There are always students connected to a campus ministry that are connected to the ministry in a marginal way. Some students come only to free lunch. Some come to free lunch and Thursday worship. Some come to both and are involved in small groups. Some do all of these things and also serve and reach out to their friends.
Some come to lunch once every now and then-and that is their level of connectivity to BSM. They have reasons: Some really do have very hectic schedules, taking a full load and holding down a job to make it through school. Some really are serious students who are spinning a lot of plates trying to stay in school. Some are spiritually curious, but not ready to commit to anything. Some intend to, but get distracted...others are torn between two worlds. If you are in ministry-you know what I mean. Everyone's story is unique. Every person is important.
How we respond to the "fringe" people (I hate that term-it devalues the individua...but for lack of a better term...) is so important. Sometimes we send a message (in our best Leonidas, Spartan King Voice): "Commit or go home! Invest! Buck Up! Be Strong! Youre either In or Out! This...is...BSM!" (or fill in the blank of your ministry). Or, we play the passive aggressive game-withholding love and concern until the person "puts us...errr, "God," first. We give the cold shoulder. Or, we take the cavalier approach: We're growing, out of sight, out of mind.
But with each of these people, there are hurts and pains and real issues. These lives matter.
One of the more interesting things God has done in my life the past year and a half has been to reshape my thoughts on ministry. Twenty two years as a youth minister, church planter and pastor-I had twenty two years worth of perspective from one side of the pulpit. Now that I am on the other side, I've learned there are things I would do differently, things I am doing differently now when it comes to ministry.
One thing: Never give up. Reach out. Continue to reach out. Pursue. God is the One who pursues, who loves. We should be the same. One thing I've tried to do (and still have a way to go), is to send emails make phone calls to kids I don't see often. Just reminders that I am aware of them and that they matter. Some kids-well, there may be twenty or so that I've been dropping lines to for over a year. Every now and then I am surprised by a "thank you," or a call, or an email asking a question. I'm glad God doesn't give up on us. I don't think we should be giving up on others. We must pursue in love.
Sometimes we do a bad job of that. We talk a lot about grace, but we who have received so much of it are often, tragically, the ones least likely to show it. We have our reasons: Accountability, commitment, and many other terms-but a lot of times it's a failure to love that allows people to slip through cracks. We don't pursue-we don't try to meet people at their point of need. We're pretty good at "Peace, be well," and then going about our business while others struggle.
What does this have to do with BSM? With a young man named Tap? A lot.
Tap is one of those sporadic lunch attendees. He's a great kid. Sometimes he seems as if his soul is heavy or old. Tender hearted kid. He's lost two friends in the past year. One, a friend in Washington D.C., walking home at the wrong time. Drive by shooting intended to take out a rival gang member...his friend was just walking home. This year, another friend, hit by a drunk driver. Dead.
Tap carries these things around with him. He's also torn between two worlds. He knows Christ, just struggling right now. He gets my "how are you doing, missed you today" emails. He replies sometimes. When he sees me on campus, he gives me a hug. Good kid. But there's always the sense that while he might want to connect with God and with BSM on a deeper and more meaningful level, something is holding him back. He has told me before, "I feel guilty when I miss lunch...hard to come back the next week...feel like I let you down..." For Tap, I think this mindset is a part of the problem. Somewhere along the way in life, he must have been told by someone that Christians love on some kind of conditional basis or something. I have to reaffirm to him that he's always loved. Anything I can do for him-I will do. I think he wants to believe it. Maybe he's been burned before. I don't know.
I do know he called today. He has things going on in life and wants to talk. It would be easy to say, "Tap...My vacation time starts Monday. It's Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday-family time...let's do this Jan 12 or so when school resumes." But I can't do that. God doesn't operate off my calendar.
Pray for Tap. Pray for me, please. We are supposed to meet either Sunday afternoon or Monday afternoon. The tone in his voice tells me it's serious and important to him-and thankfully, he's going to be O.K. between now and then-whatever he's dealing with.
The point? Love. Love fiercely. Pursue. Don't give up. When your "Tap" knocks on your door-be there. These are the moments we look back on as a "God Thing." Don't miss the blessing.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Great Semester Ends
We had a fantastic first semester at UTSA. God blessed BSM in so many ways: He brought many new students into our lives. We saw tremendous spiritual and numeric growth. We saw a great change in culture. We see our students being very intentional in terms of being a missional people, and the reason for that, we saw a great growth in their love for God and their neighbor.
We are blessed. Please pray for us as we prepare for a new semester. God has given us a foundation to truly make a significant impact on that campus, that mission field of 29,000 students. Pray that we will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He leads.
We are eager for the new semester, eager to serve and minister to the campus, to share Christ, to minister in the city, to our churches and to our world.
God has opened many doors-doors to minister to internationals, doors to reach more students than I could have ever imagined last year. Our students are ready.
We anticipate at least 10 small discipleship groups next semester-lead by our student leaders.
We anticipate impacting the campus and being available to assist local churches in any way we can.
We are excited!
Thank you for your prayers. We need them and appreciate them!
We are blessed. Please pray for us as we prepare for a new semester. God has given us a foundation to truly make a significant impact on that campus, that mission field of 29,000 students. Pray that we will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He leads.
We are eager for the new semester, eager to serve and minister to the campus, to share Christ, to minister in the city, to our churches and to our world.
God has opened many doors-doors to minister to internationals, doors to reach more students than I could have ever imagined last year. Our students are ready.
We anticipate at least 10 small discipleship groups next semester-lead by our student leaders.
We anticipate impacting the campus and being available to assist local churches in any way we can.
We are excited!
Thank you for your prayers. We need them and appreciate them!
Christmas Disconnect: Alcohol Gospel Prophet
If this reads like it’s disjointed-that is intentional. I am trying to capture a disjointed experience with words and images and thoughts.
Foggy, misty night when everything feels like it’s coated with sadness. We’re laughing though because in this moment in time all is good. The company is enjoyable. There are families and the illusion of security. These are the times we disappear into and the world around us melts away. There is only the present and it is filled with laughter.
Twenty foot tall Christmas tree, filled with lights and ornaments trying to shine brightly in the murky, soupy darkness, but it’s just a dim beacon offering false hope to the hopeless that wander the streets. The night is filled with so many shadows. Christmas trees don’t save.They give a lot of people warm feelings, and taunt the rest. Consumer god. Idol to materialism. Promising instant, temporary happiness. Forgotten within two weeks, resurrected from storage in ten months to once again call us to worship.
Christmas tree worship is broken by the appearance of broken man.
Desperate homeless man on his knees telling us he’s going to die. Cancer covering his brain, exhaling whiskey as he tells us God is Real, that he is sent to tell us...God…Is…Real. Tears flow down his cheeks. On his feet then back on his knees, head bowed down like a peasant before kings… Speaking Alcohol Gospel.
Prophetic figure or con man? I see his condition and know that even if he’s not telling the absolute truth his interruption of our insulated Christmas gathering reminds us of both our excess and finiteness. He says we’re all going to die. He says we need to KNOW that God is real. We Need to know…Need to know that God is the Judge. Disconnected thoughts and words flow in between crystallized statements of truth. And this inconvenient reminder stops the laughter and for a moment…the young face the old, the healthy the broken. The comfortable and satisfied collide with the desperate and resigned.
The cross and empty grave. Hard to get in any words. He’s out of his mind. Repeating the same things over and over. Talking but not listening. Silent group, the fog and mist chew up almost every word spoken but his. Ours dissipate into the night. He’s not listening. Quietly prayers are offered up for him, for us in the shadows.
“Papa, don’t say a word, I’ve done what I’m supposed to do” he says over and over. He asks us to pray for him. His mind moving so fast he jumps from one topic to another like a small spider flicking about. Tides of longing crash over him, years of bad choices and disappointment, of being forgotten, of living on the margins…he’s had enough. Back on his knees again, crying ‘God is Real.’ This is his arsenal. His armor. We pray for him and he stands up again to tell us his message.
“Papa, all I need is money for my family.” We ask where his family is. He has no family. Ten minutes later he has family. They’re ‘over there.’ No one is over there.
He needs to go to Austin. Needs bus money. We only have a fraction of what he asks. “Don’t give me nothing Papa…no…not that way. I don’t need nothing. I’m going to die. I know that. “
A catalogue of unrelated images and words. Trying to understand it all. Racing thoughts, racing thoughts, he’s moving so fast I can’t hold his image. “I’m going to the Santa Christa Hospital for surgery soon. I won’t live for long. Maybe 6 months. Need money for my family.” The family only he can see.
