Why 100 for $100?

The idea of raising $10,000 through 100 different people is undoubtedly ambitious some might say overly so but I for one sincerely hope it succeeds and believe it will. Some people might see $10,000 and ask "what could you possibly need with that much money? And what good will it do?" Well I can personally attest that the project that this campaign is trying to fund is one of, if not the most important projects Chi Alpha embarks on.

The goal of the campaign is to secure funds for welcome week activities. Welcome week is the first week of school before classes start where everyone moves in and freshmen get their first taste of college life. Because of this Chi Alpha is a huge presence on campus for these 7-9 days. There's an event almost every day with unscheduled texts to hang out with freshmen and returning students when there's not an event. And believe me the first week is super influential.

I can type out a whole lot of reasons why this time is essential but instead I'm going to tell my story. I came to college knowing I wanted to find a Christian group to be a part of and got connected with another group on campus but my roommate became a part of Chi Alpha in a big way during welcome week. About 3/4ths through 1st semester, I was struggling with a lot of questions and doubts and didn't have a good outlet to ask them. My roommate invited me to the XA Small group we were a part of and that changed everything. Since then my faith has flourished and I am changed. Welcome week reached me months later and I'm so glad it did so with every person we reach that first week, there's another "me" waiting behind them. That is why I'm pulling so hard for this campaign.

--- Dylan Hastings   

“When I first heard about DC Chi Alpha, I was excited to hear that the DC team would come together to collaborate because DC is an incredibly strategic place for missions. I have been supporting their work since I have joined Chi Alpha at American University 4 years ago and I do so because I believe in the influence college students have on their peers and thus, the global missions field. ”

— Symphony Chau

The 100x100 project is important to me because I love college students.

College is the time when people are the most willing to try new things, make new friends, and explore new ideas. During college, students are trying to figure out who they want to be.

Chi Alpha offers a place for students to ask questions, build community and learn foundational life skills. As a college student I had a lot of questions about who I was and how religion fit into my life. When I joined Chi Alpha, I found a community that was willing to walk with me and help me figure out the answers to those questions. Thousands of students pass through DC every year and I want those people to have the same opportunity that I did- the opportunity to learn more about myself and Jesus Christ.

I give to this project not because I want Chi Alpha to succeed but because I want students to succeed. Chi Alpha loves and supports students.

-- Hannah Finley Young  

100 People Giving $100. Each

“What a fabulous idea!” This was my first thought. It sounds simple, yet it adds up to extraordinary, I’m in!

Personally, I have many reasons why I want this to succeed, actually why I want it to more than succeed!! First of all, when I was in college, I don’t remember anything like this, probably because it didn’t exist. But it was needed, if for no one else but me.  Secondly, my now adult children have all benefitted in some way from the ministries on each of their campuses.  And finally, I have a heart for college students.  I know that for many, this is the time in their lives where they find their own freedom, they decide for themselves what they want to do with their time, and who they want to spend it with. For others, they have to find their own faith, separate from their parents, and they need guidance on their campus.  And still for others, they haven’t heard about God, or they’ve heard of who He is but don’t believe in Him, the list goes on.  

So for all these students and all the students who have an awesome relationship with Jesus, they need a community, a place to learn more, to grow spiritually, to meet others, to share, to love and be loved as a family, to have fun, to build on those relationships that will last into eternity.

When school begins in the fall, I’d like to see DC Chi Alpha shine the brightest and have everything they could possibly need to meet and greet students like never before! And that each student that is interested would get an invite to the best and biggest JESUS party on campus!

--   Bernadine Young 

 These stories are only a few of the many about why the influence, reach, and missional awesome-ness of DC Chi Alpha. Be part of the 100! 

Discovering True Community

Delphine - Enjoying Beach Retreat. Fall 2012

This is a guest post by Delphine, a recent graduate of Georgetown University. She was involved at Chi Alpha during the past several years and she is currently a teacher in the city. You can connect with her via Facebook. 

Chi Alpha is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about my time on campus, and I can't help but feel nostalgic...

In Chi Alpha, I was blessed with beautiful friendships that I know I will be long-lasting, I discovered what true community is all about. It's filled with people who are not afraid to be honest about who they really are, willing to put down their masks and talk about their insecurities, their fears, their failures. And through vulnerability they find love, grace and acceptance. That's community.

I guess I had never really experienced community that way before, even though I grew up in church. I never really felt like the Church wanted me to be real or would create space for some raw conversations, questions and confessions. But something crazy happens in the very moment when we realize  that struggles are part of the journey, that we all need more of God in our lives and more of each other. I have forever been challenged to recreate that environment where people are willing to open up, because that's the community we are all meant to be a part of.

