As I wrote in my last update, InterVarsity has been derecognized at SSU and throughout the Cal State system. Ostensibly, it could be easy to assume our leaders would be discouraged and that the ministry would be hindered. However, this has not been the case. Over these first months of ministry it is clear that God is not going to let a policy get in the way of His mission moving forward on the campus! The student leaders were excited to try new ways of outreach and be creative in reaching the campus ("Awesome" themed outreach). Christianity Today even wrote an article explaining how InterVarsity "will reinvent" student ministry, and the article's picture is from our SSU group doing outreach on the first night! (yes I'm proud!) Please be praying for us as we continue to pursue creative outreach under these unfortunate circumstances.
An anecdote that I think summarizes how God is at work despite the institutional situation: The week before school started a campus higher up told us that we would have "no presence" on campus, but through boldness, creativity and free speech rights, we were able to still do good outreach. In a turn of poetic irony, for the first month of school, the picture on the front of SSU's website was a picture of several of our leaders talking to someone during an outreach the first week! I couldn't help but laugh at the awesomeness of that.
Here a two more links to helpful articles about the derecognition:
Press Democrat Article (Opinion piece written by my supervisor)
Atlantic Article (A personal favorite that looks at the bigger picture)
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