This fountain is one of my favorites at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It reminds me of David’s experience with God running his cup over in Psalm 23. Jesus repeats this theme saying “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
I long for this experience of God deep within me, the students we work with, and you as well. Join me in praying for this experience for us all as this new school year begins.
Staff across our region are inviting students right now into an active engagement and response to scripture. Our desire is not to develop encyclopedias of scripture passages but people who are transformed.
We use this simple tool with staff and students to talk through how you engage in scripture in a way that leads to transformation.
What are your stories of being transformed by scripture?
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“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 TNIV
What does it mean that God’s kingdom is as the breaking of light into a dark space?
It means that we should see the impact of the presence of the light in the people, structures, and systems of the communities in which God calls us. The allegiance to Jesus that we invite students to consider is not one that just impacts their destiny and that safely is kept behind a curtain. No, this light is one that breaks forth into the dark crevices and corners all around us. One in which darkness can not stand in its presence.
Please pray that our communities would show the reality of this light as they engage new students this week.
God calls us to work on campuses and only a growing and connected community can see the mission move forward.
This year as a region we are prayerfully working toward 450 small groups in our four states and every campus we are present at (48+) engaged in intercession.
In addition to the multi-focus small groups, students and staff are planting small groups in focused communities like: Fraternities & Sororities, athletes, Asian American, Latino, Black, international, and refugees.
Is there one of these groups that you have a particular desire to see reached? Is their a Midwest campus (MO, IA, NE, KS) that you are connected to? Or students you know? Do you have an idea of how to link with us in intercession?
What might your part of that connected community be as we prayerfully work together this year?
We care about students empowered to lead in mission on their campus, in their families, and in their communities. As a region we are working to deepen the student empowerment on campus and I had the chance last week to see that we have a long way to go.
I was blessed to meet with the George Ogalo Country Director for IFES – Kenya, a sister movement of InterVarsity/USA. We met at Florissant Valley Community College, a campus where we are doing new work.
While on campus George talked about the students that lead fellowships of 3,000 on campus and elect student boards that oversee the work in Kenya. It challenges me to think what other elements of the ministry can we put in our students hands and how to create an atmosphere where staff invite their students to ownership in this way.
Pray for us as we go about the work of empowering students as they arrive back on campus.
What were the most important items you had on your packing list as you went to college or on your last big trip? My Sega Genesis topped the list for me but besides that I cannot remember one item that I brought with me to college.
My most significant memories were of what I found when I arrived at college, like the community to welcome me and introduce me to Jesus in a deeper way.
Right now millions of students are writing their list and packing their bags to enter our colleges and universities in the Midwest.
What is your prayer for what they would find waiting for them on campus? Write those in the comments below and lets pray together for these things.
As we progress as a region in helping our students and staff plant witnessing communities cross-culturally one of the questions we are asking is – how do we create an atmosphere where this vision and calling is held and then led by our students?
For the three students I worked with last year it started with a love for the nations and experience in traveling to see God’s Kingdom spread abroad. How did this vision/action spark for you?
“So you flunked a racism test. Now what?”
You know when a headline grabs you? This one did. I’m convinced that we all are impacted by implicit bias in regards to race and wish we would just admit it. In theological terms this is called total depravity. Sin impacts every part of us. This article can help people admit that.
However I’m unsettled because in reading this I can treat bias in a way that is as casual as, “Oh I grabbed the wrong pair of socks”. This is not ok as we see the way implicit bias oppresses so deeply and leads to death not life for others and us.
The article also leaves the reader with a gap as the authors admit we do not know how to fix this with science. Yep, the only one I’ve seen with a solution is Jesus. Have you seen the stories of him giving access for those who were shut out in the house of worship (John 2) or deliberately bringing the good news of the kingdom to a hated people (John 4)? It is he that it is said breaks down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2) and it is only in saying yes to him that I’ve seen any breakthrough.
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