Ghosts of family perhaps long gone? Of family he wishes he had? We don't know. He needs money though. Money for more whiskey? No one knows. He doesn’t know. Questions are asked. Cross and Hope offered, but he’s not listening. Discomfort level rising.
He continues: God is Real. That’s why he came-because God told him to tell this young group He is Real. That’s what he said.
Inhibition is distant. "I’m black. 56 years old. I don’t come to white people to ask for help..I come with a message. Did what I was supposed to do.” But he asks for help and I know that there is no way outside a miracle that we can truly connect and find out what is going on with him, truly know. His world is in his head and we don’t know the terrain. We can't find the door. Only One does. Only One can. We ask Him for help.
Something is given. “Don’t spend it on alcohol, please. Let’s get some food instead. “Papa, no…not like that…I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, said what I’m supposed to say. Just let me go now. Just let me go now." Disconnect. Like a snake eating its own tail. Help but don’t. Yes but no. He disappears into the fog and mist and God knows where he is now.
Gated communities. The satisfied ones. The world belongs to them. The rich, the happy, safely insulated from this man on the street. Perfect hairstyles, new clothes, new phones….loaded cars and shiny silver from mom and dad. Good kids. Very Good Kids. But something inside some screams: “Hurry back to that fun place. Let's run away from this...into the streets where the businesses are still open and let's just get lost in it all, away from these petty concerns that don't belong to us."
I realize I’m no different. I can be all of those hateful little things and I’m mad at myself for realizing that. I can want that safety and security-that escapism. I can embrace it because it's so easy to do. Feels so safe. But there is no safe approach to living. We each know we have that appointment with God. We just don’t want to think about it at Christmas. Ironic.
He came to die. Baby Jesus is loved. He makes us feel good. Bloodied, beaten, crucified Christ makes us squirm. False distinctions, as if there were two Jesus’. The shadow of the cross hangs over the manger but no one’s looking. The Christmas tree blocks the view. People shouting "Don't move the tree!"
This man makes us squirm because we hear and see some measure of Truth this night. Beginnings and endings. Life and death. God is Real. The clock is ticking. You were invincible but now you are more aware of your frailty. Now you are the old one. You’re going to get older. There’s no preventative directive or safe approach to living. He never promised us safety and calls us away from self-preservation. We each know we have a fate, an end. Don’t remind us now. Not with our full bellies and our Christmas wish lists. Don’t talk about these things.
But these things, these realities don’t change. You can change your hairstyle, your friends, change your clothes, change your cities your continents but sooner or later your own self and Ultimate Reality will always catch up. Sooner or later you have to face endings, if not yours, someone you love. Always present. Always waits in the wings. We just choose to ignore it until it’s thrust upon us.
And maybe sooner or later you meet the Alcohol Gospel Prophet, and he somehow forces you to remember The True Prophet, Priest and King who has absolute rights over every one of us. Sooner or later we face our Maker. Sooner or later we hear “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He doesn’t tell us where. He promises much—both life and meaning as well as trials and suffering. He just says follow, which is an invitation to come and die.
But it’s Christmas. Don’t talk about that. Tough economy—that’s the issue. Stuff We Have to Have—that’s the thing that haunts us, not the Mad Man sleeping on the street, his dignity long gone, giving up on life—no, not him. Give us Christmas ornaments, Bing Crosby, Chocolate and Gift Cards.
You see, there’s not much in the bank account. Lean Christmas. Tree with two boxes under it. Oh how we suffer under our roofs, with our full cupboards and central air and heat, with our clothes from Last Year. We’d like to tell the Whiskey Prophet about our ‘suffering''-he's not the only one suffering...but we’re not leaving this nice, safe place to track him down, to tell him about our “Lean Christmas.” Maybe we could put on our coats and get in our car and turn on the radio and heater and look for him downtown, find him, so we could say, “you are in my prayers, peace, be filled.” Yeah, let’s do that.
Times are changing. New realities. Economic Uncertainties. Shifting Focus. Coming to terms with Unknowable Tomorrow. “ Open up all the boxes, hurry kids, open ALL the boxes!” No….that’s not Christmas. We know this. Don't surpress it. Don't drown it out with Stuff.
Can’t get Alcohol Gospel Prophet out of my head and I’m glad he drifted into my life in that exact moment.
Christmas. Worship. God’s Gift to us. Don’t let Him get lost in all the anxieties and concerns, buried under all the wish lists and Christmas wrappings. And remember The Least of These. Including the Alcohol Gospel Prophet. He came to set him free as well.
Foggy, misty night when everything feels like it’s coated with sadness. We’re laughing though because in this moment in time all is good. The company is enjoyable. There are families and the illusion of security. These are the times we disappear into and the world around us melts away. There is only the present and it is filled with laughter.
Twenty foot tall Christmas tree, filled with lights and ornaments trying to shine brightly in the murky, soupy darkness, but it’s just a dim beacon offering false hope to the hopeless that wander the streets. The night is filled with so many shadows. Christmas trees don’t save.They give a lot of people warm feelings, and taunt the rest. Consumer god. Idol to materialism. Promising instant, temporary happiness. Forgotten within two weeks, resurrected from storage in ten months to once again call us to worship.
Christmas tree worship is broken by the appearance of broken man.
Desperate homeless man on his knees telling us he’s going to die. Cancer covering his brain, exhaling whiskey as he tells us God is Real, that he is sent to tell us...God…Is…Real. Tears flow down his cheeks. On his feet then back on his knees, head bowed down like a peasant before kings… Speaking Alcohol Gospel.
Prophetic figure or con man? I see his condition and know that even if he’s not telling the absolute truth his interruption of our insulated Christmas gathering reminds us of both our excess and finiteness. He says we’re all going to die. He says we need to KNOW that God is real. We Need to know…Need to know that God is the Judge. Disconnected thoughts and words flow in between crystallized statements of truth. And this inconvenient reminder stops the laughter and for a moment…the young face the old, the healthy the broken. The comfortable and satisfied collide with the desperate and resigned.
The cross and empty grave. Hard to get in any words. He’s out of his mind. Repeating the same things over and over. Talking but not listening. Silent group, the fog and mist chew up almost every word spoken but his. Ours dissipate into the night. He’s not listening. Quietly prayers are offered up for him, for us in the shadows.
“Papa, don’t say a word, I’ve done what I’m supposed to do” he says over and over. He asks us to pray for him. His mind moving so fast he jumps from one topic to another like a small spider flicking about. Tides of longing crash over him, years of bad choices and disappointment, of being forgotten, of living on the margins…he’s had enough. Back on his knees again, crying ‘God is Real.’ This is his arsenal. His armor. We pray for him and he stands up again to tell us his message.
“Papa, all I need is money for my family.” We ask where his family is. He has no family. Ten minutes later he has family. They’re ‘over there.’ No one is over there.
He needs to go to Austin. Needs bus money. We only have a fraction of what he asks. “Don’t give me nothing Papa…no…not that way. I don’t need nothing. I’m going to die. I know that. “
A catalogue of unrelated images and words. Trying to understand it all. Racing thoughts, racing thoughts, he’s moving so fast I can’t hold his image. “I’m going to the Santa Christa Hospital for surgery soon. I won’t live for long. Maybe 6 months. Need money for my family.” The family only he can see.
Ghosts of family perhaps long gone? Of family he wishes he had? We don't know. He needs money though. Money for more whiskey? No one knows. He doesn’t know. Questions are asked. Cross and Hope offered, but he’s not listening. Discomfort level rising.
He continues: God is Real. That’s why he came-because God told him to tell this young group He is Real. That’s what he said.
Inhibition is distant. "I’m black. 56 years old. I don’t come to white people to ask for help..I come with a message. Did what I was supposed to do.” But he asks for help and I know that there is no way outside a miracle that we can truly connect and find out what is going on with him, truly know. His world is in his head and we don’t know the terrain. We can't find the door. Only One does. Only One can. We ask Him for help.
Something is given. “Don’t spend it on alcohol, please. Let’s get some food instead. “Papa, no…not like that…I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, said what I’m supposed to say. Just let me go now. Just let me go now." Disconnect. Like a snake eating its own tail. Help but don’t. Yes but no. He disappears into the fog and mist and God knows where he is now.
