Thursday, March 02, 2006

Missions..... at U of I

So we're still at U of I, right? So I imagine we all won't have a terribly large amount of stuff to post until we start support raising (which I am so excited to do, think about what the Lord is going to bring in!)

But while we're here still, I hope the lost are still on our minds as we are at the end of our senior year. Baker and I have been working on the "I agree with Paul" campaign. We had the vision for the entire body of Christ at U of I to be part of it. But the other organizations are markedly less than excited to do it.

How should I feel about this? You know? Like, I know that all the different organizations have their own ministries to take care of. And I know they don't know us. But when Baker is working so hard to provide such an easy growing experience for Christians while simultaneously giving all people at U of I an opportunity to hear the Gospel (straight from Paul no less!), it's hard to wonder why they won't give him a half an hour of time to let him explain his vision, how the Lord put it on his heart and why it's biblical (very biblical even).

So when the other organizations don't show up from 8-12 p.m., when Baker decided to give his night to having the chance to meet with them, we were both highly discouraged. He sent them emails to let them know about this chance so they could know exactly what was going on, and so they could meet us and realize it's not just some random people doing something, but instead that we are offering to them the chance to be part of a huge campus-wide outreach. We desperately wanted them to join with us to promote Christ!

We still do, but they didn't show up tonight.

My solace is in the sovereign Lord. This event will happen, regardless of whether or not other groups choose to go along with it. The sovereign Lord will use it to our good regardless of ANYTHING that could go wrong with it. It will reach the lost, help new Christians spread the Gospel and take a step of faith, and reach our campus.

Where are the other Christian ministries? If they're not sure about it, why don't they ask us questions about it? If they don't know if they agree, why wouldn't they talk to us? I wonder if they even prayed about joining with us.

I'm not doubting that they are Christians or claiming they are unfaithful. They are my brothers and sisters. And like Baker said to me tonight, I'm not a Crustian, I'm a Christian. These organizations are composed of the saints, sanctified by Christ's blood. I just don't get why they wouldn't give this whole thing more of a chance.

This is the Lord's event and He will do with it what He pleases. That's good enough for me.

Amen?

Bish

3 Comments:

Blogger andi said...

Wow, that is really discouraging. Way to keep your chin up, Bish. And props to you both for working so hard. I know the Lord is going to use it somehow. Your perseverance is inspiring.

9:40 PM  
Blogger Brian said...

Thanks Andi.

To Geoff: I think so, but we want to be careful not to cause disunity among their fellowships, cuz that's not what we're trying to do.

8:06 AM  
Blogger Chris said...

Sorry to hear that Bish. I do feel your pain in the sense that Paul did (Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 1 Cor. 1:13-15). Maybe God has a plan that involves the individual Christian groups on campus. Maybe He's calling you to unite the Christians on campus in more than just a single event or program way. I'll pray for you and the evangelists at U of I and just remember also that because God is all-powerful and all-knowing "do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Easch day has enough troubles of its own" Matt 7:34.

8:17 PM  

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