At first I rushed into it without praying and I felt I should pray but I get excited. It wasn't terrible the first meeting, but it definitely reminded me why bother going if I am not praying and going where God leads and inviting him in. So I slowed down and prayed and I looked to the bible for what to do. Mostly I was reminded how often Jesus and Paul's strategy was to focus on a few to meet one samaritan woman in John 4 or one greek like the demoniac in Mark 4 and then send them simply to share their story. Then that person and their story broke open the spiritual doors for people to want to check out Jesus. I was also encouraged and challenged that Paul was almost always facing rejection and extreme persecution but he kept preaching the gospel and inviting a response. And it seems in every place a few believed and started following Paul and believing in Jesus. The challenge is will i persevere and invite and share the gospel even if I get rejected 99 times in the hope and faith that 1 will follow and believe. And hope that they will begin to impact their community.
So I prayed and started again. I met 3 chinese guys and what really changed was my humility and attitude. I came in with questions and asking for help and their ideas instead of bringing just something I have to offer or calling them out of what they are doing to go to my thing. I want to be like Jesus and go to where people are at. they had some helpful responses. I want to go as Jesus sent the 72 in Luke 10 looking for people of peace and asking for help to cross that culture into their world.
The main takeaway I had was: Chinese students are shy or think they are shy and so inviting them out to some group thing or some unknown thing is probably not the most effective way to reach them. It makes me think of Luke 10 again:
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
God I ask for more workers and I am willing to go. Help me bring others or find others to go with me. I ask for a student partner in this.
Also I happened to meet a latino student I had met in the latino student group. We had a great conversation and I have been surprised how so many of the students have some christian connection and less catholic connections than I expected. I am excited to share my ideas and get his response and ideas for what might bless latino students at CU and the idea of starting a group for latino students to be in community and learn about Jesus. God I ask for your guidance on how to do that: that it would be natural and culturally aware. That you would inspire it to be very relational and communal and not necessarily my natural way or the normal way InterVarsity does this for other groups.
Finally I rode around the bus and asked students this question: Do you think God cares about the suffering at CU and in the world? It amazed me how many people went 2 directions: philosophical apparently tons of students take philosophy at CU and the main thing in that class is this question of God and suffering often with a professor who seems biased against religion. It gives you a taste of the culture and faculty at CU and where students are at. But surprisingly some students said: well I think there is a reason for suffering that it is the balance that allows the good things to be good so if there is a God then He has a good reason for it.
God I don't know what will come of this. I ask for people of peace and that I would enter into these respective cities and proclaim the kingdom of God has come near and you would confirm it with a demonstration of the Spirits power and if I can help through my life and my love. God I pray for partners: for students to disciple and send into these harvest fields.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment