Testimonies

Cory Schafer's IndyCC Testimony

posted Jan 3, 2012 11:11 AM by Michigan Tech Cru

Cory Schafer
I’m Cory Schafer, a 4th year (out of 5) Chemical Engineering student.  I’ve been involved in Cru since my sophomore year at Tech. I’m going to share a bit about what God showed me at IndyCC .

Allow me to begin by describing how awesome IndyCC was. The feeling of being in the center of over 2000 college students all worshipping God together is so amazing. One thing I’m constantly reminded of when I’m in situations like this is that worship is for God. It doesn’t matter if I don’t like a worship song because as the speaker Mike Erre pointed out, the worship song isn’t for me, it’s for God. It’s so refreshing to know that what we sing, even if we don’t like it, is glorifying to God. Listening to the talks was also really encouraging, as each one included a few challenge points, several of which really got me thinking. I won’t mention each point, but I will mention some of the points that most helped me.

One really awesome point from the first session was our view of God and how we find joy in Him. I so often am really excited to praise God when things are going well, and I am ready to ask for mercy and to change the circumstances when things aren’t going so well. The point was made that ultimately our joy should not come from things in our lives that are blessings; our joy should come from God regardless of what else is going on.

Another huge area that God has helped me grow in is recognizing that God is greater than me in so many ways. That sounds so obvious when I say it like that, but I can’t honestly say that I believed that God was bigger than me in every single way before this conference. It is my hope that someday I’ll be able to say that God is bigger than me in every way. One exercise we did at the conference was to think of the areas we don’t trust God with and really try to open our heart to Him in those areas. Two of the areas I chose were my relationship with my parents, and my future plans. God is bigger than my parents approval of my life choices, and He is bigger than what I want to pursue for my degree this summer.

Instead of trying to get a summer internship or research position this summer, I will be applying for the San Diego Summer Project.  This project is a combination of a beach project, city project, and international project. It’s a beach and city project due to the location of San Diego. It’s an international project for what the goal of the project is. The primary intent of this project is to start a Destino movement, a movement that reaches out specifically to Latin Americans by being involved in their culture and yes, probably (hopefully) speaking some Spanish.

This is only a small chunk of what I’m taking away from Indy this year. I’d love to talk more with anybody about it so feel free to contact me. Finally, I’d love to take an opportunity to A) go to IndyCC if you haven’t, at least once, and B) trust God with all parts of your life, and praise him even when things are bad.

Thanks for looking through my testimony. Feel free to contact me at cbschafe@mtu.edu if you’re interested in hearing more about what God has shown me or any questions in general about IndyCC or Summer Project.

Lydia's Testimony

posted Nov 10, 2011 12:28 PM by Michigan Tech Cru   [ updated Dec 9, 2011 10:14 AM ]

God's hand in my life and where I am now
My name is Lydia Jorgensen.  I am a 4th year Math and Chemistry Education major and I've been involved with Cru since I transferred to Tech in Spring 2010.  I wanted to take the time to share what God has taught me in my life since I started my college career in 2008.

To give you a bit of history, I grew up in eastern Iowa and was raised in a Christian home.  I didn't understand what having a relationship with God meant though until just before I started high school when my family started attending a new church.  At the new church I learned a ton more than I ever had before about God and how much He wants me to devote my life to Him and even though I didn't know it at the time, he was preparing me for the next step of my life.

In the fall of 2008 I started my college career at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), studying math education.  I started out participating in Navigators (a ministry similar to Cru) but by the spring I started going my own way and trying to live life like I wanted to.  This led to a relationship with a guy my parents did not like, joining a service frat and trying to fill the hole in my heart where God belonged.

While I was attempting to live life, I heard of a program called National Student Exchange (NSE).  This program allowed students to take classes at other universities in the nation while still paying UNI tuition.  I saw Michigan Tech was on the list of schools and jumped at the chance to get away from Iowa and try something new.  Little did I know this decision would lead to the biggest change of my life.

In the spring of 2010, I packed up all my stuff and moved up to Houghton.  The first week was the hardest week of my life.  Never had I felt so alone.  During that week, I turned back to God and begged Him for help.  Thursday, He led me to Cru. Friday, He helped me find some girlfriends to hang out with.  Saturday, He gave me a chance to serve with Cru.  Sunday and Monday, He gave me a home in the girls house (known to Cru people as H.T.C.).  By the end of the second week, I knew He was telling me that Tech was where I needed to be. 

Since then, every semester brings on a new trial which I have to overcome in order to grow even closer to my Heavenly Father.  This semester I have realized how hard it is being a woman in this sinful world.  In Genesis, after Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed the woman with a desire for her husband.  I didn't understand how this could be a curse before, but I'm beginning to understand by realizing what my heart truly desires.  I'm in the process of putting my focus back on God but it's not an easy job and could use prayer if you think about it from time to time. 

Thank you for taking the time to read part of my testimony and seeing where I am right now in my walk with God.  If you have any questions or want to talk with me about your own testimony, please don't hesitate to email me (lajorgen@mtu.edu).  God Bless!
My roommates from UNI (Rachel, Joelle, and Sarah)
Women of HTC- Spring 2010
Me and Jeff (boyfriend)
My family (Top: Joel, Me, Curtis/ Bottom: Ray, Julie, Claire)
Pictures: 1. Me, 2. Roommates from UNI, 3. Women of HTC- Spring 2010, 4. Jeff (boyfriend) and me, 5. My family

Submit Yours

posted Oct 1, 2011 8:04 PM by Nate Anderson   [ updated Jan 3, 2012 11:15 AM ]

If you would like to submit your Testimony to be included here, email shepherd-l@mtu.edu

1-3 of 3

Join our email list

If you want to stay updated on what is going on, join our email list.
To do so, email sympa@mtu.edu. Leave the subject blank and in the body type the following:
subscribe cru-l@mtu.edu firstname lastname

If you need help, email shepherd-l@mtu.edu with your email address and we will add you.

Members Section

Click Here for Members Section and to update your contact information.

Find us on Facebook

facebook