing way to meet God. Going to Basileia has significantly changed my life. Ask me about it!

3. Prayer Walk. Wednesday, April 30 will be our third Inter-fellowship Prayer Walk, starting in A-205 at 8pm, and ending at the Sundial.

4. Bonfire. Friday week 8 we will have a bonfire off campus. Stay tuned for details.

“Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline:
1. Service Day
2. I Agree with Josh
T-shirts
Facebook
April 25
3. Large Group
4. The God Experiment
5. Basileia

1. Service Day is the kickoff to our inter-group I Agree with Josh campaign (see 3.6.2), but it deserves it’s own point. We will meet in Allen Chapel (in the Interfaith Center) at 3pm, and split from there to our service projects. We will reconvene for games and snacks (if you bring them) at 5:30 by the picnic tables at the Gracies Grove.
Projects include:

* Cookies in the dorms
* Apartment Cleaning
* Note cards for faculty
* Hanging Posters for “I Agree with Josh.”

*Cookies!* If you can bake cookies, please do so. We need as many as possible to make this an effective service to the dorms. Contact Zach with questions.

2. I Agree with Josh

Josh says:
I believe in one true God,
Existing as three in the Father, Son and Spirit.
Sin separates us from God,
Yet God loves all.
His Son Jesus Christ lived a sinless life,
Died on a cross to pay for our sins,
And rose from the dead, conquering sin and death
To make relationship with God possible.
Humans cannot earn salvation.
It is a gift of God’s grace
Through faith in Christ alone.

The Christian fellowships at RIT are joining together to proclaim our agreement. The T-shirts are in, which say, “I agree with Josh” on the front, and “April 25, 2008″ on the back. You can get them at Large Group this Friday for $5. The idea is to wear the shirts every day for week 7. Posters with the above statement of faith will be all over campus. You can get cards to hand out to your friends when they ask “Haven’t you been wearing that shirt for three days now…?”

On Sunday night, change your facebook profile picture to the attached image. The facebook group will also go live Sunday night.

All this points to April 25, 2008.
That Friday at 5:30 we will be having a cookout and concert at the Gracies Field. At around 6 Josh himself will share his story, telling us why he believes as he does, and giving a clear presentation of the gospel with a call to respond. This is a great opportunity to bring friends of all kinds to hear the truth from a fellow student in a non-threatening environment (with free food). We will close with some more music before 7pm.

3. Large Group this week will be at 7pm in 06-A205. Our discussion will center around “The Kingdom of God in Prisons” with Paul Burress, part of the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry in Rochester. You can also pick up your “I Agree with Josh” T-shirt for $5.

4. The God Experiment continues. Don’t forget to visit the website to download this week’s materials!

5. Basileia will transform your life. It’s worth asking for a scholarship if you don’t have $320. It’s worth telling your co-op employer that you can’t start until June. Register now to meet with God and your fellow students from across NY and NJ on a beautiful lake in the Adirondacks. If you think Basileia is not for you, send me a note. Last day to register before price-increase is 4/26 (Sat. after “I Agree with Josh, week 7).

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline: (it’s a short one this week!)
1. Large Group
2. Interfellowship Service Day
3. The God Experiment continues…
4. Agreement Campaign
5. Basileia

3.5.1. At Large Group this Friday (7pm in 06-A205) our own Andrew Salmon will be sharing his insights one the practical applications of Kingdom Theology.

3.5.2. Interfellowship Service Day. The RIT Christian groups are combining for this day of service to the RIT community on Saturday, April 19 (after wk 6) 3-5:30pm. Belinda has promised a super-fun after event. More details to follow, but start thinking about baking cookies! (yum). Service Day will be the kickoff event for “I agree with Josh (see 3.5.4)

3.5.3. The God Experiment is underway, and there are about 40 participants right now! Don’t forget to check the website for each week’s materials.

3.5.4. You’ve heard the rumor’s of “I agree with Josh.” 200 or more people wearing the same shirt, with matching posters all over campus… What if Facebook told you 100 of your friends changed their profile picture…to the same thing? An outdoor testimony by Josh himself…
This is big. I’ll be personally introducing the Agreement Campaign this Friday at Large Group. don’t miss the full explanation.

3.5.5. Basileia is at hand! Transform your Life. Renew your Campus. Change your World.

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Outline:
1. The God Experiment (starts today!)
2. Prayer Walk (tomorrow)
3. Large Group (remember, 06-A205)
4. Women’s Appreciation Dinner
5. Habitat

1. The God Experiment begins today! Check it out here.

2. Prayer Walk. This Wednesday (tomorrow), there will be a prayer walk for the campus. We will be with our brothers and sisters from other Christian groups on this campus. We will meet at Building 08 - Room 1250 (Auditorium) at 8 PM and will go on until 10 PM. We will start there and visit each spot where our different groups meet and pray for the requests of each fellowship, as well as the general needs of our campus. We will finish up at the dorm side by the Sundial before 10 PM.
This is a great way to come together as Christians on this campus and lift up our campus to God.

