FINALLY. The semester is over, we can breathe, and we’re away from all things that give us stress.

Or are we?

Throughout the semester, we studied the life of David through the writings of Samuel. We heard the good, bad, and ugly – stories of developing valuable friendships, giving in to temptations, and covering up mistakes with lies and desperate attempts to save face.

We tend to go through life thinking that if we just pass this one thing, everything else will be smooth sailing. Just reach the next checkpoint, the next difficult task. Or if we can cover up that one thing, all will be fine! But this isn’t how life works. We are guaranteed to face more and more challenges and consequences for our actions until we leave Earth.

But this shouldn’t be discouraging.

This would be discouraging if we didn’t have a Savior. But since Jesus has given himself to each of us as a gift, we are armed with more than we could ever ask for. Consider this: we cannot hide from our problems, as much as we think we can. God lays things on our hearts that we never expect him to. We cannot grow without addressing things that we struggle with. David learned this the hard way when he tried to cover up his adultery by getting Uriah to come home and sleep with his wife so it would seem that Bathsheba’s pregnancy was because of her husband, Uriah.

David gets through his life by being vulnerable and singing God’s praises.

Psalm 34 – I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

On surface level, this Psalm may seem (among others) that it was exclaimed when everything was going well. David’s life was broken, just like all of ours, but if we are real with ourselves and our Savior, we have all the tools we need to embrace our failures instead of hiding from them.

Another important thing to remember is that being vulnerable does not just involve being real with those around you – it involves being real with yourself, too. As said in Lamentations 3:40, “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!”

David’s struggle was raw and his story was human. He was nowhere near perfect, as none of us are expected to be. The most stimulating part of David’s story was not the list of his wrongdoings, but his reliance on God in all situations. This is how we show resilience. Consider the role Jesus can play in your lives as you reflect on your semester and go into the new year, embracing your own humanity and loving others fully as a direct result. Here’s to a refreshing start to 2018 with Jesus right by our sides.

Haley Welch, Impact Student President

Ah, a new year. A new schedule. A new, refreshed, rejuvenated, rejoicing version of you!

…Right?

It seems that this “new year, new me” mantra may not necessarily resonate with us as much as we’d like it to. After three weeks of class, we feel like we’re on week thirty-seven.

Maybe you feel like you’re on the wrong path. Maybe you’ve become disheartened with the state of society, the academic stress, the relationships you have. 

Maybe, like me, you struggle to let God in at times when you need Him most.

It is so easy to see our success or failure measured in grades, ranks, percentiles, and oftentimes, our peers. These are tangible things; we live in a tangible world. We are quick to accept these performances as the Ultimate Truth about ourselves because we see these things every day. But what if we started bombarding this fickle, worldly version of success with the eternal, real truth of success that God shows us we have reached just by existing – the fact that he loves us beyond anything we can even fathom? We would have no choice but to be at peace with ourselves if it is something we choose to expose our minds to more often than any earthly satisfaction. God has promised that His love is the only fulfillment we need in Jeremiah 31:25 – For I will give rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. All we need to do is make Him a priority and see our pursuits through His eyes.

Easier said than done.

I recently watched a spoken word video created by a man named Stefan Vandenkooy about why our degrees are not for us. It’s about 3 minutes long, and you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/128292930. Though he speaks in terms of finals week, it applies to all parts of our collegiate journey. He speaks about how we take pride in being busy, that we’re always running ourselves thin in pursuit of our degree(s). But Stefan wants us to reevaluate our motivation. He says, “Your degree is not for you. It is for those who are hurting.” We shouldn’t be learning to make ourselves better, more successful people in the eyes of humanity – we should be learning so that we can follow God’s purpose for our gifts. (The Big Man knew what he was doing when he made us in His image.) In turn, we will be actively loving humanity the same way God loves us. Isn’t this the kind of love that our hearts desire most?

God is in continuous pursuit of our hearts. Though He desperately wants us to see our purpose through Him, we need to do our part in the relationship. We just need to open the door to a loving God who will never stop knocking. (Those of you who were at December’s Night of Worship know exactly what I’m talking about.)

Though this isn’t at all easy (and God, by all means, realizes this), God offers a reward we can pretend to comprehend, but can’t fully grasp because of how great it is. As we work through the book of James in our life groups, this reward becomes more apparent. James 1:3-4 says, you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Can you imagine needing nothing?

Trials are inevitable. The struggle will remain. We live on Earth, after all. But we have an eternal ally. Someone who doesn’t even consider giving up on us when we mess up. Someone who loves and loves and loves even when all you want to do is push Him away.

So when you are caught up in society’s ideals of success and your own questions about your pursuits and how everything fits together, remember the promise. Remember your Eternal Ally. He’s always on your side.

Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. – Matthew 7:25

Haley Welch, Student President, Impact at IUPUI

Our mission, as stated on our website, is as follows: We exist to pursue, model and teach intimacy with God at IUPUI, in Christian community. Let’s break this down.

Pursue. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Model. 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

Teach. Jesus said in Matthew 28, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Impact Christian Ministries began as Harvest Campus Ministries in the 90’s, made a name change to Impact Ministries International in 1999, and in 2010, a distinct organization called Impact Christian Ministries as we know it was formed to focus exclusively on college campus ministry in the United States. The motto exists now as “Impact the U, Impact the World.”

So… Why IUPUI?

We have diversity all around us. The graduating class of 2016 represented more countries than it did states. We’re in the heart of one of the top 15 largest cities in America. We have access to so many people who we can reveal God’s love and wisdom to. Who’s to say a small group of light-bearing students can’t have a huge impact in the surrounding community, and consequently, the world?

How do we do this?

There are two phases - input and output. An effective ministry begins with well-equipped members. If we are to accomplish our mission statement, we need to start from the foundation, as all projects begin. The foundational layer of Impact includes our life groups and worship nights. These are times when we can learn more about God’s Word, and we can be with Him in the midst of each other. Our foundation becomes stronger and stronger as we gather more information, see from different perspectives, address any questions we have, worship the Lord, and participate in discussion. Just as we need food and water as physical input for our bodies, we need scripture as spiritual input to keep us active in our faith.

Then comes output. We take what we learn about God and apply it to our surroundings. Our goal is to demonstrate the essence of Christianity in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Through Impact, we accomplish this through fellowship events and service projects. We go forth and show the same love for others as God has always shown to us. We form real bonds with each other. Pursue, model, and teach.

A little bit on why I came to Impact and stayed with it -

Impact was attractive to me because of the people. Everyone showed everyone love, care, encouragement, and support. I often thought to myself, “there’s really something special here.” It was and is intimate. It was and is intentional. It was and is focused on its mission. It has changed my faith for the better, and because of this, I want it to have the same effect on other students. Impact is not perfect, but that’s not the point. God isn’t here waiting for us to correct ourselves and then come to Him, like a child in time-out; he is always waiting for each of his children to run to him as admittedly broken souls in need of a Father.

I came into college already worn out by transitioning to the next chapter of my life. I went to Involvement Expos just because my friends were going. Some of you know the story of how I met Andrew at the Impact booth simply because I recognized him from a middle school retreat. I started going to a life group after some much-needed poking and prodding, and the reawakening began as I saw what God could do on a huge college campus.

Impact exists to give students purpose and direction in such a demanding phase of their lives. Impact exists to unite the weary and heavy-laden and put all of us back on our feet. Impact is a distinct part of the body of Christ with unique messages to deliver and acts of love to bestow.

As stated in Ecclesiastes 4:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

We cannot be Christians alone, and that is why Impact exists at IUPUI. By pursuing God, modeling his teachings, and teaching others about His glory, we can further bring His kingdom to our community with the spiritual gifts He has blessed each of us with.

Haley Welch, Student President of Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI

“And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12b

Many times, we long for God to smack us in the face with opportunity. Many times, we fall short of doing what he asks when opportunity does smack us in the face. And many times still, when opportunity arises and God speaks in a way that doesn’t necessarily smack us in the face, we are quick to brush it away and take it for granted – even ignore it altogether. The truth is, God doesn’t always come to us in the form of a fantastical production. God seeks us out in the gentlest of ways in times when we need it most. And the best part about this? He never gives up on us.

Look at Elijah’s story. After one of the greatest successes of his career in ministry, Elijah hit his greatest bout of inner turmoil. He felt helpless. He had proven the glory of God to an entire population of people only to find out that there was a price for his head as a result. Needless to say, he fled the scene, knowing his life was sure to be over. God presented him with several messengers along the way. (Note: The messengers used to speak to Elijah were not necessarily paranormal – God often used human beings to provide words of encouragement. Sound familiar?) Even when Elijah had given up on God, God did not give up on Elijah. God had sought Elijah out several times in the gentlest of ways. Though Elijah responded negatively to several of God’s initial acts, he was ultimately brought to faith in the gentlest of ways.

“As Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” – 1 Kings 19:11b-13

God didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He was not present in any of the natural disasters. He didn’t show off. There was no production, no extraordinary miracle. There was simply a quiet sound. All Elijah had to do was listen, and he came to God with his heart open.

I currently have an internship in which I work with a medical doctor from Ghana to perform surgeries on animal models. (The end goal is to essentially develop research that finds improved treatment for ALS patients.) Typically, he goes to work on the rats, and I observe and monitor the surgeries while documenting important information throughout the process; very few non-work-related conversations are exchanged between us. During one workday, I felt particularly stressed and disgruntled about the general hassles that we all encounter in life. I felt like I needed to break the barrier with the doctor. Small talk eventually turned into conversation about the experience of how he came to America. I noticed that he used the word “blessing” to describe this. He asked about my faith, and I told him I was a Christian. Immediately, my heart sang. How wonderful to find a coworker who shares faith in God! He went on to share simple, encouraging aspects of his faith that really spoke to my heart. A messenger. God gently intervened when I needed it most.

“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." – 1 Kings 19:18

God wants us to know that we can each become one of the messengers. All of us are capable of showing the grace of God to those around us through everyday miracles.

We sometimes expect or hope that our all-powerful God will do showy things to prove himself or part the oceans weekly as we ask for miracles. I mean, he’s that powerful, right? He could easily do something like this to get the attention of doubters. But he wants us to come to him with hearts longing. He wants our voluntary love. (What good is forced worship?) And oftentimes, the most powerful experiences happen so subtly.

Who have been the messengers in your life? Have you missed out on subtle interventions? Has God used you as a messenger for someone else? If not, how can you become a messenger? By tuning our hearts to the presence of small miracles, we begin to comprehend how active God is in each of our lives, each and every day, unconditionally walking alongside us.

Haley Welch, Student President of Impact at IUPUI

'Twas the week before finals, and all throughout campus,

Not a student was sleeping, not even a nap.

The coffee was brewed before studying with care,

In hopes that hard efforts would cause grades to repair.

All throughout the semester, we’ve been learning that big things happen in the midst of turmoil.  An egotistic King was struck down; the church grew.  A man named Barnabas went against the norm and traveled to a foreign land to spread the grace of God; the church grew.  A man named Saul, who was comfortably celebrated by Jews, went outside of his comfort zone, even in the midst of death threats, to share what he believed; still, the church grew.

Who’s to say you can’t do the same?

On first glance, this task may seem impossible, especially at this point in the semester.  It’s finals week.  How in the world am I supposed to shake my surroundings when my surroundings are shaking me?  Contrary to popular belief, these kinds of times are when you can make the most difference.

We learned during the semester that there are countless people in the Bible that were chosen, despite how unprepared they felt, to go forth and share the love of God with those who really didn’t want anything to do with it – but this proved to be the best strategy in terms of expansion of the church.

If you couldn’t make our last Night of Worship on Tuesday, you missed a powerful message by Keith Comp (Pastor at White River Christian Church).  After some good laughs and tips for finals week, he touched on a very important issue about the perception of Christianity today.  He reflected that if some people were to walk by the room we were worshipping in and find out the reason for the event, they would think to themselves, “All of these people hate me.”

Ridiculous, right?  But sadly, true.  Hearing that statement woke me up.  There are some twisted views of a belief system that is intended to bring light to the world, not take it away.  Every single person can sway the way another person views Christianity.  And that’s why it’s so important to take action.

During a week that so many people are being pushed to their limits, what better time to model God’s unconditional love to those you’re surrounded with?  As college students, all of us are out of time and resources, but God will provide when you least expect it.  Buy someone a snack.  Bring dinner to a study group.  Compliment a stranger on their smile.  Offer to run errands for a roommate.  Write a short, encouraging note to a worker at Starbucks.  Wouldn’t you be so happy if someone did the same for you?  A small gesture showing basic kindness in the midst of such a stressful week will strike curiosity in the minds of those you act upon.  The real meaning of Christianity can be revealed to more people.  And slowly but surely, we can expand the church by reminding ourselves and others to accomplish one of the most life-giving commands – love one another as the Lord has loved you.

Haley Welch, Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI President

What if I told you that you don’t have to have all the answers to tell someone about Jesus, or that you don’t have to have the Bible memorized to share His light?

Our second worship night of the semester consisted of heartwarming worship tunes performed by the newly formed worship team, the wonderful presence of each and every one of our attendees, a message so powerful and eye-opening that two people delivered it, and of course, free pizza.

If you happened to miss our second Night of Worship, we covered some Christian feel-good material in Acts Chapter 8.  Have you ever found it difficult to start a conversation with someone about his or her faith?

One: You’re not alone.

Two: Luke’s got some good news for you.

The term “evangelist” can seem pretty daunting at first glance. However, one’s job as an evangelist on Earth is actually much simpler than what you may have originally thought. Believe it or not, God will provide you with the right time and place and person to share his love with. And when this situation arises? You don’t need to go into a deep theological lecture. You don’t even need to quote the Bible. The best plan of action is to share why you believe what you believe; what God has done for you; why it has been a fruitful experience for you to live by faith. The best words (and more importantly, actions) come from the heart – and if your heart is full, then your words and actions will show it.

If you’re in need of some spiritual encouragement, advice, or you’re just trying to get through the semester, we invite you to experience what we’re all about and take refuge in Jesus. We’d love to have you! Interested in joining a life group? Follow this link to find a group that fits your schedule: http://www.impactatiupui.com/lifegroups 

May God’s peace be with you as the going gets tough!

