Who is Cru.?
Cru. is the local chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ. We exist to be a spiritual resource for students. We believe Read more…
in the Bible as God’s word to mankind. Cru. is an inter-denominational organization (which simply means we are made up of people from different church backgrounds). Because this is true Cru. functions in partnership with many churches around the area who love God and want to help students grow closer to Him during their time on campus. Many find Cru. to be a safe middle-ground where they can learn about God and grow in a relationship with Him on campus. We encourage you to come be a part of Cru. during your time on campus, but we also want to help you to find a church home too —If you need help finding a church where God is honored and His Word is taught ask us here.
What is Cru. about?
In a short we are about students becoming world changers. God has you in one of the most exciting places of your life—the campus. Unlike any other place (or likely any other time in your life) the world is literally all around you. Take a look around, I'm willing to bet Read more…
that within a few minutes of where you're sitting right now you can meet someone from a different country, a different culture, and a different family setting than your own. And you may not be able to see it right now, but within a number of years these very people that you are sitting around in class and living next to in your dorm, house or apartment building will give shape to the culture, the community, the nation and the world! The campus is a pretty amazing place!
What’s more, God is doing something big on the campus. Have you ever been confused about God? Have you ever felt disconnected from Him? Have you ever wondered if he was really real at all? Or maybe you believe that He is there, but you just don’t feel close to Him or you are trying to figure out this faith thing. Well, our experience tells us that these are common questions for today’s generation—and for those who wonder, many are discovering something real and fresh in a personal relationship with God! In fact if you’ve ever wondered some of these things, take a few minutes now and explore “How you can have a personal relationship with God”
Cru. is a movement of people across the globe that are growing and helping others grow in a personal relationship with God--one filled with increasing purpose, hope, honesty, & intimacy. So why did you come to college? What will you leave with? We hope that you'll find us, find God; find the adventure that is waiting for you at Cru!
History!
Since 1951 Cru. has had a presence on the universities of the US and world. What started on the UCLA campus now stretches across every state and nearly 200 countries around the world. In the Greater Twin Ports Read more…
Cru. has had a presence for close to 15 years. Over the last few years, however, God has uniquely gathered a handful of staff, students, and volunteer leaders to launch new movements and network together so that eventually every student on every campus in our area might have an opportunity to know someone who is truly following Jesus. It is an exciting time to be on campus here in our area!
Our Staff and Volunteers!
Aaron Miatke
Hi! I'm Aaron. I first heard about Campus Crusade for Christ as a student at UW-Madison. I was a freshman, living in the dorms and my roommate invited me Read more…
to attend a Bible study in a guys room down the hall. I remember how refreshed I felt being around that bunch of guys as they talked and shared about real life stuff—I was hooked. My college years were definitely eventful and I had the chance to experience many things, but of all my experiences I would say hands down that being a part of Cru. was the most fun & meaningful. In fact, it made such an impact in my life that now I am helping others experience these same opportunities as a full-time staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ. I love how I get to use my talents, interests, and passions (like travel and sports) to connect with others and point them to God. And I get to do it alongside my wife Brenda!
Brenda Miatke
My involvement with Campus Crusade at UW-Madison was the highlight of my time there. I made great friends and grew a ton in my relationship with God. It was during that time Read more…
that I was confident that God was asking me to have my interior design degree as an accessory to my life and to have working full-time with Campus Crusade as my main gig. I love helping students figure out what a relationship with God is all about: beginning one, growing in one, and figuring out what God is calling them to do with the rest of their lives after college. I still love doing all of these things as much as possible, but at the moment my three kids (Oliver, Esther, & Colette) occupy much of my off campus time.
Luke Rickert
What's up?! I'm Luke, and let me tell you this thing we call life is an adventure and I like to live it to the fullest. So here's the thing about me Read more…
I went to college not expecting to have my faith rocked. I thought I had all this faith stuff figured out, but as I got plugged in with a Cru. Bible study and met some dudes there that were genuinely real and talked about stuff that mattered I began to realize there was more to faith than just going through the motions. I started to realize who I was living my life for, and let me tell you God really wasn't in the picture. I started to wrestle with the fact that apart from Christ there really isn't anything at all that I would rather be living my life for, and then that is when it hit me... I have the opportunity to hang with people and tell them about my friend Jesus and how He has changed my life. So here I am in the Northland of the Greater Twin Ports being real and investing my life in stuff that matters. If you enjoy being real as you live life and you'd like to hang sometime give me a holla!
Becca Rickert
When I was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point my view of God was challenged. I knew that He desired a relationship with me, but Read more…
I didn't know how to truly give Him control of every area of my life. Throughout the rest of my college years God put people in my life to encourage and challenge my walk with Him. Much of the community and friendships I experienced during college came through Cru. on my campus. I even met my husband there! Upon graduation we had a decision to make about where to invest our lives post-college. I desired to continue to pour my life into college students. God honored those desires, and brought us here to the college campuses in Northern MN and WI. I love ministry here! And have enjoyed continuing to point students to Jesus during a pivotal time in their lives.
Ryan Kesselhon
My name is Ryan. It was a Campus Crusade staff member who told me about Jesus my freshman year. That same Jesus also radically rescued me Read more…
from a life of drugs and new age philosophy. Once graduated, I couldn't think of a better investment of my life than to tell others about the Lord. Our travel with the Jesus Film has shaped my desire to work with international students. Our three little girls (Havilah, Maren, and Ruth) are our entertainment, joy, hobby and ministry. They are often seen on campus with either Lora or I, as we work part-time with Cru.
Lora Kesselhon
Hey! My name is Lora and I love Jesus. I used to hitch-hike around the country following the Grateful Dead and Phish, but Read more…
just when I thought I had it all figured out, I discovered that I was still missing something. (Little did I know that I was missing everything!) The peace, love and community that was attempted on tour fell short of what my heart was longing for. That’s when I met Jesus in the most unlikely of places. A burrito selling, pot smoking, Rasta’s RV, that just happen to have a Bible. When I opened God's word, it spoke to me and began lifting veils from my eyes, and allowing me to see and understand what God's desire and purpose was for my life. I accepted it with all my heart. Since then I have traveled the world in 15 countries serving God and His people, seen Him do many miracles, and save my life from brain cancer. Life lived with Jesus is the most rewarding, exciting, adventure, one that I'd love to talk with you more about. ~A sister from another mister~