3. Large Group. This Friday at 7pm in 06-A205 our own Chelsea DeCapua will be talking about missions. Don’t miss it!

4. Women’s Appreciation Dinner is this Saturday. Ladies, RSVP for this free, formal dinner brought to you by the men of InterVarsity. Anyone is welcome.
Men, get involved here.

5. This week is the RIT Habitat Club’s awareness week. Check out some of their events, including sleeping in the Greek Lawn.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

–
students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

So, welcome.

Outline:
1. Friday in 06-A205:
1. Large Group
2. March Jubilee
3. Jubilee Jamboree
2. A Proposed Structure
3. The God Experiment
4. The Women’s Appreciation Dinner
5. GIG Support - now with ’speakers’

3.3.1.1. Large Group returns Friday at 7pm in (*different room!*) 06-A205. RIT’s own Professor Difonzo will be speaking about Christian apologetics, under the title “Honoring Christ with Your Mind: Faith and Reason for the Believer’s Life.”

3.3.1.2. March Jubilee will begin after Large Group in 06-A205. This Jubilee we’ll hear some of the great stories from our spring break service and missions projects. You won’t want to miss it! We’ll also be voting on the proposed leadership structure (see 3.3.2) for the coming year.

3.3.1.3. Jubilee Jamboree! Stefan is organizing a worship night after Jubilee. If you have an instrument, bring it with you. The chords will be posted with the words to the songs, so everyone can play and sing and drum and generally create a cacophony of “music” for the glory of God. I expect to see you with your guitar/djembe/keyboard/harmonica/two-string violin/nose flute/etc.

3.3.2. Servant Team is proposing a new organizational structure for the coming year. We would love your feedback! You can download the diagram and explanation, and email your thoughts to ivcf@rit.edu. As per our constitution, we will be taking a vote to either accept or reject the proposal at Jubilee this Friday.

3.3.3. The God Experiment :: 30 days to discover what you believe about spirituality.
Remember analogies from the SAT? Super-size Me is to McDonald’s as The God Experiment is to Christianity. I was going to make it a test, but decided at the last minute to go easy on you. This April is the ‘beta test’ of our God Experiment. It’s perfect for anyone who is either:

* Exploring Christianity
* Finding that their walk with Christ has become dull
* Or struggling to make time with God

I believe it will be beneficial for everyone (Most if not all of Servant Team is going to do it). Check out the facebook group for more info. Materials will be available on our website shortly.

3.3.4. The 8th annual Women’s Appreciation Dinner is near! This formal dinner is a way for us men to say, “Thank you. We appreciate you.” Ladies, please RSVP here with your choice of meal and sides. And invite your friends! See the attached invitation for details.
(Men, this dinner can’t happen without you! Click here to be involved.)

3.3.5. GIG Support, with a twist! This Saturday at 10am we’ll meet in NRH 1250. Jon Larson’s uncle who works for ISI (International Student Incorporated) is coming with some of his colleagues to help us understand the differences between Islam and Christianity (sacred writings, views of Christ, the trinity, etc.) This is the first installment in a two part series they are willing to come out from Buffalo and do with us. All are invited!!

Then I said:
“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night.” ~Nehemiah

Grace and Peace,
- m a t t

students & faculty transformed
campuses renewed
world-changers developed

rit.edu/ivcf

Spring as arrived. And as the earth wakes up to once again transform and grow, so we are anticipating God’s work here at RIT though InterVarsity to awaken, to to fill our campus with new life.

Teasers for two of the biggies are below, but first please check out our proposed structural changes. The Proposed Structure Diagram and an Explanation are available under the Resources tab. Per our constitution, we will be taking a vote for the approval of these proposed changes at Jubilee this Friday (March 28). Comments, questions, and criticisms are most welcome. Email ivcf@rit.edu with your thoughts.

We’re excited about a few really neat things coming up. Stay tuned for details about “The God Experiment.” Whether you’re a skeptic, you “cut your teeth on a church pew” or especially if you’re exploring Christianity, I think participating in “The God Experiment” could dramatically affect your life. The beta version is set to go live shortly.

We’re also working with many of the other Christian clubs and organizations on campus for a campaign called “I agree with Josh.” This is about stirring interest and curiosity on our campus, and providing an opportunity for the presentation of the Gospel. Wouldn’t you be curious if four or five hundred people wore the same shirt… for a week? Now that I’ve made you curious (or outraged), I’ll sign off.

Grace and Peace,

- m a t t