An Overview of Engage CU
The Heart Behind Engage CU
Champaign '25
Schedule
The Vision
We are honored to share with you the burden that God has put in our hearts for the cities of Champaign and Urbana, referred to as C/U. Imagine if the churches came together to saturate the community with the Good News of Jesus. Gospel Encounter’s vision is to see a unified effort for an extended season of evangelism. We want to see Christians from all walks of life unite to serve and reach the city for the Gospel. With C/U being a diverse area, reaching people where they are is essential.
Imagine teams of people co-laboring to identify specific groups to minister to in various ways. Therefore, we are planning an outreach style called saturation evangelism. This approach aims to facilitate multiple micro-outreaches leading to an ongoing city-wide revival movement. Different teams lead each micro-outreach and focus on reaching a specific demographic of people in the city. What would the ripple effect be from a combined effort of focused outreach?
God loves C/U, and Gospel Encounter wants to see His love poured out on the lost. The goal is to see 15,000 people impacted by the Gospel over the duration of the outreach campaign. This kind of movement cannot happen without the local churches. We want to help unite the body of Christ to see a sustained evangelism movement followed by deep discipleship.
Come join the citywide movement as we ENGAGE with GRACE & TRUTH.
Below outlines the basic schedule for Engage CU.
Now until August - Lifestyle evangelism equipping with Daniel Nalley at area churches, prayer nights, engage 3 push (who are your three you are inviting?)
Engage 3 Push
The Engage 3 push is challenging Christians to prayerfully consider three people, either friends, acquaintances, or strangers, to engage with on behalf of the gospel. Write down your three and be committed to praying for them daily, engage with them where they are, become for them what they need to share the message of Jesus, and invite them to ultimately know Jesus and to bring them to Engage CU at Centennial Park September 20th.
09/06 - Windsor Road Food Outreach
Come serve the community by volunteering at the grocery giveaway during Windsor Road's food pantry.
Info - https://windsorroad.churchcenter.com/calendar/event/185200074
Address - 2501 Windsor Road
Champaign Il 61822
09/07 - International Student Picnic
The University of Illinois is the second ranked public university in the US for international enrollment with approximately 15,000 international students and visiting scholars expected this year. In addition, many arrive here with family members. They come from over 100 countries, several of which are closed to freely proclaim the gospel. The Lord has placed a wonderful opportunity before the Christian community in our area to be able to reach out to them with the genuine love of God and the truth and hope found in Jesus Christ while they are here! You can be a laborer in this global harvest field without ever leaving the CU area!
International Friendships (IFI) connects with hundreds of internationals at UIUC every year, welcoming them here when they arrive and showing them authentic friendship through a variety of activities and opportunities. As they realize the authentic care that Christians have for them, many become open to spiritual conversations and are able to hear the truth of the gospel.
Help International Friendships reach out to greet incoming international students as the UIUC semester begins! A large Welcome Picnic is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, September 7th, at Hessel Park in Champaign from 3:00 to 8:00. It will be held in the large pavilion at the north end of the park. Volunteers are needed to bring specified items of food, help to serve food, visit with students, and enjoy participating with students in outdoor games. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet internationals from all over the world and perhaps even begin ongoing friendships with some!
For more information, email Bill Erickson at: b.erickson@ifiusa.org
Location -Hessel Park, Champaign IL
Contact Bill Erickson to Volunteer
09/14-19 - City Serve Week
This is a week of outreach following the Engage Conference. There will be teams evangelizing everyday while prayer walking and canvasing neighborhoods. Simultaneously there will be teams of people participating in a variety of outreaches as listed below.
09/15 - Search and Rescue: Homeless Outreach
Come love on the forgotten and downtrodden in the name of Jesus. We are partnering with local organizations to give out food bags, offer haircuts, and connect people to practical resources while we share the gospel. Our hope is to see some rescued off the street that night and into a recovery home, rehab, or attending a local church, and or Celebrate Recovery group.
Address - 221 S Locust St, Champaign, IL 61820
Direction - https://share.google/Pm2yioDrHyPizTUW2
09/19-20 - Engage CU Celebration *CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO*
Family and Community Park Outreach with Gospel Encounter and area Churches, BMX show, block party, bounce houses, kids zone, three-on-three basketball tournament, face painting, music, and stories of HOPE!!!
Register for the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament HERE
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Get Involved
Pray - Join our prayer services.
Serve - Become a serve-site host. Volunteer at outreaches
Share - Invite your church to participate. Invite friends to outreaches.
Connect - Sign up for updates info@gospelencounter.com
Give - Financially support Engage CU.
Hotels
The Wyndham Hotel has extended to us special pricing so that we can have as many people serve as we can. Click the link below to view the avalible rooms and to book.
Link Available soon