NDSU CHI ALPHA NEWSLETTER
FALL SEMESTER: 2025

As the spring semester starts, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the fall and say thank you! Last semester was full of so many new student faces on campus, deep friendships forming, and people taking real steps in their faith. We are so grateful for the prayers, encouragement, and support of alumni and friends like you!

 

In this newsletter you can expect:

  1. Student Testimony 

  2. Fall Event Highlights

  3. Impact and Metrics

  4. Alumni + Supporter Gathering

  5. Looking Forward
 

1. Student Testimony

One of our highlights of each semester is Senior Night - hearing stories of how God has moved in students’ lives is so impactful! This past semester, 13 seniors shared their stories. Below is a testimony of one of those seniors, Tate Gilbertson:  

 

"I grew up a luke-warm Christian and I never really took my faith seriously. In my freshman year of college, I was going to church every Sunday, but that was it. I would party on the weekends and not really validate what the Bible was telling me to do. All during that time, my roommate and one of my life-long best friends (Calvin) kept asking if I wanted to try a small group out. I would just brush him aside and say “maybe” and then come up with an excuse not to go. Finally after a couple weeks, I told Calvin I was ready to try it out. That is when my life truly changed and the Lord began to really move in me.  At first, I did not really feel much from God but I found myself wanting to learn more. In the second semester of my sophomore year was the first time I really felt God’s presence. I was reading a book called “Wild at Heart” at evening of prayer, which Calvin bothered me again to read, and I read this quote: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” This resonated with me because at the time I was really struggling with what major and career I wanted to pursue. This really grew in me a passion for what I was doing and gave me confidence and encouragement. I also had a vision later on at the evening of prayer where I was leading students in a Bible study when I was a teacher. I felt this was another sign the Lord put me here for a reason. The Lord has taught me a lot in my time in college, one of the biggest is to be vulnerable, whether that is with your words or with your actions. I am so glad that Calvin kept inviting me to join his small group, the Lord used that to change my life."

 

Stories like Tate's remind us of the importance of invitation and not giving up on people in our lives! What an honor it is to get to witness so many stories like this & see God moving in students' lives all across campus.
 

2. Fall Event Highlights
One of the main things we felt the Lord guiding us to this past semester was proximity - being on campus in areas where students are. The Lord did so much through this! Here are a few highlights from the semester:

  • Welcome Week
    To kick off the semester we made an effort to be present in as many areas of campus as possible to try and meet new students. Events included a Sunday morning service on campus, a bonfire at the Bakkegard house, sand volleyball by Reed Johnson, and a pizza party on AG Hill Field. Students ate over 100 pizzas! 
  • Homecoming
    This was our first year participating in NDSU’s Homecoming festivities! We had a Chi Alpha float for the parade (pictured below) and handed out nearly 1,500 Bubblr drinks along the route. Saturday, we hosted a Watch Party for the NDSU game on campus, followed by the 5th Quarter Party - complete with a bonfire and s’mores. 
  • Fall Retreat
    We had an incredible retreat in mid-October! Pastor Randy Hahne spoke to our students about identity, trusting God with their futures, and boldly sharing Jesus with others. We ended Fall Retreat with an incredible celebration - water baptisms! Nineteen students took a bold step of faith to follow Jesus and publicly declare their commitment to Him. 
  • Senior Send
    We hosted a celebration meal on campus for our graduating seniors in December! Students shared their stories of the Lord moving in their lives and we prayed over their futures. Alumni table hosts joined to encourage them as they take their next steps after graduating! The evening was full of laughter, tears, and reminders of God’s faithfulness throughout their years at NDSU. 
 

3. Impact and Metrics 

It is hard to measure heart transformation with stats – but here are a few numbers that help tell the story: 

  • 288 students at weekly gathering 
  • 25 small groups per week 
  • 250 weekly in small groups 
  • 190 students at Fall Retreat 
  • 100+ declared Jesus as Lord 
  • 17 seniors graduated in December

The Lord is moving, and lives are being changed! What an honor it is to get to partner with what Jesus is already doing on the campus of NDSU.
 

4. NDSU Chi Alpha Alumni + Supporter Gathering

This fall, we had so much fun coming together for our 2nd annual Alumni and Supporter Gathering! We are excited to see this event grow and provide a space for you all to continue to connect and engage with one another and Chi Alpha, even years after graduating.

 

Our 3rd annual gathering is going to be over Homecoming Weekend in the Fall of 2026, the weekend of October 2nd. Mark your calendars and be on the lookout for more information to come! 
 

5. Looking Forward
Here are a few big things coming up this spring semester, please join us in praying over them:

  • Small Group Leader Training
    This will be our second year of hosting a 9-week interactive training for future leaders! Students will join cohorts, attend weekly classes, and complete “doer steps” to put what they are learning into practice. Please pray over future student leaders, for open hearts through training, and that the Lord would equip and speak to each of them throughout! 
  • Mission Trips
    We will be sending out four mission teams this year - to Fort Yates, Minneapolis, Alaska, and Egypt! These trips always stretch students, grow their compassion, and give them firsthand experience with God’s heart for the world. Please join us in praying over each of these trips and the students that will be going on them! 
  • Marketplace Week
    We are passionate about preparing students to live for Jesus long after college - and Marketplace Week is all about doing that! We will be having Jimmy Slagle, a local entrepreneur serving Jesus, come to share with our students. Join us in praying over this week - that students would feel encouraged and empowered to serve the Lord in their future marketplace careers! 
 

Stay In Touch
We love hearing from you — whether it's a prayer request, a life update, or just a hello.


Email: info@ndsuchialpha.com
Website: www.ndsuchialpha.com 
Social Media: Instagram | Facebook 
Prayer Requests or Updates: https://www.ndsuchialpha.com/alumni 

 

Thank you again for being part of NDSU Chi Alpha! Whether it’s through giving, praying, or cheering us on from afar - you are part of how God is changing lives at NDSU.

 

God bless,
NDSU Chi Alpha Staff Team