Purdue Day 1
It’s been several years since I last visited Purdue, but I was invited back this year by Grace Campus Church. It had been raining all morning, but began to clear just in time for me to begin preaching at the 12:20 break.
When I am new to a campus it usually takes some time to train them in
proper behavior. I don’t know whether some of these antagonists are naturally rude or whether they have had other campus preachers come before me whose preaching seems to stir up rudeness and anger in others. Probably a combination of both. Either way, it took a bit of time for the students to realize I’m not there to insult them, but to present serious ideas worthy of serious consideration.
The highlight of my day was a young lady named Emily. She asked about a friend who had rejected God because of all the evil she saw in the world. I pointed out that the evil in the world is the result of our rejection of God and that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. If her friend rejects God as well, she will be contributing to the evil of the world. If she follows Jesus, she would be on the side of destroying the evil and bringing good to others. My answer seemed to connect with Emily and she listened intently for at least two hours.
At the end of the day, I called upon those who wish to follow Christ to come forward and join me in prayer. Emily joined out circle and afterwards, I spoke with her personally about her relationship with God. Turns out that she had one in high school, but had terribly fallen away and become trapped in various sins while here at college. She was torn with which direction to go in life and was especially concerned that she not lose her friendships even though those friends were pulling her away from God.
We talked for quite some time. I could tell that a part of Emily really wanted to follow Jesus, but she was experiencing the classic pull of the flesh described in Galatians 5:16-24. I urged her to love Christ above all others ND assured her that, in the long run, the best thing she could do for her friends is to model love for Jesus. It was also, obviously, the best thing she could do for herself. To be in the center of God’s will is ALWAYS the best place to be in life for both us and also for all the other people in your our lives.
Emily was making some difficult decisions. It took some time, but she went from tears of shame to tears of rejoicing as she repented and came back to God. A terrible burden of guilt and conviction seemed to be lifted from her.
That evening, Emily choose to skip out on a previously planned program and join our small group for dinner and discussion. She wasnfilled with questions that helped direct our evening in very edifying discussion. Although she asked many of the same questions I am daily asked out on the campus, I couldn’t help but notice and appreciate a huge difference in attitude in how she asked her questions. She was hungry for truth rather than just seeking an argument. She listened carefully and asked good follow-up questions when she didn’t understand or needed clarification. What a blessing and encouragement it was to have her join us that night and I hope and pray that she will become a real part of the Grace Campus Church at Purdue.
Category: Campus Stories, Christian Living
