by Jenny Calsyn, The Salt Company Coordinator 

It has been such a great semester so far and we have seen God move in so many big ways!

As we planned our fall kickoff this past year, we wanted to do something big. We wanted an event that would draw many students to come check out Salt Company so they could hear the Gospel and hopefully get connected in a connection group and see what God could do in their life. We rented out a park outside of the public library only a few blocks away from our church. It is in a central location between the campuses in Cedar Rapids and rented a stage and sound equipment. It was an event we were anticipating and praying over for many months before.

The first couple weeks of school were spent meeting students and spreading the word about our kickoff. We focused a lot on Coe campus trying to meet as many freshmen as possible. It was both so fun and exhausting but we knew it was worth it to spend our time on campuses. We were so proud of how our leaders gave their time to join us as well.

The kickoff was amazing! It was so sweet to be out in the community worshiping with students. We had 170 people at our kickoff, the most any college ministry in Cedar Rapids has ever seen in one gathering. So many students fled in to the park and the gospel was clearly preached to them. The next week we had 100 students and we have had 80 on average since. Many students signed up for connection groups and have continued to sign up each week to join one. God is truly drawing more and more students to himself and we are so thankful for the work He is doing. Truly, it’s him that is working in their lives. Our ministry is getting to the size where we are being asked more and more to trust the work that God is doing in and through our leaders and then in the students that are coming to Salt and are in their connection groups.

We are currently planning our Fall Retreat and can’t wait to see what God does in those students that attend. Each year God works in big ways to unite connection groups and to move in the hearts of our students. Please be praying that a lot of our students, especially freshmen who have never attended a retreat, will sign up.

Thanks so much for your support!