History
The Assemblies of God began a ministry to collegians in 1947 at the urging of J. Robert Ashcroft, father of John Ashcroft, which consisted of a newsletter sent to college students to encourage them in their faith.
It soon became apparent that a newsletter by itself was inadequate, and so in 1953 Calvin Holsinger chartered the first Assemblies of God student group at Missouri State University (at the time Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri- site of the Assemblies of God headquarters. Taking its name from a contemporary Assemblies of God youth movement the group was called Christ's Ambassadors (a phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:20). The Χ and Α come from "christo apostoli."
The first Chi Alpha house was established at UC Berkley in 1964.
The organization began to move into Europe in the 1970s under the name Students for Christ.
There are now Chi Alpha ministries on over 250 colleges and universities in America, and many more in sister organizations around the world.
Please visit www.chialpha.com for more information.