USA (MNN) — On college and university campuses throughout the U.S., students are seeking God in droves. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship expects a record year of campus ministry during the 2012-2013 school year, topping the 3,000+ new believers who came to Christ throughout the previous term. In four months, InterVarsity will host the Urbana Student Missions Conference in St. Louis, with almost 20,000 students expected to attend. Register for Urbana 2012 on InterVarsity's Web site.
"In our 72-year history, we have never seen such a season of fruitfulness," said Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity. "God's Spirit is moving on campus, and this is an exciting time to be involved in campus ministry."
Yet with growth comes increased resistance. On a small number of campuses, InterVarsity chapters were "de-recognized." The decision was overturned this summer at the State University of New York at Buffalo, but officials at Vanderbilt University haven't changed their minds. Along with InterVarsity, more than a dozen Christian student organizations lost recognition because of a recent "all-comers" policy.
The policy, implemented in January 2012, prohibits campus groups from selecting members based on race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
"InterVarsity believes that a diverse campus environment requires the presence of groups which authentically and faithfully reflect religious beliefs," said Hill. "We will vigorously defend our right to be on campus and to contribute to campus life."
