Hello family, friends, and fellow blog-subscribers,

As you might be aware, I recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May with a double major in Religious Studies and Interpersonal/Organizational Communication. It was an incredible four years, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I thank God for the ability and opportunity to attend an amazing institution that hosts such a rich diversity of background, talent, intelligence, and faith. These past four years have been critically influential for me academically, socially, and spiritually. God has truly grown and shaped me through the people I have met, education I have received, organizations I have participated, and worldviews I have encountered.

In fact, one of the most formative places during my collegiate experience was Cru, a large Christian organization on campus, where I found an oasis of sorts among the normative desert of secular thought and living. UNC Chapel Hill is notoriously regarded as a dark, lost place among Christian spheres. This sentiment is true, as there is a small percentage of students at UNC Chapel Hill who are following Jesus. And that’s exactly why Cru exists like a spiritual oasis for many, including myself. There I found a rich community of mission-minded, Bible-abiding, Christ-glorifying believers who were making a difference on campus in various ways. Cru was not a Christian huddle; it was an army equipped with the gospel. UNC Chapel Hill, like many college campuses, is a unique, strategic place for the gospel. The brightest of students from all over the state, country, and world come to this university—and share life, ideas, and experiences with one another in a tight community for four years—and then are launched back into places all over the state, country, and world to make a difference. Could there be a better opportunity to reach them with the gospel? Indeed, we don’t go to them as much as they come to us. During my four years at UNC Chapel Hill, God has burdened me for these students and this place. While I will be attending Southeastern Seminary in the fall, I will be working part-time with Cru at UNC.

As someone who has been a blessing in my life and a fellow partner in the gospel, I would like to ask you–yes, you Mr./Mrs./Ms. blog-reader!–to consider supporting me for the next year, and in doing so, partner with me through Cru to reach the student body of UNC Chapel Hill for Christ. I firmly believe that one of the best investments the church can make today is by supporting ministry at the college campuses. This is the place where the rising generation is most independent, curious, and malleable—and what happens on the college campus will arguably set the trajectory for the rest of these students’ lives. Therefore, supporting Cru at UNC will financially allow us to leverage our time and resources to reach, disciple, and send them out in the name of Jesus.

If you would like to support me in this endeavor, the easiest and most convenient way to give is through Cru’s website. This link is where you can give: https://give.cru.org/2284550

Once you are on the website, click the button “Give A Gift”.  (Refer to picture-guide below). From there, you can specify the amount and frequency of your gift (single gift, monthly, quarterly, etc.). Directly under where you specify your type of donation, there is a space for adding comments. Please indicate that your specific donation “goes to the ministry of Austin Gentry as he works for Cru at UNC Chapel Hill”. This way, my director, Miles O’Neill, will be able to know how much I raised, and therefore, how many hours I will be able to work. Additionally, if you give online, please email me at adgentry@me.com to let me know how much you gave so that I can keep count of how much was specifically given in my name.

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If you would rather mail me a check instead, be sure to write the check out to Cru. By mailing the check to me (home address at bottom of blog), I will be able to track how much money was given; then I will mail the check on to Cru Headquarters.

Regarding the nature and process of the donations, it is important to note that all gifts—physical checks and online giving—are tax-deductible and will be kept in a specific account for UNC’s ministry at Cru Headquarters. Cru at UNC will then pay me from that account based on my hourly work. A small percentage of your total giving, however, will be used to fund Cru’s extensive reach as an international ministry. For example, 12% of your giving will go to broader ministry development, 7% will go to missionaries overseas who cannot raise support in closed countries, and 5% will cover overhead costs.

If you are unable to financially support my work for Cru at UNC, would you nonetheless partner with this ministry through the powerful tool of prayer, asking God to continue to send the Holy Spirit to work salvation and discipleship in Chapel Hill.

Thank you once again for your friendship, influence, and partnership in the gospel and for supporting me financially and/or prayerfully as I strive to extend, perpetuate, and contribute to the ministry of Christ through Cru at UNC.

Your Brother In Christ,

Austin Gentry

422 Edgedale Drive, High Point, NC 27262