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.