Paintball and Campfire

This weekend was our end-of-year paintball outing and bonfire. We had at least 43 people there.

Anna got to play her first paintball game--that's her at the top. It was a really great time of fun and fellowship.

But as we were sitting around the campfire, it struck me how much our group has changed since our bonfire last year. Not only have we grown in numbers, but there was such a clear testimony of how God has worked this past year.

There were six new Christians in the group. And there were at least 8 who are not believers at all (and I don't know about the visitors who were present.)

During the testimony time, it was cool to hear what God was working, and a theme began to emerge. Some of the new Christians told how they had thought we were a bunch of "Jesus freaks", but were also attracted to the love and joy exhibited by the group. And two of the non-believers even shared stories, prefacing their testimony with "I am not a Christian, but....."

One thing that struck me was how our group is not ashamed to speak the truth boldly. There was no attempt to re-package the gospel or market it in a way that would be more palatable to the world.

The way of the cross is tough. And it is exclusive. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."

But it is also a place of joy, freedom and refreshment. Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

I believe the world wants to hear the truth. They are hungry for freedom and rest.

Two of our new believers said that the knowledge that we prayed for them by name to come to Christ impacted their lives tremendously. Our group does not hide the fact that we want our friends to find the joy and truth of Christ. We tell them that we are desperately praying for the eyes of their spiritual hearts to be opened. We speak the truth in love.

One other thing that was encouraging was having three of the leaders of other Christian groups at the bonfire as well. We have started being intentional about supporting, praying for, and encouraging one another in our ministries.

This coming year we will be doing more activities together. There is such a sweet spirit of unity among all of the Christian groups. We have a shared vision and desire: we are so hungry to see Christ glorified on our campus.

Ashleigh, one of the leaders of Intervarsity, shared how in their own group they have sensed that God is preparing them for something big next year. There is a spiritual sensitivity on campus that has not been there before. There is a hunger and passion among the Christian students, and a new sense of urgency.

Several in our own group, as well as the two leaders who were there from Christian Student Fellowship, affirmed what Ashleigh was saying. We have felt it, too.

But then something interesting happened. Another student spoke up and said that he sensed the spiritual activity on campus recently, too, and that he had noticed the unity and shared vision. He wanted his group to be part of that--and he is Muslim!!!

God is AMAZING. I am thankful. I don't know where we are heading, and still don't really know how to do campus ministry any more than I did two years ago when we got here. But our God who has called us is faithful, and HE will do it. (1 Thess. 5:24)