Gated communities. The satisfied ones. The world belongs to them. The rich, the happy, safely insulated from this man on the street. Perfect hairstyles, new clothes, new phones….loaded cars and shiny silver from mom and dad. Good kids. Very Good Kids. But something inside some screams: “Hurry back to that fun place. Let's run away from this...into the streets where the businesses are still open and let's just get lost in it all, away from these petty concerns that don't belong to us."
I realize I’m no different. I can be all of those hateful little things and I’m mad at myself for realizing that. I can want that safety and security-that escapism. I can embrace it because it's so easy to do. Feels so safe. But there is no safe approach to living. We each know we have that appointment with God. We just don’t want to think about it at Christmas. Ironic.
He came to die. Baby Jesus is loved. He makes us feel good. Bloodied, beaten, crucified Christ makes us squirm. False distinctions, as if there were two Jesus’. The shadow of the cross hangs over the manger but no one’s looking. The Christmas tree blocks the view. People shouting "Don't move the tree!"
This man makes us squirm because we hear and see some measure of Truth this night. Beginnings and endings. Life and death. God is Real. The clock is ticking. You were invincible but now you are more aware of your frailty. Now you are the old one. You’re going to get older. There’s no preventative directive or safe approach to living. He never promised us safety and calls us away from self-preservation. We each know we have a fate, an end. Don’t remind us now. Not with our full bellies and our Christmas wish lists. Don’t talk about these things.
But these things, these realities don’t change. You can change your hairstyle, your friends, change your clothes, change your cities your continents but sooner or later your own self and Ultimate Reality will always catch up. Sooner or later you have to face endings, if not yours, someone you love. Always present. Always waits in the wings. We just choose to ignore it until it’s thrust upon us.
And maybe sooner or later you meet the Alcohol Gospel Prophet, and he somehow forces you to remember The True Prophet, Priest and King who has absolute rights over every one of us. Sooner or later we face our Maker. Sooner or later we hear “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He doesn’t tell us where. He promises much—both life and meaning as well as trials and suffering. He just says follow, which is an invitation to come and die.
But it’s Christmas. Don’t talk about that. Tough economy—that’s the issue. Stuff We Have to Have—that’s the thing that haunts us, not the Mad Man sleeping on the street, his dignity long gone, giving up on life—no, not him. Give us Christmas ornaments, Bing Crosby, Chocolate and Gift Cards.
You see, there’s not much in the bank account. Lean Christmas. Tree with two boxes under it. Oh how we suffer under our roofs, with our full cupboards and central air and heat, with our clothes from Last Year. We’d like to tell the Whiskey Prophet about our ‘suffering''-he's not the only one suffering...but we’re not leaving this nice, safe place to track him down, to tell him about our “Lean Christmas.” Maybe we could put on our coats and get in our car and turn on the radio and heater and look for him downtown, find him, so we could say, “you are in my prayers, peace, be filled.” Yeah, let’s do that.
Times are changing. New realities. Economic Uncertainties. Shifting Focus. Coming to terms with Unknowable Tomorrow. “ Open up all the boxes, hurry kids, open ALL the boxes!” No….that’s not Christmas. We know this. Don't surpress it. Don't drown it out with Stuff.
Can’t get Alcohol Gospel Prophet out of my head and I’m glad he drifted into my life in that exact moment.
Christmas. Worship. God’s Gift to us. Don’t let Him get lost in all the anxieties and concerns, buried under all the wish lists and Christmas wrappings. And remember The Least of These. Including the Alcohol Gospel Prophet. He came to set him free as well.
Something About Me and Service Stations
There is nothing more enjoyable for me than making a late grocery run to WalMart on a Saturday night. I am of course being sarcastic. One night after hanging out with "Sweet Lou" at the Shell Station, I had to run to WalMart at 10:00 for yogurt, cereal, spaghettie, sauce, hamburger meat...(no, this is not for some strange casserole)-you know, the" Things We Need and Ran Out of" run.
And, since WalMart (or Murphy USA) was selling gas at $1.53 a gallon, in my incredible wisdom I thought I should take advantage of that offer, especially since the needle was pushing "E." So, one more stop.
There was no line of Very Important People. I went right up to the woman in the glass booth, told her how much gas I wanted, and started writing my check when I hear this voice behind me talking.
"How's it going?"
I don't know this voice.
"Cold, just want to fill it up and get home."
I'm thinking it's blue tooth guy. I can see a tall person behind me, talking I think to himself.
The Lady in the Glass Box is asking me for I.D. Wants to know what pump I'm on. I'm asking her for a pen. I'm writing out my check.
"Man, I thought this was America..." the voice said. Blue Tooth Guy continues.
"I thought the 1960's was over..." he says. He's not angry. He has a rather mellow voice.
I turn around because I'm starting to have this weird feeling that maybe it's not Blue Tooth Guy-maybe it's just Talk to People You Don't Know Guy.
I smiled. Tall guy. Around my age. Dreads and a pony tail. No Blue Tooth.
Awkward. I feel Awkward.
"I'm sorry," I smiled, 'Were you talking to me?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "I'm talking to you, and I'm thinking,'man, the 60's are over. I thought Americans got along now..."
I'm feeling really awkward now. The Lady in the Box wants me to give her back her pen and of course the check that is still in my checkbook.
"I apologize, my man," I said. "I could only hear you and assumed you had a Blue Tooth on and were talking to someone on the phone..."
"No, I was talking to you," he said. He smiled. "Just being friendly. I say be friendly to folks. "
I turned and shook his hand. Part of me is wondering (if you see previous note) what it is about me and gas stations and People I Don't Know. Part of me is also wondering what God is trying to teach me. It's been two nights in a row now.
I give the Lady in the Box my check, she is writing down my D.L.. # on the check.
"Yeah," he said, "I'm thinking it's 1960's all over again. Two people can't talk because of the color of my skin...that's what I thought. And I thought, man...that's a shame...I guess I should have said 'scuze me man, or introduced myself or something....but ain't nobody here but you and me so I figured you were just ignoring me..."
Awkward again.
I remind him of the whole Blue Tooth thing. He said, "Oh, yeah, people walking around looking like they are talking to themselves...that phone thing...you thought I had one of those things?"
"Yes," I assured him.
"Naw, man...don't need to always be on the phone. Why do people always have to be on the phone? Everybody always talking to someone and never talking to people around them. Don't get that."
I could appreciate his philosophy.
"People talk, but they don't talk. I'm just talkin to you. Nice to meet you."
We never exchanged names. Just shook hands. He smiled. I smiled.
I admit, some part of me thought, "O.K., there is a 'catch' here. Maybe he's going to ask me for some money or maybe he needs a ride somewhere..."
No. Nothing like that. Just a "Nice to meet you, man" and him walking three lanes over to fill up his old SUV while I filled up my car.
He finished first. Started his car, began to drive off, slowed down and waved goodbye.
I waved back.
Nothing monumental about the story. Maybe that's the significance of the story. Be friendly.
Novel idea.
I'm learning a lot about life from my trips to stores at night. In the middle of all the busyness there are a million stories out there, and a lot of people just looking for an affirmation of their humanity and that they matter. That we matter.
And, since WalMart (or Murphy USA) was selling gas at $1.53 a gallon, in my incredible wisdom I thought I should take advantage of that offer, especially since the needle was pushing "E." So, one more stop.
There was no line of Very Important People. I went right up to the woman in the glass booth, told her how much gas I wanted, and started writing my check when I hear this voice behind me talking.
"How's it going?"
I don't know this voice.
"Cold, just want to fill it up and get home."
I'm thinking it's blue tooth guy. I can see a tall person behind me, talking I think to himself.
The Lady in the Glass Box is asking me for I.D. Wants to know what pump I'm on. I'm asking her for a pen. I'm writing out my check.
"Man, I thought this was America..." the voice said. Blue Tooth Guy continues.
"I thought the 1960's was over..." he says. He's not angry. He has a rather mellow voice.
I turn around because I'm starting to have this weird feeling that maybe it's not Blue Tooth Guy-maybe it's just Talk to People You Don't Know Guy.
I smiled. Tall guy. Around my age. Dreads and a pony tail. No Blue Tooth.
Awkward. I feel Awkward.
"I'm sorry," I smiled, 'Were you talking to me?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "I'm talking to you, and I'm thinking,'man, the 60's are over. I thought Americans got along now..."
I'm feeling really awkward now. The Lady in the Box wants me to give her back her pen and of course the check that is still in my checkbook.