Being involved in Chi Alpha also gave me the opportunity to look beyond myself. I realized that God sent me to campus for a reason beyond graduating with a great GPA. I felt that I was also called to serve and be a part of building God's kingdom on campus. And the crazy thing is, when I started serving, thinking about the needs of others, I found purpose and I found myself. Suddenly, getting the highest GPA or the best internship does not matter as much, because  you know God is walking with you, sending you favor along the way. Ever since, I have tried to always keep in mind that it's not just about what I do or where I am, whether I am a student or now a teacher, but how I glorify God in the things He has entrusted me with. You don't need to be “in ministry” to serve Him, He needs all of us!

I could write a book of all the things that God taught me during my time in Chi Alpha, of all the testimonies of lives being transformed  on campus, but at the end of the day, I'm so thankful to God that I got to be part of this ministry. It didn't just impact my time at Georgetown, but it will impact the rest of my life -  but you would have read another blog post to find out how!

 Would you consider joining me in The 100 for $100 Project? I just gave and would love to have you join our team! 

If We Got The Money

Karen & Jon - Georgetown Graduation, Spring 2013

This is a guest post by the Chi Alpha Staff at Georgetown University. You can learn more about their particular ministry, listen to podcasts and connect with them via guxa.org. 

We asked these staff members what it would mean to them and their respective ministry focus, if we got all the money we hope to raise with Project 100 for $100. Their answers are below. 

If we got the start up money, we'd have gas money and snacks for five vans full of international students to tour around D.C. on the first weekend of school.

We'd also have funds to cater dinner for our kick-off of international investigative Bible studies. Many students from around the world will begin to understand what the Bible is all about which is incredible since most are currently unaware that they have a Father in heaven who loves them. - Karen Keyser. XAi Director

If we had 100 people give $100 each, the outcome would be simple. We would be able to focus all of our attention on students instead of finances. We wouldn't have to sacrifice excellence. - Jon Rice, XA Director

Can we count you in? Join our team at Project 100 for $100 and help fund every single Chi Alpha Ministry in Washington, DC for Fall Kickoff. 

It Starts Today

Yesterday, I wrote a little bit about a project that we are starting today. Let me give you a little background. Every year, Chi Alpha Groups throughout the DC area do something called Fall Kickoff. All in all, it involves nearly two dozen events on multiple campuses with hundreds of students involved. 

One of our goals is to provide a place for freshman to connect with our student leaders and staff as well as each other. On American University, the campus at which I serve, we hosted several events but the one that most students remember is our Glow-in-the-Dark Lawn Games. And it is exactly like it sounds! 

Here's a reason we do events like that: We don't want college to equal the party scene and so right off the bat, we want to host fun and engaging connection events so that students see that 'not everyone is doing _______' (fill in the blank). 

At Georgetown University, they've hosted events such as a Burger Bash while at other campuses, international students are being given tours around the city. 

Fall Kickoff is one of the most strategic times of the year and involves staff, student leaders and church volunteers. Here is where you can be a part it. Are you ready? Here goes. We are looking to find 100 people that would donate $100 each. If you're good at math, you've probably already figured out that we would raise $10,000. That would not only cover Fall Kickoff for every DC Chi Alpha Group in the city, but it would help us do it bigger than ever before. 

“Give me ten men who hate nothing but sin and love nothing but God, and we’ll change the world.” - John Wesley

I thought of this quote this morning and I can't remember when I heard it for the first time. But I love the gusto behind Wesley's vision. It reminds me that together, when we are focused, we can do something far bigger than ourselves. 

We will be opening up the chance to be one of the 100 later today!

- Blane

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. You're always a day away.

- Annie 

Do you remember that song? For some reason, I do. Honestly, I don't remember the last time that I watched that movie. 

Well, we've got some excited news coming tomorrow. We hope that you've enjoyed our information and fun posts along with several chances to win some pretty cool stuff. None of that's going to stop, so don't start sweating. 

We hope that tomorrow will be the start of something. 
Something foundational. 
Something major. 

Something big. 

It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and even though I don't have kids, I've tried babysitting alone and let me tell you, it'd be easier if I had a few people from the village help me out! 

You probably know why exists but just in case you don't, here it is. We seek to help fellow students experience authentic relationship with Jesus Christ within the context of community.

But we don't do it alone. 
We have dozens of partner churches and many individuals as well as families that give of their time and their resources to make this ministry a reality. 

And tomorrow, we plan to invite you to take part in what we are doing. 
But not in some small way, a major way. Is it audacious? Yes. But we have seen so many rise to the occasion before and we have faith that more will respond this time around. 

Sure, it may involve sacrifice but we promise, it'll be worth it. Why? Because college students are worth it. 

Until then, 

- Blane