Heroes Like You

It’s a challenge for Connie Castor to find a part of her life that InterVarsity hasn’t influenced. 

Connie grew up in a family with a strong legacy of faith. After being mentored throughout high school, she saw InterVarsity as the next logical step in her discipleship. She still vividly remembers the first InterVarsity event she attended as a freshman: Squash. Hosted periodically in a New York apartment, college students would squash together around the piano to sing their favorite hymns. “It was just an incredibly different experience for me and began a time of discipleship that was very pivotal in my life,” she recalled. “And I experienced inductive Bible study, growing spiritually and dynamically in ways that impacted the rest of my life.”

Even after graduation, InterVarsity has continued to play a role in Connie’s life. Her husband served on InterVarsity’s Board of Trustees for many years, and she attended the Urbana Student Missions Conference several times. 

When it came time for Connie and her husband to start estate planning, donating to InterVarsity was a given. Connie hopes that her gift will encourage students to appreciate the generations who helped to pave their way and to know they are the next link in the chain of those who love Jesus.

As she looks ahead to the future, Connie is encouraged about InterVarsity’s dedication to inviting students into deeper relationship with Christ and its spiritual relevance. 

A Legacy Gift in Gratitude for InterVarsity and Life-Changing Urbana 87

It was at InterVarsity’s Urbana conference in 1987 that Rick and Mary Tuttle committed their lives to Jesus Christ. That commitment led to an estate gift 10 years later when the Tuttles gave birth to their first child after a decade of trying.

“Making a gift to include InterVarsity in our estate planning really started at Urbana,” Rick says. “We had nothing and were just starting as a family; but we decided to honor God with our resources, whatever they would be. When we had our first child, we thought about what to do with our will.”

Mary adds, “We had been barren for 10 years! So just the fact that God had given us children got us thinking about what we wanted to leave as a legacy for generations to come.”

The residents of Miami met as students at Florida International University. Rick works as a Web application developer; technical skills he developed while involved with InterVarsity helped him land his first job. He also serves as a volunteer worship leader at their church and has written several Christian songs. Mary is a volunteer staff with InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries on three campuses. She was an executive in higher education before deciding to homeschool both of their daughters. 

“We want to give back because InterVarsity for us was a life-changing experience—the catalyst for a life that has really been fruitful,” says Rick.

“InterVarsity was very important to me as a child of Cuban immigrants who had a pagan background,” Mary says. “God has used InterVarsity to help us find our passion and purpose in the church.”

Bearing Real Hope Around the World 

The late 80’s were transformational for Nate and Cheryl, at the intersection of faith and Greek Life. 

Nate studied psychology and went on to medical school at Indiana University and then decided on OB-GYN as his specialty area. He delivered close to 4,000 babies in his 20-year career. Cheryl was a political science and communication double major then attended Indiana University for a Master’s in Higher Education/Student Affairs before earning her doctorate in Leadership at Creighton University. She enjoyed serving on her church staff at Fullness Christian Fellowship for 14 years, and teaching leadership and communication at Southeastern Bible College. 

“Honestly, without InterVarsity and its impact we would probably not be serving in Africa, or at least not serving in the same way that we are now.” 

The Ross’s now reside in Ethiopia where Nate serves at Soddo Christian Hospital, helping to train Ethiopian doctors and provide maternal care. Cheryl is teaching at a local seminary. 

“We have developed a summer college internship and we’re excited to have 3 students at our hospital this summer to be exposed to medical missions and what it looks like to serve in Africa. Join us in praying for them as they develop a curriculum and prepare for their arrival.” 

Nate and Cheryl are thankful for the significant role InterVarsity played in their lives and are excited about our 2030 Calling to see a witnessing community on all US campuses with an enrollment of 1000 students or more. They responded, “What an exciting vision that you have! We love it!!!