"I apologize, my man," I said. "I could only hear you and assumed you had a Blue Tooth on and were talking to someone on the phone..."
"No, I was talking to you," he said. He smiled. "Just being friendly. I say be friendly to folks. "
I turned and shook his hand. Part of me is wondering (if you see previous note) what it is about me and gas stations and People I Don't Know. Part of me is also wondering what God is trying to teach me. It's been two nights in a row now.
I give the Lady in the Box my check, she is writing down my D.L.. # on the check.
"Yeah," he said, "I'm thinking it's 1960's all over again. Two people can't talk because of the color of my skin...that's what I thought. And I thought, man...that's a shame...I guess I should have said 'scuze me man, or introduced myself or something....but ain't nobody here but you and me so I figured you were just ignoring me..."
Awkward again.
I remind him of the whole Blue Tooth thing. He said, "Oh, yeah, people walking around looking like they are talking to themselves...that phone thing...you thought I had one of those things?"
"Yes," I assured him.
"Naw, man...don't need to always be on the phone. Why do people always have to be on the phone? Everybody always talking to someone and never talking to people around them. Don't get that."
I could appreciate his philosophy.
"People talk, but they don't talk. I'm just talkin to you. Nice to meet you."
We never exchanged names. Just shook hands. He smiled. I smiled.
I admit, some part of me thought, "O.K., there is a 'catch' here. Maybe he's going to ask me for some money or maybe he needs a ride somewhere..."
No. Nothing like that. Just a "Nice to meet you, man" and him walking three lanes over to fill up his old SUV while I filled up my car.
He finished first. Started his car, began to drive off, slowed down and waved goodbye.
I waved back.
Nothing monumental about the story. Maybe that's the significance of the story. Be friendly.
Novel idea.
I'm learning a lot about life from my trips to stores at night. In the middle of all the busyness there are a million stories out there, and a lot of people just looking for an affirmation of their humanity and that they matter. That we matter.
Sweet Lou and Me
He's about 6'3" and walks with a limp. Fifty five years old. He was ahead of me in line at the Shell station near my house around 11:50 p.m. on Friday night. He wore a Dallas Mavericks sweatshirt (it was 45 degrees outside) and smelled like a BBQ Pit. He was enjoying his conversation with "Ish," the young man behind the counter, oblivious to the line behind him, the line of Very Important People With Things To Do Who Wanted To Hurry Up and Buy Their Items And Go Home-you know, that line. I was a part of that line.
A kid behind me was wearing a Dallas Mavericks hat. The kid was probably 20. He speaks loudly to the older man: "Yo man...you a Mavs fan too?" The Line of Important People did not like this development, because we had Very Important Things to do and besides, it was late and cold outside. We wanted "Ish" to hurry up. The line was growing. Last minute beer runners were looking at their watches. One man said, "Come on man, Ish only got 10 minutes." He was referring to time running out to buy the twelve pack he had. "Yeah, I'm a Mavs fan. Not a lot of us around here," the gentle giant in front of me said to the kid.
Then Ish blew his cover. Ish said, "Don't know why you wear their stuff when you played for Phoenix." Suddenly I left the line of Very Important People (well, figuratively) because I was intrigued. Now I joined the conversation, asking him The All Too Important Question: "You played in the NBA?" I must admit, my interest in him prior to this possibility was shamefully low.
He stepped aside and Ish scanned my gatorades and peanut M&M's (the gatorade was necessary for the kids competitions the next day-the M&M's just a guilty treat) while the man started telling his story. The Line of Very Important People grew restless. I'm pretty sure most were looking at the clock or their watches. Midnight approacheth.
The man and I walked outside and he was eager to tell me his story. He explained he had been cooking out on the pit all day and would be until around 3:00 a.m. for an event he was catering the next day. Ribs, Brisket, Chicken, Pork...I suddenly had a desire for BBQ as he described it all. I wanted to get back to his story. Granted, there was a part of me that was skeptical-how many former NBA players do you bump in to in the middle of the night? I knew my B-ball history, so I asked a few questions and all my questions faded away as he talked about Mr. Colangelo (still the owner), and Coach McCloud (whom I remember as a kid), and playing with guys whose names I remembered from my younger days.
I asked if Connie Hawkins was playing with him at the time, and he said, "Naw, the Hawk was gone a few years before I got there." We stood outside for 45 minutes. I was not dressed for the cold, but my fascination with his story was greater than my desire to get into my heated car.
He told me about his brother, an older brother who was in Viet Nam with him. "Man, he was better than me in everything. He could do this thing...we'd take the net off the rim...and he'd jump up and with two hands lightly dunk the ball, catch it and then throw it down hard again...serious hang time....man he was something. Got shot up bad in Nam. Army let me out to take care of him. He could have been something..." his voice faded. I learned about his biological father-another incredible athlete, but also a violent man who left the family when he was a young boy. He told me about growing up with nothing but being happy "cuz back in the day, you didn't need all this stuff these kids got to make you happy." He talked about going back to college after the military let him go home, of playing in the Alaska Shootout, a big NCAA tournament to start the season, and averaging 41 points over 5 games. "That rim looked ten feet wide that tournament" he said.
He told me about his first game in the NBA-coming off the bench as a shooting guard against the Boston Celtics, "It was the year before Bird and Magic came into the league, but Boston had Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White...and I dropped 22 points in 18 minutes on them. I got this video tape at home...Brent Musberger saying, "Sweet Lou Hightower...remember this young man. He could be something special. Brent Musberger man!" He laughed...That's how I learned his name. "Sweet Lou."
Back in the day, everyone had their nicknames: "Downtown Freddy Brown," "Dr. J," "Chocolate Thunder," "Special K," "Black Jesus," and so on. He told me about the knee injury towards the end of his first season, an injury today (because of medical advancements) that might put him out of commission for maybe half a season and after rehab, he'd be as good as new. But then, well, the technology wasn't there. He had the surgery, but lost a step. Came back and played a half a season and was soon waived.
"Mr. Colangelo was a good man. He wanted to keep me. Coach McCloud said, "but he can't cover anyone any more. Mr. Colangelo said, 'but he can still shoot!' he laughed. "That was it for me. Ended up playing in Italy for four years. That's all they wanted me to do. Just shoot. Didn't play defense. But that was a tough time. Got some bad habits over there-all that money, so far from family. Lost my way."
He told me about Jesus Christ finding him. About life changing. About having it all and losing it-only to find something, or someone greater, and finding something more significant. We talked a long time, me and "Sweet Lou." Exchanged phone numbers. He said he'd love to meet me and my son at the gym. "It's all form, form and repetition..form and repetition...show him how to hit from anywhere...I can't shoot too far from outside 20 because of this surgery on my back...but I can still hit anything from 20 on in...still got that..."
I told him I enjoyed his story and his time. I said, "And Lou-man, one and a half years in the NBA-no one can take that from you." His response told me I hit a wound," Man...sometimes that still hurts. Just a step. Maybe a half step. But I couldn't get it back...I had a future there," his voice trailed. He gathered himself and said, "But God is good and this old man got more cookin to do."
We shook hands. He gave me a hug. I'm sure that looked odd to anyone watching. I walked back to my car, processing the conversation.Then something hit me: Would I have talked with this man for so long if he hadn't been in the NBA? I'd like to think I would. But honestly, at that time of night, I just wanted my gatorades and peanut M&M's. I was among the Very Important People who were in a rush.
Made me think. Sweet Lou just needed someone to talk to. I'm guessing there are a lot of Sweet Lou's out there. And as for me, maybe I don't need to always be in that line of Very Important People. Everything is too fast, and in the "fastness" of life-we miss out on a lot of potentially wonderful moments, and people, and opportunities...and handshakes and bear hugs and stories like Sweet Lou's.
A kid behind me was wearing a Dallas Mavericks hat. The kid was probably 20. He speaks loudly to the older man: "Yo man...you a Mavs fan too?" The Line of Important People did not like this development, because we had Very Important Things to do and besides, it was late and cold outside. We wanted "Ish" to hurry up. The line was growing. Last minute beer runners were looking at their watches. One man said, "Come on man, Ish only got 10 minutes." He was referring to time running out to buy the twelve pack he had. "Yeah, I'm a Mavs fan. Not a lot of us around here," the gentle giant in front of me said to the kid.
