When Beth Jarvis Silliman and the Globalscope Germany team began their ministry to college students in Tübingen three years ago they weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms by the Christian community there. They were using different model to reach the unreached than that used by other Christian ministries there, and many just didn’t understand their approach, said Beth.

“I remember I tried to meet with a minister to share what we were doing in our early days in Tübingen, only to be rejected,” said Beth. “I got a stern, dismissive email instead of the meeting I’d asked for.”

Over time, though, this has changed, as other Christians, churches and ministries have come to see that Unterwegs is making a difference in students’ lives. Last month, Beth and her teammates were further affirmed and encouraged when they had their very first opportunity to make a presentation to area preachers and campus ministry leaders about Unterwegs.

“We shared our vision of being a Christian community for non-Christians and about how we serve as a community of and for students, regardless of where they are in their relationships with God,” said Beth. Afterwards, one pastor commended them: “You are accomplishing what we can’t; you are reaching non-Christians. Thank God you are here.”

The leader of another student ministry mentioned how he struggles to get the Christians in his group to bring non-Christians to their events, but that he himself was actually invited to Unterwegs by a non-Christian friend! “I visited Unterwegs,” said another ministry leader, “and you really do feel an intense sense of love right when you walk in. They are making a unique difference.”

Unterwegs is the only campus ministry at Eberhard-Karls University in Tübingen specifically geared toward non-Christian students. It provides a place where students can find a community, watch a soccer match, get coffee, meet friends and, most importantly, explore a relationship with God through teaching and worship. It is making a visible difference in the lives of the students who attend.

The ministry is based in a house strategically located just off the main campus, between the main student area and the gym and sports fields. The team is currently paying rent of $900 a month for this great facility, but needs help making future payments so they can continue their fruitful ministry. You can find out more about how to support this ministry project here.

CMF campus ministry recruits Nathan and Pam Heald raised more than $5,000 by holding a Healthy Me Challenge walk/jog in Columbus, Georgia, last weekend.

The two-mile event was held on a “Rails to Trails” bike and walking pathway that opened recently in Columbus. The Healds added other activities to the event, including a zumba class, football and soccer games, a raffle, healthy food vendors and a free musical concert.

Pam Heald reports that an all-day rain on Saturday did hold down the attendance somewhat, but “God still blessed us and people were out there supporting us.”

After paying for the event tee shirts the couple were able to add about $4,500 to their outgoing account. They plan to leave in a few months for Germany, where they will be a part of “Unterwegs,” the Globalscope team in Tubingen.