I love working with people who are committed to experience life change personally and in the lives of others. Only Jesus provides hope and ability to change. Check out the first installment of a new video blog from Mark Gauthier- the Executive Director of the Campus Ministry. Check out his Facebook page for future videos!
Here is the link to his first blog. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rd4ptGmoGc
"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth..." ~ Hebrews 11:13
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Humbled
Two and a half years ago I joined 4,000 students and staff of the University of Kentucky in a large field to go out and serve the needs of the community in Lexington. That day I helped lead a group of 17 or so students that randomly chose to sign up and come to a nursing home with my co-leader and I.
Although the people in my group were random to me, they were not random to the Lord. Through this event he led me to meet a bright-eyed freshmen named Jen. A new tri-delt pledge and pre-nursing major Jen was excited about the beginning of her college career. I shared with my group how I worked for a campus ministry that loves to talk with students about how they can know God and share with others about Him. After the project was over and students were beginning to leave I ran up to Jen and asked if she would be interested in meeting for coffee and hearing more about Cru. She passed me her phone number and we set up to meet later in the week.
A couple days later my co-worker and friend Laura joined me as I got back together with Jen. We learned about her life and past and were able to share with her about the Love of Christ. Later Laura and I were to learn that Jen realized then that although she had been raised in a religious family, she had never made a personal decision to accept the gift God was offering her, Christ's death, the payment for her sin and brokenness and eternal relationship with God in exchange for committing her life to following and loving him.
Now years later I have seen grow to a women who is deeply in love with Christ and eager to share about Him with others. She joined me in Senegal for 6 weeks talking to college students from another world about Jesus. This year she is leading her own Bible study and mentoring young women as well as caring for international students on our campus and active church involvement. And last Sunday I was able to join 20 friends from Cru as we celebrated her baptism, a public declaration to her church and friends that she is a follower of Christ.
As I sat and listened to the pastor share her story I was humbled. How did I come to a place where God has chosen me to be one of the many people who had the privilege of pointing Jen to Jesus. And I was thankful. Thankful to each of you who are committed to giving and to praying for me so that this young women's life and others can be transformed.
Although the people in my group were random to me, they were not random to the Lord. Through this event he led me to meet a bright-eyed freshmen named Jen. A new tri-delt pledge and pre-nursing major Jen was excited about the beginning of her college career. I shared with my group how I worked for a campus ministry that loves to talk with students about how they can know God and share with others about Him. After the project was over and students were beginning to leave I ran up to Jen and asked if she would be interested in meeting for coffee and hearing more about Cru. She passed me her phone number and we set up to meet later in the week.
A couple days later my co-worker and friend Laura joined me as I got back together with Jen. We learned about her life and past and were able to share with her about the Love of Christ. Later Laura and I were to learn that Jen realized then that although she had been raised in a religious family, she had never made a personal decision to accept the gift God was offering her, Christ's death, the payment for her sin and brokenness and eternal relationship with God in exchange for committing her life to following and loving him.
Now years later I have seen grow to a women who is deeply in love with Christ and eager to share about Him with others. She joined me in Senegal for 6 weeks talking to college students from another world about Jesus. This year she is leading her own Bible study and mentoring young women as well as caring for international students on our campus and active church involvement. And last Sunday I was able to join 20 friends from Cru as we celebrated her baptism, a public declaration to her church and friends that she is a follower of Christ.
ProVISION for the Nations
Provision comes in many ways. For some it is in starting a new job, for others it could be a friend calling at just the right time. The holidays brought opportunities for God's individual attention and provision for my personal needs. In the midst of financial crisis, interpersonal conflict, unsettling news about our health or the health of someone we love it is easy to lose sight of the greatest provision of all. God's provision to heal the brokenness in our lives called sin and to reunite us in our relationship with Him through Christ's death on the cross.
If you live in America this may feel like old news. But what about the millions of people in the world who have never heard. During the week between Christmas and New Years I had an opportunity to be part of a conference called Vision. Located outside Washington D.C., it was created to bring in the nations who are currently living and studying on American soil. This year 1300 international students from 60 countries traveled from across the US to learn about Jesus, the Bible, and to see our nations capital.
University of Kentucky, where I spend most of my time, has a large international student ministry. In the past we have had difficulty bringing students. This year 41 students from UK, Transylvania University and Campbellsville University hopped on a charter bus and joined us for the week. Twenty-two of these students were from countries in the middle-east where Christianity is non-existent and persecution of believers is high.
Students were divided up by religious and geographic boundaries to be in discussion groups. I had the privilege of walking through the week with our sisters from the middle-east. It was such an awesome time of learning from each other and introducing them to the concept of a loving God who came to rescue them from the sin and death they deserve if we will surrender our lives to him. The week was spent in large group and small group meetings, meals with everyone in our hotel, praise and worship, coffee house time and games, sight seeing in D.C., wrapping up with a talent show and new Years eve party.
God provided finances, transportation, and even a wonderful volunteer who spoke Arabic who could share with our friends about Jesus in their own language.
Since returning from the Vision conference in Washington, 2 of the E. Asian students have made decisions for follow Jesus. When asking them about it, they shared that it made a huge difference to see people from their culture who love and follow Jesus. They weren't just an outsider choosing Jesus. Jesus included them all along.
On the final night of the conference I was blown away by participating in a choir of people singing of how great God is. When most of them would ordinarily not be able to hear of Jesus much less worship him in their country. They knew the sacrifices that might be required of them but they came to learn and worship anyway.
During the bus ride home a Nigerian student from our group stood up on the front of the bus. He shared over the microphone a summary of how the conference talked about knowing God personally and being with him eternally, and explained and sang a Nigerian song about what would it profit a man to gain the whole world if he lost his soul."
Please pray for each of these precious students. Pray that they will come to walk closely with Jesus and to be bold with their family and friends. Pray for their safety from those who would desire they not know the love of Jesus and walk with him. Pray recognizing that one day you could be sharing the floor with them as we bow and worship before Christ. For God's provision is for eternity.
UK Student leaders and some of our international friends. The young man in the middle of the photo is now our brother in Christ!
The hotel and catering staff provided meals for 1300 people in the hotel every evening. There were people and tables everywhere. I was able to enjoy Mediteranian food of hummus, pita, rice and lamb or kabobs with my friends at dinner. It was delicious!
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