Then Ish blew his cover. Ish said, "Don't know why you wear their stuff when you played for Phoenix." Suddenly I left the line of Very Important People (well, figuratively) because I was intrigued. Now I joined the conversation, asking him The All Too Important Question: "You played in the NBA?" I must admit, my interest in him prior to this possibility was shamefully low.
He stepped aside and Ish scanned my gatorades and peanut M&M's (the gatorade was necessary for the kids competitions the next day-the M&M's just a guilty treat) while the man started telling his story. The Line of Very Important People grew restless. I'm pretty sure most were looking at the clock or their watches. Midnight approacheth.
The man and I walked outside and he was eager to tell me his story. He explained he had been cooking out on the pit all day and would be until around 3:00 a.m. for an event he was catering the next day. Ribs, Brisket, Chicken, Pork...I suddenly had a desire for BBQ as he described it all. I wanted to get back to his story. Granted, there was a part of me that was skeptical-how many former NBA players do you bump in to in the middle of the night? I knew my B-ball history, so I asked a few questions and all my questions faded away as he talked about Mr. Colangelo (still the owner), and Coach McCloud (whom I remember as a kid), and playing with guys whose names I remembered from my younger days.
I asked if Connie Hawkins was playing with him at the time, and he said, "Naw, the Hawk was gone a few years before I got there." We stood outside for 45 minutes. I was not dressed for the cold, but my fascination with his story was greater than my desire to get into my heated car.
He told me about his brother, an older brother who was in Viet Nam with him. "Man, he was better than me in everything. He could do this thing...we'd take the net off the rim...and he'd jump up and with two hands lightly dunk the ball, catch it and then throw it down hard again...serious hang time....man he was something. Got shot up bad in Nam. Army let me out to take care of him. He could have been something..." his voice faded. I learned about his biological father-another incredible athlete, but also a violent man who left the family when he was a young boy. He told me about growing up with nothing but being happy "cuz back in the day, you didn't need all this stuff these kids got to make you happy." He talked about going back to college after the military let him go home, of playing in the Alaska Shootout, a big NCAA tournament to start the season, and averaging 41 points over 5 games. "That rim looked ten feet wide that tournament" he said.
He told me about his first game in the NBA-coming off the bench as a shooting guard against the Boston Celtics, "It was the year before Bird and Magic came into the league, but Boston had Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White...and I dropped 22 points in 18 minutes on them. I got this video tape at home...Brent Musberger saying, "Sweet Lou Hightower...remember this young man. He could be something special. Brent Musberger man!" He laughed...That's how I learned his name. "Sweet Lou."
Back in the day, everyone had their nicknames: "Downtown Freddy Brown," "Dr. J," "Chocolate Thunder," "Special K," "Black Jesus," and so on. He told me about the knee injury towards the end of his first season, an injury today (because of medical advancements) that might put him out of commission for maybe half a season and after rehab, he'd be as good as new. But then, well, the technology wasn't there. He had the surgery, but lost a step. Came back and played a half a season and was soon waived.
"Mr. Colangelo was a good man. He wanted to keep me. Coach McCloud said, "but he can't cover anyone any more. Mr. Colangelo said, 'but he can still shoot!' he laughed. "That was it for me. Ended up playing in Italy for four years. That's all they wanted me to do. Just shoot. Didn't play defense. But that was a tough time. Got some bad habits over there-all that money, so far from family. Lost my way."
He told me about Jesus Christ finding him. About life changing. About having it all and losing it-only to find something, or someone greater, and finding something more significant. We talked a long time, me and "Sweet Lou." Exchanged phone numbers. He said he'd love to meet me and my son at the gym. "It's all form, form and repetition..form and repetition...show him how to hit from anywhere...I can't shoot too far from outside 20 because of this surgery on my back...but I can still hit anything from 20 on in...still got that..."
I told him I enjoyed his story and his time. I said, "And Lou-man, one and a half years in the NBA-no one can take that from you." His response told me I hit a wound," Man...sometimes that still hurts. Just a step. Maybe a half step. But I couldn't get it back...I had a future there," his voice trailed. He gathered himself and said, "But God is good and this old man got more cookin to do."
We shook hands. He gave me a hug. I'm sure that looked odd to anyone watching. I walked back to my car, processing the conversation.Then something hit me: Would I have talked with this man for so long if he hadn't been in the NBA? I'd like to think I would. But honestly, at that time of night, I just wanted my gatorades and peanut M&M's. I was among the Very Important People who were in a rush.
Made me think. Sweet Lou just needed someone to talk to. I'm guessing there are a lot of Sweet Lou's out there. And as for me, maybe I don't need to always be in that line of Very Important People. Everything is too fast, and in the "fastness" of life-we miss out on a lot of potentially wonderful moments, and people, and opportunities...and handshakes and bear hugs and stories like Sweet Lou's.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Preparing for a New Semester
Thanksgiving is approaching, and after Thanksgiving, our students have one week before finals begin. We anticipate meaningful ministry between now and the end of this semester. At the same time, we are beginning to shift gears and prepare for the next semester. We will be taking our leaders on a leadership retreat January 8-10. In between that time, our staff will be meeting, praying and planning for another great semester.
Please join us in praying for the students at UTSA. God has given us great favor with many this semester. Next semester we are praying that our students will continue to grow in Christ and repdroduce themselves in the lives of many. Please join us in praying for our leaders and for our students as well as our staff and me.
Please join us in praying for the students at UTSA. God has given us great favor with many this semester. Next semester we are praying that our students will continue to grow in Christ and repdroduce themselves in the lives of many. Please join us in praying for our leaders and for our students as well as our staff and me.
Consulting Help Available
I receive my fair share of emails and calls concerning starting a college ministry or youth ministry. I want you to know that I am available to assist you-this is something that we at BSM are here for to strengthen churches! If you are interested, please contact me at utsabsm@gmail.com or by phone: 210.823.4166. I would be honored to set a time to meet with you, your staff and or your church.
There are questions I would ask any church that expresses interest in starting a ministry to students. For your consideration:
* Is your church behind this endeavor? Does the church have a passion for students? Does the church have a broken heart for this generation?
* Does your church have people who are willing to invest their time, talents, energy and prayers into this ministry?
* Is the church willing to support this ministry financially? The church does not need to spend a lot of money on bells and whistles-but the church needs to commit some resources to the ministry. A church's budget reflects what is truly valued.
* Is the church willing to make some adjustments to reach students?
* Is the church willing to meet young people where they are?
Young people matter to Christ. It is not "news" that we are losing a generation that is ironically, interested in spiritual matters, but not the church. If you are interested in reaching this generation, my words to you are "God bless you! May your tribe increase!"
I would also say, "Be patient. Stay in prayer-and please let me know if we can assist you in any way."
There are questions I would ask any church that expresses interest in starting a ministry to students. For your consideration:
* Is your church behind this endeavor? Does the church have a passion for students? Does the church have a broken heart for this generation?
* Does your church have people who are willing to invest their time, talents, energy and prayers into this ministry?
* Is the church willing to support this ministry financially? The church does not need to spend a lot of money on bells and whistles-but the church needs to commit some resources to the ministry. A church's budget reflects what is truly valued.
* Is the church willing to make some adjustments to reach students?
* Is the church willing to meet young people where they are?
Young people matter to Christ. It is not "news" that we are losing a generation that is ironically, interested in spiritual matters, but not the church. If you are interested in reaching this generation, my words to you are "God bless you! May your tribe increase!"
I would also say, "Be patient. Stay in prayer-and please let me know if we can assist you in any way."
Pancakes and Prayer
Please pray for us as we reach out to many students this Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. As you might imagine-many students are "cutting" class that day to get home for their short Thanksgiving break. Many students, however, are "stuck" on campus-either due to work or because professors have scheduled tests for that day.
We are going to be out in a very public place to serve pancakes to students, faculty and staff who are still on campus the day before Thanksgiving. Our students are very excited about the service opportunity-and we anticipate this being a great way to bless students and develop new relationships.
Please pray that God uses this event to build bridges for the Gospel.
We are going to be out in a very public place to serve pancakes to students, faculty and staff who are still on campus the day before Thanksgiving. Our students are very excited about the service opportunity-and we anticipate this being a great way to bless students and develop new relationships.
Please pray that God uses this event to build bridges for the Gospel.
Praise Report and a Few Laughs...
God has opened a remarkable door for us to minister to international students. We have been praying and waiting for some time now for that opportunity-and every time, it seemed as if doors were simply closed. This past week we sponsored a party for international students. We had no idea what to expect in terms of numbers.
