Power of Invitation

The power of an invitation.  We can never underestimate what it  might look like to invite people into relationship with us, and more importantly, with Jesus.  To get there, sometimes it is necessary for people to be invited to talk about what they believe.  

I oversee the training of our new staff, interns and part time staff.  In an often hostile environment like a college campus, we often wonder if our invitation will be received by the people we see and talk to. One part time worker, Chaz, has been really battling with his desire to bring the gospel to a community of people who celebrate ethnic diversity on our campus.  He faced some initial resistance to inviting students to explore their own faith and other people’s reasons for faith.  We talked through it and planned to move forward with a focus group (a program that we run to help students give their opinions on what they believe about life, relationships and spirituality).  It is very open. Anyone is welcome.  We use it as a means to discern whom God is working in and then out of it look for opportunities to invite students into studies, share the gospel, trust for opportunities for God to move.  

A student interjected as we gave her an invitation, “I think this is very needed for us to speak out on what we believe.  There isn’t really space for us to do that here on campus.  I believe it is very necessary.”  This spoke a lot of life into Chaz.  He was so encouraged and affirmed in his own faith to hear someone express their desire and even need for this.  How wonderful it is to enter into these courageous invitations that can lead to life and not death.  Thank you so much for investing in the kingdom by allowing opportunities for the hope of Christ to be explained and entered into here in these important times of students lives and the building up of our faith for His workers.  

Chaz will be serving as a middle school counselor in the area next year.  He is so thankful for his time with Cru and will be an incredible light to this new community.  

I Stand at the Door and Knock

“I would just like to say one thing - for an account that was written 20 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, that has countless contradictions, and we don’t even have the original writings of, all we have are copies…. someone has a lot of explaining to do!,”  said Tom, a recent graduate and atheist who has been coming to our weekly small group and events to take a look at the scriptures and interject his many objections to the Christian faith.  He found our group after a campus-wide outreach and has been coming faithfully ever since.  

It has been challenging for me and our student leaders to continue to  engage with Christian students while also being relevant to address Tom and other not-yet-believer’s questions.  I have encouraged our leaders to see how good this engagement process is because it shows us and other Christians how to engage in healthy relationship with all who are seeking truth.  Johanna, a student leader, asked Tom “Why do you come to our group?”  He replied, “Because I want to know the truth.”  He has stated that the more he knows, the more he knows that he doesn’t know very much.   

In our study of the woman caught in adultery (Luke), he asked, “Why does the presence of Jesus change the laws?  These men should be able to stone her.”  I explained that the presence of Jesus means everything. These men who have spent their entire lives dedicated to the scripture have every right to kill and condemn this woman according to their laws.  But the presence of Jesus brings fulfillment of the law.  They recognize that this Jesus speaks with authority and so they must put down their stones.  

Another student, Nathaniel, an agnostic, said, “I wonder if it doesn’t so much matter what Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees, but if it’s more important that the woman is not condemned.”  

And then out of frustration, Tom listed out his reasons why he can’t believe in the Bible, maybe to remind himself of why he doesn’t believe this.  This Jesus did not fit what he had thought.  God has grown my love and care for Tom as he continues to show up and bring forth his objections.  I do believe it is evidence of the Spirit drawing Tom closer to him.  Please continue to pray for these students to declare Christ as their Lord.  Would you believe with us for this strong passion to be turned and used for the glory of the kingdom?