University of Illinois Graduate InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

What's a large group meeting?

Well, just what it sounds like: a meeting of our chapter as a large group. These meetings are possibly the part of our ministry most visible to the rest of our campus. It is at these meetings that the chapter gathers for community worship, prayer, teaching, witness, and fellowship.

Worship in song is an integral part of almost every meeting, and we also take time to pray together. Teaching is often done by a guest speaker, through exposition of a Bible passage or through a topical study of an issue relevant to Christians in graduate school. Sharing from group members during the meeting allows us to witness to one another how God is working in our lives. Finally, no meeting is complete without the time spent both before and after in fellowship: talking, laughing, sharing concerns, and building relationships one-on-one.


We have Large Group meetings most Fridays during the semester at 7:30, usually in the Illini Union.  Large Groups are followed by a social, After Large Group Event (a.k.a. ALGE).

Fall 2004 Large Groups
Date
Time
Location
Speaker
Topic
August 27
7:30
Union 314B
Grad IV Exec
Welcome and Introduction
September 3
7:30 Lincoln Hall 106
Tim Hoerr and Gary Durack
CEO and President/CTO
iCyt Visionary Bioscience, Inc.
"Leading a Tech Company, Advancing the Kingdom"
September 10
7:30 Union 314B Del Ratzsch
Prof. of Philosophy
Calvin College
"Has Science Made it Tougher to be a Religious Believer?"
September 17
7:30 Union 210
Bill and Mindy Meier
Senior Pastor and Wife
Twin City Bible Church
"Forming Christian Relationships and Friendship"
September 24
-
-
-
Camping trip
October 1
7:30 Union 314B Paul E. McNamara
Prof. of Agriculture and Consumer Economics
UIUC
"Being a Christian in a Wealthy Country"
October 8
7:30 Union 314B Meridith Foster
Operations Director
WBGL

"The Role of Christian Radio"
October 15
7:30 Union 314B Christopher W. Mitchell
Prof. of Theological Studies
Wheaton College

"Was C.S. Lewis Wrong? Views on Heaven"

Note: Dr. Mitchell is also speaking at the Faculty/Grad Student Conf. on October 16
October 22
7:30 Union 404
Cynthia Haymon-Coleman
Professor of Voice
UIUC

"Academic Pride and Christian Music"
October 29
7:30 Union 314B James Sire
Lecturer and Author
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
"Themes from Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept"
November 5
7:30 Union 314B Brad J. Kallenberg
Professor of Religious Studies
University of Dayton

"The Gospel We Proclaim: Why Relevance is a Bad Idea"
November 12
-
- - All Campus Worship
November 19
-
-
-
Potluck dinner
November 26
- -
-
Thanksgiving break
December 3
7:30 Union 314B Ralph E. Johnson
Professor of Computer Science
UIUC
"The Changing Relationship Between Christianity and Science"
December 10
7:30 Union 314B Grad IV Exec
Christmas Celebration

   Fall 2004 Large Group Schedule (.pdf)