Two showed up: Guki (from China), and Yosef (from Morocco). Some might say it was a failure-only two students-but it was a huge blessing and a great success! Both students were so amazed and excited that there was someone on campus who cared about international students. They both are in required English classes with hundreds of internationals. They let us know that they would tell "all of their friends" about BSM and they wanted to know when the next party would be so they could invite all their friends!
Both young men were delightful, full of energy and joy-and again, so appreciative at our small gesture. God has opened a door for us through them.
On a lighter side we enjoyed our conversations with them because they are also still in the learning process. Our language is not easy to master-but both are doing very well when it comes to speaking....still....
Both told us they were "very popular" with all of the international students. The word "popular" was used quite often. I believe they meant that they knew a lot of international students.
The next day, both showed up at our free lunch. After the first lunch, with a room packed full of students, Yosef asked me to introduce me to everyone. He said, "I want to know their names. I want to be popular." This brought a smile to my face. As I introduced him to as many students as possible, he proudly said, "I'm Yosef...it is nice to meet you. I like to be popular." I could only smile.
Perhaps my favorite moment came from a student named Carlos. Carlos is from somewhere in South America. I am still learning more about him. After my brief talk at lunch, Carlos pulled me over and said, "Thank you for these words. I will really take them for granted. I promise you that I will take them for granted." I tried (and God gave me grace to not do so) not to laugh because that was my first reaction-he was so sincere, so serious and obviously meant to be complimentary. I managed to smile and tell him I appreciated the kind words. He stated how eager he was to "join this group."
Again-God showing us favor. In ministering to internationals, relationships are so key. We will have a long way to go with all of our international friends. It will take time. But this much we know: God brought them to us for a reason-and these young men are all eager to connect us not only with their fellow internationals, but also their English teacher so we can coordinate more gatherings for the students.
Pray that God would continue to give us favor, that we would be found faithful, and that through those relationships, these precious students would come to faith in Christ.
Two showed up: Guki (from China), and Yosef (from Morocco). Some might say it was a failure-only two students-but it was a huge blessing and a great success! Both students were so amazed and excited that there was someone on campus who cared about international students. They both are in required English classes with hundreds of internationals. They let us know that they would tell "all of their friends" about BSM and they wanted to know when the next party would be so they could invite all their friends!
Both young men were delightful, full of energy and joy-and again, so appreciative at our small gesture. God has opened a door for us through them.
On a lighter side we enjoyed our conversations with them because they are also still in the learning process. Our language is not easy to master-but both are doing very well when it comes to speaking....still....
Both told us they were "very popular" with all of the international students. The word "popular" was used quite often. I believe they meant that they knew a lot of international students.
The next day, both showed up at our free lunch. After the first lunch, with a room packed full of students, Yosef asked me to introduce me to everyone. He said, "I want to know their names. I want to be popular." This brought a smile to my face. As I introduced him to as many students as possible, he proudly said, "I'm Yosef...it is nice to meet you. I like to be popular." I could only smile.
Perhaps my favorite moment came from a student named Carlos. Carlos is from somewhere in South America. I am still learning more about him. After my brief talk at lunch, Carlos pulled me over and said, "Thank you for these words. I will really take them for granted. I promise you that I will take them for granted." I tried (and God gave me grace to not do so) not to laugh because that was my first reaction-he was so sincere, so serious and obviously meant to be complimentary. I managed to smile and tell him I appreciated the kind words. He stated how eager he was to "join this group."
Again-God showing us favor. In ministering to internationals, relationships are so key. We will have a long way to go with all of our international friends. It will take time. But this much we know: God brought them to us for a reason-and these young men are all eager to connect us not only with their fellow internationals, but also their English teacher so we can coordinate more gatherings for the students.
Pray that God would continue to give us favor, that we would be found faithful, and that through those relationships, these precious students would come to faith in Christ.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Book Recommendation: God on Mute
There are some things that "good Christians" don't often talk about. Dealing with prayers that seem to be unanswered or not heard....is one of those "things." Have you ever pleaded with God, poured out your heart to Him about something that weighed your soul down, only to hear nothing but a deafening silence? Have you ever fasted and humbled yourself before God in prayer and things seemed to actually get worse? Have you ever come to God in your brokenness, crying out to Him, and it seemed He was unresponsive?
We are quick to "defend" God (as if He needs our defense). We quickly respond with Sunday school answers: "When God closes one door, He opens another! Keep your chin up!" Or, the more spiritual sounding: "Sometimes His answer is 'yes,' sometimes 'no,' sometimes, 'wait,' sometimes 'yes, but...' which is certainly true-but sometimes those words seem quite hollow when we are in the middle of the dark night of the soul. Especially when that dark night turns in to a long, dry season in life.
As a pastor, I preached through several sermon series on prayer. If given another opportunity, I would more fully develop what to do during such mystifying and difficult times such as these. Pete Greig does a wonderful job of addressing a matter that most ministers would find difficult to address: Those times when it seems God is absolutely silent when we are sincerely seeking Him in prayer.
Greig is no mere theoritician. He is one of the co-founders of the 24-7 prayer movement, a movement that has spread across the globe in remarkable fashion. Greig is a man of prayer. He is also transparent and authentic enough to write a book on dealing with those when God seems both completely absent and remarkably silent when we are crying out to Him. Greig writes from experience: When his wife was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor, Greig and his wife found themselves thrusts into a situation where all they could do was pray...and it was not tidy.
I appreciate Greig's honesty and transparency. All too often we Christians tend to talk only about those spectacular answers to prayer (and dare I say-sometimes exaggerate the reports?) and gloss over those vexing, pesky, difficult times when prayer seems to go unanswered. We avoid "that place." Greig forces us to walk with him and with Christ in the Scriptures, to that place and we are richer for going there with him-and above all, with Christ. He does not give us easy answers, nor trite "Sunday school answers," rather we are challenged to embrace faith and mystery-and to find comfort in the One who does indeed love us perfectly, even if it doesn't always "feel" that way.
If you are one of those believers who has "figured out" God-and knows all the answers, this book will either insult you or bore you. But for the rest of us...I wholeheartedly recommend "God on Mute" to you.
We are quick to "defend" God (as if He needs our defense). We quickly respond with Sunday school answers: "When God closes one door, He opens another! Keep your chin up!" Or, the more spiritual sounding: "Sometimes His answer is 'yes,' sometimes 'no,' sometimes, 'wait,' sometimes 'yes, but...' which is certainly true-but sometimes those words seem quite hollow when we are in the middle of the dark night of the soul. Especially when that dark night turns in to a long, dry season in life.
As a pastor, I preached through several sermon series on prayer. If given another opportunity, I would more fully develop what to do during such mystifying and difficult times such as these. Pete Greig does a wonderful job of addressing a matter that most ministers would find difficult to address: Those times when it seems God is absolutely silent when we are sincerely seeking Him in prayer.
Greig is no mere theoritician. He is one of the co-founders of the 24-7 prayer movement, a movement that has spread across the globe in remarkable fashion. Greig is a man of prayer. He is also transparent and authentic enough to write a book on dealing with those when God seems both completely absent and remarkably silent when we are crying out to Him. Greig writes from experience: When his wife was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor, Greig and his wife found themselves thrusts into a situation where all they could do was pray...and it was not tidy.
I appreciate Greig's honesty and transparency. All too often we Christians tend to talk only about those spectacular answers to prayer (and dare I say-sometimes exaggerate the reports?) and gloss over those vexing, pesky, difficult times when prayer seems to go unanswered. We avoid "that place." Greig forces us to walk with him and with Christ in the Scriptures, to that place and we are richer for going there with him-and above all, with Christ. He does not give us easy answers, nor trite "Sunday school answers," rather we are challenged to embrace faith and mystery-and to find comfort in the One who does indeed love us perfectly, even if it doesn't always "feel" that way.
If you are one of those believers who has "figured out" God-and knows all the answers, this book will either insult you or bore you. But for the rest of us...I wholeheartedly recommend "God on Mute" to you.
College Ministry Toolbox: Principle One-Relationships
I am commonly asked: "How can my church reach college students?" Sometimes, the question might be more accurately phrased: "How can we attract college students?" While the desire to reach college students is noble, there must be something more than growing a group numerically. All too often, churches fall prey to the trap of attractional ministry, regardless of the age group being targeted. The end result is the shuffling of believers or people open to Christianity from one congregation to another. When one church starts drawing a specific crowd, other churches want to know what they are doing and try to duplicate the efforts. I will let you in on a little secret I have found both as a pastor and as someone who works with college students: "We're doing little more than swapping people from one place to another, and in doing so, encouraging the consumer mindset of church attendees."
Here is where I would start (and how I did start) a college ministry. It is fairly radical because it is so counterintuitive to what the prevailing church culture encourages us to do: Start small, focus on discipleship. Invest in a few and then challenge them to trust God for great things and then unleash them.
The college ministry that grew in the most unlikely of churches for a college ministry to grow (a very traditional, out of the way church located no where near a college) began with Friday night discipleship meetings comprised of myself, my son (who was 14 at the time) and two soon to be seniors in High School. We met almost weekly for six months. We went through a simple book "The Barbarian Way" and these young people caught a vision for Christianity as a movement, not merely an institution. Even greater, they caught a vision of what it means to follow Christ with abandon and to invest in the lives of lost people.
The growth that took place from that six month period was incredible. These students became missionaries. They invited their lost friends to Bible Study, to fellowships, to services. We saw students saved. We saw lives transformed. We saw community develop-and the biggest blessing was this from my perspective: We did not "grow" a group by syphoning off other churches. The students invested in lost students and that is how the Kingdom is supposed to work.
If you want to develop a viable ministry to college students (or any particular age group) I suggest the following:
1) Identify a couple of individuals and pour yourself into them in a discipleship context. Teach them that it is normative for believers to reproduce themselves. Teach them to follow Jesus. Challenge them to trust God for great things. Turn them loose.
2) Pray. It sounds like a Sunday school answer-but pray. Going out to the edge where lostness exists is not the same as putting on a show to attract "good, Christian kids." Pray, intercede and pray with your core group.
3) Provide platforms for relationship building. You don't have to host everything at the church campus. You are more likely to engage the lost in a more non-threatening context, such as Starbucks. Provide opportunities for your core group (and your growing group) to fellowship and invite their lost friends.
4) Be patient, and be a good listener. The "unchurched" have a lot of questions about the faith. About church. We often assume, incorrectly, that "everybody" knows at least the basics of the faith. That is a dangerous assumption. Be prepared to walk with the students in relationship.
5) Love deeply. People have problems. (Newsflash-so do believers). This generation, and dare I say, most all generations, know if they are truly loved and cared for or if they are just a number or a project or whatever. Authentic relationships take place in context of love. A lot of times we drop the ball here. While we say Christianity is not a "performance based faith," we send conflicting messages in the way we love conditionally. One thing I know for certain about this generation-they want the real deal. They will fall down (just as you and I do), have problems (again-just like us), get hurt (ditto), and sometimes they are just "messy" (of course we would never admit to that)-but love must reign supreme.
This generation is interested in truth. They want to know what the Christian Scriptures teach. They want to believe, believe it or not-but they need to SEE it. They need to see love, grace, mercy, compassion in action.
They also need to feel they are a part of a community where they are loved, challenged and doing something much larger than themselves.
This is a starting place. May He bless you richly as you seek to reach others for the King.
Here is where I would start (and how I did start) a college ministry. It is fairly radical because it is so counterintuitive to what the prevailing church culture encourages us to do: Start small, focus on discipleship. Invest in a few and then challenge them to trust God for great things and then unleash them.
The college ministry that grew in the most unlikely of churches for a college ministry to grow (a very traditional, out of the way church located no where near a college) began with Friday night discipleship meetings comprised of myself, my son (who was 14 at the time) and two soon to be seniors in High School. We met almost weekly for six months. We went through a simple book "The Barbarian Way" and these young people caught a vision for Christianity as a movement, not merely an institution. Even greater, they caught a vision of what it means to follow Christ with abandon and to invest in the lives of lost people.
The growth that took place from that six month period was incredible. These students became missionaries. They invited their lost friends to Bible Study, to fellowships, to services. We saw students saved. We saw lives transformed. We saw community develop-and the biggest blessing was this from my perspective: We did not "grow" a group by syphoning off other churches. The students invested in lost students and that is how the Kingdom is supposed to work.
If you want to develop a viable ministry to college students (or any particular age group) I suggest the following:
1) Identify a couple of individuals and pour yourself into them in a discipleship context. Teach them that it is normative for believers to reproduce themselves. Teach them to follow Jesus. Challenge them to trust God for great things. Turn them loose.
2) Pray. It sounds like a Sunday school answer-but pray. Going out to the edge where lostness exists is not the same as putting on a show to attract "good, Christian kids." Pray, intercede and pray with your core group.
3) Provide platforms for relationship building. You don't have to host everything at the church campus. You are more likely to engage the lost in a more non-threatening context, such as Starbucks. Provide opportunities for your core group (and your growing group) to fellowship and invite their lost friends.
4) Be patient, and be a good listener. The "unchurched" have a lot of questions about the faith. About church. We often assume, incorrectly, that "everybody" knows at least the basics of the faith. That is a dangerous assumption. Be prepared to walk with the students in relationship.
5) Love deeply. People have problems. (Newsflash-so do believers). This generation, and dare I say, most all generations, know if they are truly loved and cared for or if they are just a number or a project or whatever. Authentic relationships take place in context of love. A lot of times we drop the ball here. While we say Christianity is not a "performance based faith," we send conflicting messages in the way we love conditionally. One thing I know for certain about this generation-they want the real deal. They will fall down (just as you and I do), have problems (again-just like us), get hurt (ditto), and sometimes they are just "messy" (of course we would never admit to that)-but love must reign supreme.
This generation is interested in truth. They want to know what the Christian Scriptures teach. They want to believe, believe it or not-but they need to SEE it. They need to see love, grace, mercy, compassion in action.
They also need to feel they are a part of a community where they are loved, challenged and doing something much larger than themselves.
This is a starting place. May He bless you richly as you seek to reach others for the King.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Praying For A Campus
With 29,000 students, UTSA is a large campus. With dorms and housing springing up all around, the campus is not the "commuter only" campus it was 20 years ago. It is now a campus where students from around the United States and the world live and go to school.
I am often reminded of Acts 17, when Paul encounters the Athenian philosophers and their multitude of gods, when I walk the campus. Every world view, every faith, every lifestyle is present.
We cannot reach a campus in our own strength or in our own 'wisdom.' It sounds cliche because it has been so overused, but we truly do want to win the campus for Christ. It is our prayer that we will be a city on a hill, a light shining brightly in the darkness, the salt of the earth-that we would be more than a religious organization. It is our prayer and desire that we would truly be missionaries on campus.
Please pray for our campus. Pray for Baptist Student Ministries as well as other Christian ministries. Pray that we would shine brightly, move forward confidently in Him, that we would be filled with the Spirit and that we would not be ashamed of the Gospel-that we would proclaim it faithfully and boldly as we should.
Our students are some of the finest young people I know. They "get it." By that, I mean they understand that God has strategically called them to this university, to this ministry that they might be used by Him to reach lost students on campus. The big test for our students, as it is for so many followers of Christ, is that of faith: Will God be bigger in their eyes or will people? Will they walk by faith and boldly go, or will they choose to stay comfortable with one another? I praise God that they are following His lead and desire to be missionaries. Please pray that God would be glorified in their lives and on this campus.
29,000 people. That is a city. A city that desperately needs Jesus.
I am often reminded of Acts 17, when Paul encounters the Athenian philosophers and their multitude of gods, when I walk the campus. Every world view, every faith, every lifestyle is present.
We cannot reach a campus in our own strength or in our own 'wisdom.' It sounds cliche because it has been so overused, but we truly do want to win the campus for Christ. It is our prayer that we will be a city on a hill, a light shining brightly in the darkness, the salt of the earth-that we would be more than a religious organization. It is our prayer and desire that we would truly be missionaries on campus.
Please pray for our campus. Pray for Baptist Student Ministries as well as other Christian ministries. Pray that we would shine brightly, move forward confidently in Him, that we would be filled with the Spirit and that we would not be ashamed of the Gospel-that we would proclaim it faithfully and boldly as we should.
Our students are some of the finest young people I know. They "get it." By that, I mean they understand that God has strategically called them to this university, to this ministry that they might be used by Him to reach lost students on campus. The big test for our students, as it is for so many followers of Christ, is that of faith: Will God be bigger in their eyes or will people? Will they walk by faith and boldly go, or will they choose to stay comfortable with one another? I praise God that they are following His lead and desire to be missionaries. Please pray that God would be glorified in their lives and on this campus.
