I wrote in an earlier entry about a young man connected to Baptist Student Ministries (loosely) who contacted me over the holidays to request a meeting. I asked for prayer for him. I wanted to give you an overview of what took place, thank you for the prayers, and relate something I pray will challenge all of us in positions of spiritual leadership to take seriously-the matter of discipleship.
The meeting was wonderful. He was authentic. Real. Very confused. He wanted to grow in his faith but really did not know what to do or where to start. More on this later.
He also had girlfriend issues. She is a former atheist who is now an agnostic. She had a lot of painful and traumatic experiences in her childhood and teen years and during that time she repeatedly asked God to help her, to change things-and things did not turn out well. She came to the conclusion that God either didn't exist or was unwilling or unable to help her. She carries deep scars. She is apparently open to the possibility of rethinking things, and he is going to not only start coming to our luncheons and study/worship times, but try to bring her as well. Please pray for her. Her name is Sarah.
Back to my friend: His story broke my heart as well. He came to faith in Christ in High School at a youth rally. He was given a Bible. The story of his discipleship basically ends there. All he knows is what he has tried to understand in the Scriptures for himself. No one ever spoke to him about what happens after trusting Christ. No one spoke to him about discipleship. No one asked him to connect with a community of faith.
We spoke about the nature of salvation, about justification, about sanctification, about time alone with God daily in prayer and in the Word, of the importance of connecting to a local body of believers, of being a part of a community of faith. He's reading through the Gospel of John now. We're going to spend more time together when the semester starts, one on one. He is going to look for a church home.
He slipped through the cracks. Some well meaning person invited him to a rally. He understood his need for salvation. But no one walked with him after this defining moment.
His parents are nominal Hindus. Please pray for him. Pray for me. Pray for our students as we seek to journey with him.
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