Pointlife
Student organization spotlight: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
PointLife Reporter
It’s a feeling most freshmen know and hate—that gnawing sense of aloneness and search for identity in the first few weeks of dorm life. As a freshman, David Sohrweide found that identity in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student organization, InterVarsity.
President of IV, Sohrweide knew he wanted to get involved on campus but didn’t know where to start.
“I lived across the hall from a couple of members of IV and we began to spend lots of time together,” Sohrweide said. “We became great friends and eventually they invited me to the weekly meeting of InterVarsity. I don’t know where I would be without IV.”
InterVarsity at UW-SP is a local chapter of the international, non-denominational Christian organization called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
According to their Web site, www.intervarsity.org, the purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the United States is “to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God’s Word, God’s people of every ethnicity and culture and God’s purposes in the world.”
Sohrweide sees these purposes being fulfilled through events like Broken Bread, a hunger awareness initiative to be held Nov. 24, at 6 p.m. in The Laird Room in the Dreyfus University Center. The purpose of the event is to raise money for World Vision, an international food aid organization. Events like their weekly meeting, various leadership conferences and sporadic events such as an annual volleyball tournament, draw between 40 and 60 students.
“Our goal is to see as many students involved as possible, sharing God’s love through service,” Sohrweide said.
Robin Erdahl, a junior at UW-SP, has been involved with InterVarsity for three years and equates his involvement with personal life change.
“IV has helped develop a servant’s heart in me, as they are focused on sharing the love of Christ through actions like Broken Bread,” Erdahl said.
Dr. Nathan Wetzel, professor of mathematics and computing at UW-SP, has been the faculty advisor of InterVarsity for nine years. Wetzel was involved with IV as an undergraduate and graduate student as well.
“When I got to be a faculty member, I wanted to continue to get involved [in IV],” Wetzel said. “I think it is important for students to be able to see and interact with Christian faculty. I also think that it is important for me to be able to see the Christ-like attitudes of students today,” Wetzel said.
Renee Carter, a student executive of IV, gives credit to the community of IV for her transition into college life.
“[IV] was small, maybe 30 people at the time, but I was welcomed, quickly made friends, and found the weekly large group meetings to have messages that challenged me in my faith,” Carter said. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to come to a public college and be surrounded by Christians, more than any other time in my life,” Carter said.
Sohrweide sees IV as much more than an exclusive group of closed-off Christians.
“I was recently asked, ‘If [someone of another faith] walked into your weekly meeting, would you be OK with that?’” Sohrweide said. “I answered, ‘Um, yes!’”
“I want people to know we’re not the Christians you see on TV but we are people full of love,” Sohrweide said. “IV is a great place to check out God in a safe, welcoming environment.”
Carter views her experience with the student organization IV as more than weekly meetings and events.
“I love IV in all of the ways one loves a family-for the good times and the bad, for its weaknesses and strengths and with the hope that God will allow it to be blessed for His glory,” Carter said.
InterVarsity meets weekly on Mondays at 7 p.m. in The Encore in the DUC.
