Zoning In

We have divided the overall team into ministry teams. Each team (ours is Kendall, Nate Frantz, and Zach) has been hanging out with different groups of students we have met (usually first year students living in the same dorm). We have now started to focus our time and energy on those students. This has really helped us be intentional and specific with how we spend our days. We have grown to be good friends with several of these students and we are now praying and waiting for opportunities to engage them in spiritual conversation as we play basketball, football, rugby, and hang out around town. This is what we have been waiting for. It is a big deal. Many of us have either started to have these conversations or are close to. Please be in prayer for God’s supernatural hand during these times. It can seem very awkward or weird bring up matters such as sin and the necessity of Christ. But we fear God and seek to please Him, not these students.

Praise God! Last night we hung out with some key students we have really befriended. After watching a professional game of Rugby we went to eat some McDonalds. I was praying for good conversation, but the McDonalds we went to was crowded, dirty, and disorganized. There was only one spot in the corner (that allowed for conversation that was occupied that I was praying the Lord open up. Right when we received our food, the people sitting there left. We sat down and ate and had some general conversation. Then Zach asked to two of the students we were with, “Do you have any spiritual background?” They responded, “No, we know religious people, but we have never been or really talked about it. I always wondered what happens to a person after they die.” Then we asked them, “What do you think it means to be a Christian?” One student responded, “someone who goes to church, doesn’t curse that much, and doesn’t drink that much.” The other student said, “Someone who believes in God.” We talked a little about our purpose in life and whether religious issues are talked about with their friends. The conversation was going just okay until one of the students asked, “What do you think it means to be a Christian?” From this we were able to tell them that we don’t do things in order to be a Christian and be right with God. We told them about the issue of sin and how much God hates it and is going to punish us for it. We told them how Christ came and took that punishment on the cross and did that for us and that it is free. They looked surprised and said they have never heard that before (it is common that most students know little to nothing of who Jesus is). We asked, “What do you think of what we just said?” They both said, “It’s crazy how Christ takes all our sin.” It was hard for them to grasp the concept of someone doing that for them. The conversation was about 15 minutes, but it was what we were praying for. They were open to talking about it. God had given such a good friendship and trust with them that it was a genuine time. This is only the start of these conversations as we will try to meet with them with the intention of talking about the Christian message. At the end of the conversation I felt the relationship grow deeper by talking about more meaningful things and we look forward to having similar conversations. Thanks for the prayers. It was so exciting to begin sharing with the students we have been investing our time and energy in. May God be made know in these student’s lives.

Nate F. & Kendall T.