COVID-19 has changed how we do ministry

We're in unprecedented times during COVID-19. The way we connect with one another is different, the sins that seek to control us look different, and the best practices to pursue God look a little different. Especially as we begin a new school year, we all have a lot of questions about what our ministry (and particularly our New Student Outreach) is going to look like.

While we may not have all the answers to the questions you might have, we want to communicate information with as much clarity as we can. Below you'll find all of the current information about how our ministry will be operating this fall. Thank you for your patience as we learn how to navigate our new campus normal together! You can plan to find all future updates here on this page.

REFER A FRESHMAN UPDATE | 8/12/20
Hey IllinoisIV,
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Do you have a friend from church who will be a new student at UIUC this year?
Have you heard from a family friend that someone they know is coming to campus?
Are these new students looking for Christian community?

If yes, can you take 5 minutes today to help connect them to IllinoisIV? Since we will be unable to host information tables around campus this year, we are hoping to network to new students before they even arrive, so they know there is a Christian community on campus waiting to care for them and their spiritual journey.

Here’s how you can connect a new student to us:

Send a message. Message your friend (or get their contact info!) and reach out asking if they would be interested in learning more about IllinoisIV.
Send a link. If they’re interested in learning more, send them the link to our website and ask them to fill out the contact card on the home page of our website. 
Invite! Invite them to join you at Blitz on 8/19 or at our Kick-Off LG on 8/23! More info can be found here: illinoisiv.org/events.

Thanks for helping us creatively connect with incoming students this year! We’re excited to reunite with you both on campus and online as we continue to make Jesus known by growing loving, biblical communities at UIUC.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Zac at zac.george@intervarsity.org.
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BLITZ & MOVE-IN UPDATE | 7/24/20
​Happy Summer, IllinoisIV!
 
We hope your summer has been restorative! As the fall semester approaches, several of you have asked about what to expect as move-in information has recently been released. Although our staff team is still discerning what ministry will look like for us in our new campus normal, we wanted to let you know how you can plan to participate in New Student Outreach as you return.
 
Our first chapter-wide online event will be Back-to-School Blitz on August 19th at 3pm CT.
If you’re wondering things like:
     • ​What will it look like to welcome new students this year?
     • How can I help create community in a virtual context?
     • What do we do when we can’t eat together in the dining hall?   

Blitz is going to be a strategic time for us as a chapter to reconnect and to answer those tough questions! We believe Jesus is still calling us to make him known by building loving, biblical communities on campus even though campus looks a lot different this fall. Amidst change and uncertainty, we’re confident that Jesus is leading the way for us to embody his hope, peace and loving presence to the people we’ll encounter—both online and on campus. Join us at Blitz to spiritually prepare, receive practical training and reunite with friends!
 
Although Blitz will happen virtually, if you are on campus by August 19th, you have the option to join us for an in-person outdoor dinner gathering. As our campus context has opted for a hybrid model of instruction, we want to learn together what it looks like for us to similarly adapt a hybrid model of ministry. You will receive more information as Blitz approaches, but we want to let you know that there will be opportunities to gather in-person on campus during NSO where we will observe all social distancing guidelines in compliance with the CDC and the University.
 
More information about Blitz and NSO is forthcoming, but we hope this gives some clarity to what you can expect as you make your own move-in plans. Here are answers to other questions you might have:
 
How do I register for Blitz?
Visit tiny.cc/blitz20 and register if you haven’t already!
 
So, when should I actually move to campus?
You are welcome to move to campus at a time that is convenient for you, but we would recommend moving in before 3pm on August 19th so that you can participate in Blitz and be around to connect to new students who will move in on the 19-20th. The picture many new students had of their freshman year has completely changed and they’re coming to campus with fear and anxiety about how this year is going to go (as we all are!). How awesome would it be if they had a returning student (you) who they could trust and ask their honest questions to? Arriving to campus early will help us make better new student connections because rather than being preoccupied by moving in, we can have our eyes open to the people Jesus might be inviting us to care for. We recognize moving in early is a sacrifice of your time and resources and we invite you to prayerfully and joyfully consider it.
 
I’m not returning to campus, but I still want to participate in NSO! How do I do that?
Although we’re sad that some of you will be unable to join us on campus this semester, you can still participate in Blitz and NSO virtually! Links and logistics will be posted on the chapter’s website by August 14th. You will also receive information via email.
 
Thanks for your patience as we learn how to navigate our new campus normal together! May we be filled with the Spirit as we seek to love our campus and one another well this fall. If you have any other questions, please reply.