ence. What a weird looking and unnecessary word. Finals week this past December my supervisor and I sat down at Starbucks to go over fundraising and projected budgets. I wasn't really thinking about meeting new students as our events and studies had wrapped up for the semester. Since we were at the laptop tables we welcomed a young lady looking for a place to study to our table and then went on with our conversation. She joined in a few times and then asked who we were. As we explained that we worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship a ministry on college campuses, her eyes lit up. She had recently come out of some major struggles and was getting serious about her faith as never before. She loved the church she became involved with through her mom but still felt so alone. "No one my age is a Christian, no other college students are pursuing faith in Jesus." Her mom challenged her that that was not true and began praying for her to meet Christians on campus. This semester she came to her first study. We looked at John 4. As we went over the questions people had passed into me in chronological order the enthusiasm and joy built in the room as discoveries and connections were made. The passage was alive just as I know all scripture is and was speaking into our lives. There were other new students there and most were taken aback at how much fun it was to study scripture. We ended in prayer and reflection. That night my new friend from Starbucks signed up for Winterfest and volunteered to drive. Praise God for four-wheel drive vehicles. She has also started hosting a Tuesday girls hang out night at her place. It was no coincidence that she came and sat at that table at Starbucks. God is doing things like this at Auraria, things I could never take credit for. I am so grateful that I get to staff this chapter as it is forming and be a witness to the faithfulness and power of God.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
No coincidences
Coincidence. What a weird looking and unnecessary word. Finals week this past December my supervisor and I sat down at Starbucks to go over fundraising and projected budgets. I wasn't really thinking about meeting new students as our events and studies had wrapped up for the semester. Since we were at the laptop tables we welcomed a young lady looking for a place to study to our table and then went on with our conversation. She joined in a few times and then asked who we were. As we explained that we worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship a ministry on college campuses, her eyes lit up. She had recently come out of some major struggles and was getting serious about her faith as never before. She loved the church she became involved with through her mom but still felt so alone. "No one my age is a Christian, no other college students are pursuing faith in Jesus." Her mom challenged her that that was not true and began praying for her to meet Christians on campus. This semester she came to her first study. We looked at John 4. As we went over the questions people had passed into me in chronological order the enthusiasm and joy built in the room as discoveries and connections were made. The passage was alive just as I know all scripture is and was speaking into our lives. There were other new students there and most were taken aback at how much fun it was to study scripture. We ended in prayer and reflection. That night my new friend from Starbucks signed up for Winterfest and volunteered to drive. Praise God for four-wheel drive vehicles. She has also started hosting a Tuesday girls hang out night at her place. It was no coincidence that she came and sat at that table at Starbucks. God is doing things like this at Auraria, things I could never take credit for. I am so grateful that I get to staff this chapter as it is forming and be a witness to the faithfulness and power of God.
ence. What a weird looking and unnecessary word. Finals week this past December my supervisor and I sat down at Starbucks to go over fundraising and projected budgets. I wasn't really thinking about meeting new students as our events and studies had wrapped up for the semester. Since we were at the laptop tables we welcomed a young lady looking for a place to study to our table and then went on with our conversation. She joined in a few times and then asked who we were. As we explained that we worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship a ministry on college campuses, her eyes lit up. She had recently come out of some major struggles and was getting serious about her faith as never before. She loved the church she became involved with through her mom but still felt so alone. "No one my age is a Christian, no other college students are pursuing faith in Jesus." Her mom challenged her that that was not true and began praying for her to meet Christians on campus. This semester she came to her first study. We looked at John 4. As we went over the questions people had passed into me in chronological order the enthusiasm and joy built in the room as discoveries and connections were made. The passage was alive just as I know all scripture is and was speaking into our lives. There were other new students there and most were taken aback at how much fun it was to study scripture. We ended in prayer and reflection. That night my new friend from Starbucks signed up for Winterfest and volunteered to drive. Praise God for four-wheel drive vehicles. She has also started hosting a Tuesday girls hang out night at her place. It was no coincidence that she came and sat at that table at Starbucks. God is doing things like this at Auraria, things I could never take credit for. I am so grateful that I get to staff this chapter as it is forming and be a witness to the faithfulness and power of God.
When God is at work
In response to what we have studied in Luke and experienced in Jesus I invited my students to celebrate by throwing a party. To further apply what we had learned and extend our joy to others we threw it at campus village, the closest thing to dorms at the Auraria 
campus on a Friday night. Everyone pitched in by praying, making arrangements, setting up, bringing snacks, hanging posters and inviting people. I was afraid it would turn into a flop but it was a smashing success further proving that it is God at work here bringing students to himself and that I need to follow his lead even when it makes me nervous. Part of what made me nervous was giving away so much responsibility. However this is one of the major ways God moved in our students. They took on they challenge and ownership for the event. Paul standing in the photo was in charge of fun and games and the room stayed packed and full of energy as different conversations and activity formed all over the room. As InterVarsity students from the different studies met and connected they reached out to the campus village students who came and the spirit was working through them welcoming and building community. The joy of the Lord was so present. Several of us met an international student from China, who is curious about religion and taking advantage of his time here to visit church and explore what power might be there to change people. My students and I have a more knowledge now of that power that as at work through us by the Spirit of God and our obedience to his word and leading. It is changing us individually as a fellowship and is reaching out to the rest of the campus through this amen!!!
campus on a Friday night. Everyone pitched in by praying, making arrangements, setting up, bringing snacks, hanging posters and inviting people. I was afraid it would turn into a flop but it was a smashing success further proving that it is God at work here bringing students to himself and that I need to follow his lead even when it makes me nervous. Part of what made me nervous was giving away so much responsibility. However this is one of the major ways God moved in our students. They took on they challenge and ownership for the event. Paul standing in the photo was in charge of fun and games and the room stayed packed and full of energy as different conversations and activity formed all over the room. As InterVarsity students from the different studies met and connected they reached out to the campus village students who came and the spirit was working through them welcoming and building community. The joy of the Lord was so present. Several of us met an international student from China, who is curious about religion and taking advantage of his time here to visit church and explore what power might be there to change people. My students and I have a more knowledge now of that power that as at work through us by the Spirit of God and our obedience to his word and leading. It is changing us individually as a fellowship and is reaching out to the rest of the campus through this amen!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