29,000 people. That is a city. A city that desperately needs Jesus.
Ministry Opportunity
Every week we serve free lunch to students at UTSA. The number of students we serve ranges from 80-120 weekly. It (the free lunch) is a way for us to bless the students and develop relationships with them for the sake of the Gospel.
If your church is looking for a ministry opportunity and wants to learn more about this generation, BSM is always thankful for those churches who seek to provide a meal for our students! By providing a meal and spending time with the students during our lunch hour, you not only bless them, you also have the opportunity to learn more about ministering to college age students as you develop relationships with them.
If your church, Student Ministry, WMU, Women's or Men's Ministry is interested in providing a meal, please contact me at 210.823.4166.
If your church is looking for a ministry opportunity and wants to learn more about this generation, BSM is always thankful for those churches who seek to provide a meal for our students! By providing a meal and spending time with the students during our lunch hour, you not only bless them, you also have the opportunity to learn more about ministering to college age students as you develop relationships with them.
If your church, Student Ministry, WMU, Women's or Men's Ministry is interested in providing a meal, please contact me at 210.823.4166.
Helping You Reach a Generation
I am often asked, "How can we reach college students?" Or, "How can we start a college (or youth) ministry?" The 'million dollar question' for so many churches is: "How can we reach this generation?" It is quite obvious the church as a whole is not reaching this generation effectively. It does not have to be that way.
We are here to help you work through this question. If there is anything I can do to assist you or your church in developing a vibrant ministry to students, please let me know. I won't give you a 'program' or a pre-packaged response, but will gladly share Scriptural principles combined with personal experience to assist you.
We are here to help you work through this question. If there is anything I can do to assist you or your church in developing a vibrant ministry to students, please let me know. I won't give you a 'program' or a pre-packaged response, but will gladly share Scriptural principles combined with personal experience to assist you.
BSM-How Can We Help Your Church?
Baptist Student Ministries enjoys developing relationships with Baptist churches in San Antonio, in Texas and in the United States. Our students want to serve and enjoy service opportunities. Over the course of the year, we have: Lead Disciple Now's, lead youth rallies, worked Fall Festivals, participated in mission work, just to name a few things.
We are here to serve you! If there is a way for Baptist Student Ministries to bless your congregation, please let me know. You can contact me via email: utsabsm@gmail.com or by phone: 210.823.4166. It would be an honor for us to serve you!
We are here to serve you! If there is a way for Baptist Student Ministries to bless your congregation, please let me know. You can contact me via email: utsabsm@gmail.com or by phone: 210.823.4166. It would be an honor for us to serve you!
Praying for Hannah
I try to keep any personal prayer requests to a minimum on the Blog. I would appreciate your prayers (as would my family) for my daughter, Hannah, as we take her to MD Anderson this month for her check up. There are some spinal issues they need to examine. It is our prayer that whatever the issues are, they will not be related to her NF 1 (Neurofibromatosis Type 1). Please pray for a good report.
In addition, please pray for an opening at the Ronald McDonald House. The House is a special place-right next to MD Anderson, affordable and an uplifting environment. At the end of long days of testing, it's a true blessing.
Thank you for your prayers.
In addition, please pray for an opening at the Ronald McDonald House. The House is a special place-right next to MD Anderson, affordable and an uplifting environment. At the end of long days of testing, it's a true blessing.
Thank you for your prayers.
Seeing the Unseen at UTSA
God has a way of surprising us. He certainly surprised me this semester at UTSA. It is my continual prayer that BSM will be a missional community, not merely a "Christian club." That contrast is continually shared with the students. Club or missional people? I have no interest in the former and pray fervently for the latter.
At the end of last year, the Spirit truly began to open the eyes of our students as to the difference between the two. We ended the year with a strong foundation to start a new year with great hopes of being used by Him to reach students.
This semester has been amazing. Weekly, we are encountering new students and our group is growing far beyond what I anticipated. Our new students are full of energy, enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference for the King and His Kingdom.
For most of this semester, we have been processing as a group this new, emerging community. Initially, some of our "old-timers" wondered what to do with all of these new kids. Community has been formed over the course of this semester. Now, we are focusing on developing "communitas" (for definition of communitas, see bottom of page). Pray for us. We are challenging our students to move out of the "safety" and "comfort" of community and into the sphere of liminality-going to the edge of lostness, to the 'unsafe' places on campus, in our city, and wherever God leads us as a group, to develop relationships with the lost for the sake of the Kingdom-to make Christ known.
We tend to prefer safety and comfort. We like our comfort zones. Jesus did not call us to comfort, but to follow. As this semester winds down, and a larger community has been formed, please pray for BSM. Pray that over the semester break, over our leadership retreat, that we will follow Him wherever He leads. A campus of 29,000 students is a wonderful mission field. He has called us to be far more than a club.
At the end of last year, the Spirit truly began to open the eyes of our students as to the difference between the two. We ended the year with a strong foundation to start a new year with great hopes of being used by Him to reach students.
This semester has been amazing. Weekly, we are encountering new students and our group is growing far beyond what I anticipated. Our new students are full of energy, enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference for the King and His Kingdom.
For most of this semester, we have been processing as a group this new, emerging community. Initially, some of our "old-timers" wondered what to do with all of these new kids. Community has been formed over the course of this semester. Now, we are focusing on developing "communitas" (for definition of communitas, see bottom of page). Pray for us. We are challenging our students to move out of the "safety" and "comfort" of community and into the sphere of liminality-going to the edge of lostness, to the 'unsafe' places on campus, in our city, and wherever God leads us as a group, to develop relationships with the lost for the sake of the Kingdom-to make Christ known.
We tend to prefer safety and comfort. We like our comfort zones. Jesus did not call us to comfort, but to follow. As this semester winds down, and a larger community has been formed, please pray for BSM. Pray that over the semester break, over our leadership retreat, that we will follow Him wherever He leads. A campus of 29,000 students is a wonderful mission field. He has called us to be far more than a club.
Praying for Anant
Every Wednesday, BSM serves free lunch to students at UTSA. The meal is a time for students to connect, relax and of course have a free meal. There is no "typical profile" for the average attendee. Students who come from other faiths, who have no faith, who are searching attend our luncheons along with followers of Christ. The meal allows us the opportunity to serve and bless students as well as develop relationships with them. The ultimate goal is that through the relationship building-Christ will be shared.
Meet Anant. He is a young man of Indian descent. Raised a nominal Hindu, he also attends our luncheons. This past week, after my ten minute devotional talk (I usually focus on one spiritual truth or principle for the day), he approached me. He had questions.
I loved his intellectual honesty and transparency. He wanted to know more about the relationship between faith and works. His specific question: "I understand how faith would please God (we are not talking about the same God here-but this was our initial conversation), but what about works? Can we do good things, good works, and not have faith in this God and still please Him?"
God opened the door for me to share the Gospel with Anant. I would like to say he has given his life to Christ, but he has not as of now. He still has questions. He is very open and receptive. Please pray for him. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open his eyes and ears, open his heart and draw him to the One True God through Jesus Christ. Pray for his salvation. Pray for me, and for our students who know him. Pray that we would all be available, willing patient, prayerful and eager to continue sharing with this special young man.
UTSA is filled with students like Anant. Almost every worldview and religion (or lack of religion) is found on our campus of 29,000 students. Pray for BSM, that we would be the missional people God has called us to be.
Meet Anant. He is a young man of Indian descent. Raised a nominal Hindu, he also attends our luncheons. This past week, after my ten minute devotional talk (I usually focus on one spiritual truth or principle for the day), he approached me. He had questions.
I loved his intellectual honesty and transparency. He wanted to know more about the relationship between faith and works. His specific question: "I understand how faith would please God (we are not talking about the same God here-but this was our initial conversation), but what about works? Can we do good things, good works, and not have faith in this God and still please Him?"
God opened the door for me to share the Gospel with Anant. I would like to say he has given his life to Christ, but he has not as of now. He still has questions. He is very open and receptive. Please pray for him. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open his eyes and ears, open his heart and draw him to the One True God through Jesus Christ. Pray for his salvation. Pray for me, and for our students who know him. Pray that we would all be available, willing patient, prayerful and eager to continue sharing with this special young man.
UTSA is filled with students like Anant. Almost every worldview and religion (or lack of religion) is found on our campus of 29,000 students. Pray for BSM, that we would be the missional people God has called us to be.
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