Haley Welch, Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI Student President

Things we all have in common:

We’re stressed.

We’re tired.

We’re overwhelmed.

We’re over-scheduled.

Impact is for:

The stressed.

The tired.

The overwhelmed.

The over-scheduled.

And finally, those in need of love - the wonderful, life-giving, unconditional kind that we can only get from one source. College is hard, and goodness knows we can’t make it through the year running on only our own strength and motivation. 

The first weeks of Impact have really set the pace of what to expect for the rest of the year. Over 30 students have experienced a weekly life group, and about the same number attended our first Night of Worship. We appreciate the presence of each and every one of you, and we’re so glad you got to experience Impact firsthand - whether it be the first time you’ve heard of us or you’ve been a regular. We’re also incredibly thankful for being able to connect with all the students we’ve seen at the Involvement Expo and before classes even started at freshmen orientations.

This semester, we’re delving into the book of Acts. If you have questions about the start of Christianity - how ideals were formed, how the church was formed, how it all started to take shape - then Life Groups will quench your curiosity, and even spark more questions. We’ll explore events and things that real people dealt with in order to get the Christian Church started.

What does it mean to be a Christian? How can you be a light with your blessings and circumstances right now? How can you get inspired and inspire others naturally as a result? Every one of you holds an important place in the kingdom of God. To get connected to this study of Acts, you can start (or continue) attending one of our weekly life groups here on campus. We’d love to have you! Times and locations are here: http://www.impactatiupui.com/lifegroups. 

On your marks… Let’s make this a blessed semester.

Haley Welch, Student President of Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI

In a sense, the world is full of religion.  The Bible is but another face in the crowd when it comes to the abundance of religious texts available.  This situation has naturally caused Christians to question the validity of their holy book.  Why is the Bible the Truth above all other texts?  What makes Jesus so special?  Why are The Gospels superior?

These questions are difficult to answer and may cause Christians to shake in their shoes before summoning up a rebuttal.  However, the answer may be simpler than one would expect.

I believe the answer lies in one word – Grace.  The Bible offers Grace.  The word “Grace” is mentioned in the New Testament a total of 156 times, and I don’t think that was a mistake.  Titus 2:11 states that “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

What is Grace?  Well, in the words of U2’s lead singer, Grace “takes the blame, covers the shame, removes the stain,” and “finds beauty in everything.”  Jesus Christ, a non-sinner, gave up his life so that we, sinners, may have life.  God offers Grace to all who mean to redeem themselves in Him.

So, why is the Bible the Ultimate Truth?  It addresses the most beautiful gift provided to the entire human race at no cost – Grace.  There would be no room for hope without it.  To me, there is no sweeter aspect of Christianity.

Haley Welch, Student in Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI.

Being a student is hard.  Being a student-athlete may seem to be a bit harder.

“How do you manage your time?”

“Are you a little bit insane?”

“Wait, 10 miles… in a ROW?!”

And my favorite…

“You do this for fun?”

Yes, yes, yes, and (kind of) yes.

Before coming to IUPUI, I was faced with the decision of whether I wanted to become a full-time student or a full-time student-athlete, praying for an answer and ultimately choosing the latter.  It seemed daunting.  Only a small percentage of students took this path, and I wasn’t completely sure at the time if this was part of God’s Grand Scheme for my life.  My friends would joke and say that I “signed my life away” and that they wouldn’t ever hear from me again.

I worried right along with them.  I worried that I wouldn’t have time for anything outside of school and practice.  

But God moves in mysterious ways, and I soon discovered that I had no need to worry.  Being a part of the running team at IUPUI has put things into perspective for me in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

For one, it’s an outlet.  It’s God’s special gift that helps me unwind and untangle my stress that builds up throughout the week.  It gives me my own little way of worship.  When I run, I am able to exclusively be with God and myself and reflect on things that need to be reflected on.

Being a student-athlete is its own form of praise for me – a way to say “thank you” to the God who has provided for, listened to, and loved me throughout my entire life, even when I have strayed.  When I compete, I compete for God.  He gave me the passion and ability; I aim to reach my maximum potential every time I step on the track so that I show God that I’m grateful for such an awesome creator.

Sure, being committed to a team takes away from my free time, but it forces me to become an expert in time management. It enables me to realize that I can give all my worries to God, and He will manage them how they need to be managed.  As Colossians 1:17 states, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”  

It’s been a journey.  I’ve learned things about myself and how far I can be pushed to set my best a little higher than where it was before, and God is with me every step of every run, giving me the spiritual strength I need to take my physical stamina that much further.  Being a Christian on IUPUI’s running squad has been incredibly rewarding, and I owe it all to God, who has remained unconditionally by my side

Haley Welch, IUPUI Track/Cross Country & Student in Impact at IUPUI