Filling the empty red cup

Al and I were delighted to attend an InterVarsity dinner just before Christmas, at the home of Rodel and Erlinda Lipumano. Their daughter, Rodelyn, graduated from Indiana State University in June, 2011. She is planning to return as a staff member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an organization that functions on college campuses around the globe, presenting the good news of Jesus and helping students grow in their relationship to him, as well as preparing them to share Christ with others.

We attended the same church as Rodelyn and her family for several years. She is an accomplished violinist and has shared her wonderful gift of music on many Sunday mornings. While in college, she decided to change her major from music to international relations and then made the decision to go into full-time Christian work    

After being treated to a wonderful meal prepared by Erlinda and Rodelyn, about 15 friends and family members crowded into their living room in front of the TV set. Rodelyn showed some short video clips which explained more about the work of InterVarsity. Then she shared specifically what she would be doing to reach out to various students.

One way of connecting with them early in the year is the “Red Cup Proxy” program. Staff and club members wearing black T-shirts with a red cup symbol and the word, “Thirsty?” emblazoned on the front conduct a survey early in the year.

“Are you thirsty for success? Love? Fun? Purpose?” They ask students on campus to respond by putting a sticker or marker below one of these categories on a big signboard decorated with red cups. This survey along with a Bible verse printed on the poster stimulates many interesting conversations. Jesus’ words stand out in big black letters: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever is thirsty, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” — John 7:37-38 NIV.

To demonstrate what she will be doing on her campus, Rodelyn divided us into groups of three and had us share which of the above mentioned things we were thirsty for when we were in college. Then she brought us back together as a large group.

“So do you remember being “thirsty” for something?” she asked.

“Oh, it’s hard to remember back that far,” one man responded with a grin. Then he shared that he hadn’t become a Christian until he was an adult. While he was in college, he was mainly interested in parties which affected his grades negatively until he found himself on the dean’s list. “But it wasn’t the ‘good dean’s’ list. It was the ‘bad dean’s’ list!”

Rodelyn went on to tell how she had been helped by the ministry of InterVarsity during a time of searching and spiritual thirst in her own life when she was in college. That was one reason she wanted to become a staff member, to give back some of what was given to her. What a joy to see this young woman so dedicated to helping young people find purpose and meaning in their lives through Jesus Christ!

Dear friends, why not turn your focus to Jesus for a fresh start as the New Year begins? May he satisfy your thirst with his amazing love…and his streams of living water!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV


You can read more at Judy’s blog, goodnewswithjudy.blogspot.com.