Association of Campus Religious Organizations

The Division of Student Affairs serves as a liaison with the Association of Campus Religious Organizations (ACRO). Read about the many religious organizations with a presence on the NIU campus.

Phil and Jill Perez, Tatiana Reinbrecht, Greg Reynolds
630-803-3036
pperez@chicagochurch.org 

Our passion is to know and live God's will for our lives. We believe the Bible is God's word and strive to understand and live according to it.

Zach Dyrda
449 Normal Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-756-2131
baptistcampusministry@gmail.com or niupastorzach@gmail.com

Baptist Campus Ministry is a student-led organization striving to reflect Christ's image at NIU through love, discipleship and service. NIU students, staff and faculty come together to worship and serve our community. We gather to hear the gospel proclaimed in word, song and prayer. We also gather for Bible studies during the week to explore our faith and learn how to be leaders in our communities. We are open to all and seek to provide a safe place for all to explore their faith.

Dan McConkie
801-657-8646
mcconkie7@gmail.com

NIU's Latter-day Saint Student Association is for friends and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the NIU community. LDSSA provides an opportunity to gather together, to discuss our faith, to serve others and to have fun together.

John Dickerman
815-508-4691
dickermanjohn@gmail.com

Circle Sanctuary supports the NIU Pagan Student Association (PSA), a student-directed group dedicated to learning and interacting with all Pagan paths. All people seeking to expand their understanding of the divine are welcome.

Tim Schad
815-712-3053
tim.schad@cru.org

Caleb Hoover
630-940-5336
caleb.hoover@cru.org

Cru is a caring community of people who are passionate about connecting people to Jesus. Cru at NIU is about having a real relationship with God, real relationships with each other and a real impact on campus.

Grace Place is a student-led community that practices radical hospitality for all. God loves everyone and creates us with our own unique gifts. In celebration of God's love, we welcome everyone of any sexuality, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, disability and all other walks of life. We are committed to being anti-racist and learning how we can better serve our neighbors.

For more information and a schedule of events please visit our website or find us on Facebook or Instagram.

Sonalia Ramirez
sonalia.ramirez@intervarsity.org

InterVarsity is a safe community on campus where people come to grow and explore their faith in Jesus. We aim to see students and faculty transformed, the campus renewed and world changers developed. We serve our campus by hosting weekly Bible studies to understand what the Bible says. We host weekly meetings to gather as a community to worship and hear the teachings of the Bible. We have several meetings monthly to outreach to others at NIU, volunteer together, and pray. We look forward to meeting and fellowshipping with you!

Rev. Marty Marks
Immanuel Lutheran Church
511 Russell Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-756-6675
rev@godwithusilc.org (Marty)

Immanuel Lutheran Church has always seen NIU as a significant part of our mission field and community. For over 50 years, Immanuel has reached out to and served NIU students, faculty and staff. Our student organization, Lutheran Student Fellowship (nicknamed "Refuge"), offers many opportunities for spiritual growth each week. Our regular activities include pastor-led Bible studies, student-led Bible studies and discussions, service projects, social events, and lots of hanging out with food and games.

Refuge meets in the college lounge on the lower level of the building and is open most nights of the week for activities and for students to drop in and/or study. Sunday morning worship, whether traditional or contemporary, is a key component of our faith journey.

Student "peer ministers" lead much of the program in partnership with the campus pastor and campus ministry committee. Students also participate in worship on Sunday mornings in various ways and interact with many other aspects of our congregational life. Spring break servant trips have been a student favorite for many years.

At the heart of our campus ministry program is the desire to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ, while equipping students to grow in their leadership skills for current and future service in God's kingdom. NIU students are vital to the future and the present of the church and society!

Immanuel also proudly reaches out to the hundreds of international students who attend NIU. Our congregation members and other partners offer English as a second language classes for international students and their families, as well as weekly gatherings called the Intercultural Café. The café is a partnership with Network of Nations and a group of local churches who support reaching out with Christ-like hospitality to international students.

Visit the chuch website for more information on the group and their upcoming activities.

Lisa M. Dietrich (executive director)
630-290-2563
lisa@networkofnations.org

We are a community that fosters friendship between international students and the local community through invitation and hospitality. As a parachurch organization, we partner with many churches that participate in the ministry of Network of Nations at Northern Illinois University. It is a joy to build relationships with students from all over the world right here in DeKalb County.

Our programs include:

  • Airport pickup (new/incoming students)
  • Intercultural Cafe (weekly dinner)
  • Chit Chat and Chai (conversational English)
  • GloW (women's group)
  • Rev7 (Bible study)
  • Events and outings

Fr. Robert Gonnella
512 Normal Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-787-7770
fathermanno@gmail.com
Facebook: Newman Catholic Student Center at NIU
Instagram: newmanatniu

The Newman Catholic Student Center serves as the Catholic parish on campus. We offer a variety of activities throughout the week, including service projects, retreats, social events, rosary, adoration, Bible study, classes and much more! All are welcome.

Weekend masses:

  • Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 8 p.m.

Amber Hudson
amber@wecarepregnancyclinic.org
815-748-4242

WeCare4NIU is a recognized student organization affiliated with We Care Pregnancy Clinic. As a student organization, we hope to empower women and men to make life-affirming choices when facing an unplanned pregnancy, educate students on sexual risk avoidance, expand awareness of resources that help parenting students complete their education and embody the life-changing love of Jesus in all our interactions.

We are a faith-based group motivated by the biblical belief that all people should be treated with love, compassion, dignity and respect. We connect students at NIU to confidential, no-cost resources provided by We Care Pregnancy Clinic. These resources include pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, pregnancy and parenting education, and material assistance. We hand out free pregnancy tests on campus, provide information about pregnancy and sexual health issues, and volunteer at events connected to the clinic.

ACRO Officers

President

Marty Marks
rev@godwithusilc.org
815-501-3951

Secretary/Treasurer

Phil Perez
pperez@chicagochurch.org
630-803-3036

NIU Liaison
Kelly Olson
Assistant Dean of Students
kolson9@niu.edu
815-753-6707

Monthly Meetings

Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 511 Russell Road, DeKalb, IL.