I head to Fort Collins, Colorado today for our biennial US Staff Conference. Five to six thousand full-time Campus Crusade staff will gather for training, teaching, vision, prayer, and refreshment for 10 days. Pray that the Lord would meet us and direct us. Personally, since I have gluten allergies, pray that I would be able to find good and healthy food in the campus cafeteria. Also, pray that I would depend on the Spirit.
Thankful for you,
Jeff
Top left to right – Andrew (UCSB), Matt (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), me. Bottom left to right – Elijah (Cal State Fullerton), Eric (Chico State).
Every summer, cities throughout the world come face to face with the reality of the Gospel because of the thousands of college students who go to dialogue with the people of the city about Jesus. Some people come to believe in Christ, while others are still a long way away in their spiritual journey from trusting Jesus. Nonetheless, the impact is powerful. This summer, for eight straight weeks, the people of Santa Monica have been pushed to consider where they stand on life’s biggest issues, all because of 65 college students from around the country investing their summers to preach the Gospel to those who don’t know Jesus.
My favorite aspect of this time, however, has been discipling the four guys in the above picture who have come to Santa Monica. By pouring into them, they not only are equipped to reach out to people in Santa Monica this summer, but also to those around them wherever God leads them in the next 60 or so years of their life. On top of living life with them, I get two hours per week separately with each individual. Below is what one week of those times looked like:
Andrew (UCSB) – Like I do, Andrew struggles with finding his identity in what he does. In his eyes, what he does makes him significant, and can become a big motive behind ministry. We discuss an article that shows how preaching the Gospel to ourselves speaks to our deepest needs and changes our motives. Additionally, we also talk about how to use the circumstances in our days as opportunities to grow. Since Andrew is somewhat interested in a girl on project, we also talk about what it might look like to evaluate if he wants to pursue her.
Elijah (Fullerton) – Elijah has never really had a consistent time in the Word on his own. The previous week, I had challenged him to spend 15 minutes in the Word each day. He chose to read Philippians every day, and I check in with him to see how it’s going. Thankfully, he’s been faithful to read every day! I challenge him to keep that going. We discuss an article about having a daily time with the Lord. We then discuss the article about using our circumstances as growth opportunities. Elijah also has a big need to gain experience in evangelism. He’s seen me model it many times, but needs experience himself and feedback from me. So, I give him the reigns and let him initiate spiritual conversations with 4 or 5 people at Santa Monica College (SMC). He is growing.
Eric (Chico State) – Eric and I start out by initiating spiritual conversations with students at SMC. I have modeled this for him many times, so just like with Elijah, I ask him to take the lead so I can give feedback later. One person we talk to is Dan. Eric asks questions and listens for a good 20-30 minutes. His questions are gentle, yet pointed and thought-provoking. Dan, though not a Christian, feels very heard and understood and communicates his thanks for such a good conversation. Eric boldly asks if he can give his opinion and proceeds to share the Gospel. We ask if he believes this, and he says very thoughtfully and sincerely, “Yeah, I think I do.” We spend a little more time discussing the distinction between knowing God by faith in Christ as opposed to good works. By the end of our conversation, Dan realizes that a relationship with God is something that he wants to investigate further. We help him think about his next steps with God and get his contact information. It was so rewarding to see Eric’s growth in evangelism over the past few weeks!
After ending our conversation with Dan, Eric and I then talk about using our daily circumstances for growth. We also discuss what it would look like to be a missionary in the marketplace, where Eric is planning to be an accountant.
Matt (Cal Poly SLO) – Matt (who is a far happier person than he seems in the above photo) wants to be someone who loves and helps restore the broken wherever he is. He wants to be heavily involved in a church body and use his gifts there. We talk about the importance of discipleship in the church, knowing that building into a concentrated group of people and teaching them how to reach others as well will produce the most long-term impact in the kingdom.
As with the other guys, Matt and I talk about using daily circumstances for growth. I let him take the lead in evangelism, but the campus is fairly empty by the time we start. He initiates a few conversations, but people seem busy and we don’t have much luck. We leave campus, but on the way talk about being comfortable and confident when we approach people.
I enjoyed my time with these men so much! I think about how much more equipped each of them are to bring the reality of the Gospel to those who don’t know Jesus wherever they are when they leave Santa Monica and I’m not there to coach them. I think of the lives that will be impacted through them in the coming years. So exciting!
Thank you so much for your partnership in investing in these four men this summer, as well as allowing the people of Santa Monica to come face to face with the reality of Jesus. You make such an impact!
One of my favorite parts of Santa Monica: Cameron was there with me! ☺
After a week of preparation by the staff, students finally arrive tomorrow! I’m excited to have them here. My group will consist of Andrew from UC Santa Barbara, Elijah from Cal State Fullerton, Eric from Chico State, and Matt from Cal Poly SLO. Pray that God would do a ton in their lives and use them greatly in the lives of others in Santa Monica.
As we have prepared for the arrival of the students, we have been able to do some evangelism and understand the people of Santa Monica better. It seems like education and environmentalism are big idols for them. The way to fix the world is by giving people more education. Another person’s answer was to conserve, using less gas if you can. I think education and taking care of the environment are good things. When they are substitutes for Jesus and his work, however, it’s clear that they’ve become idols. Pray for wisdom for us as we engage with people, and softened hearts from them.
3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica
I just arrived in LA for Santa Monica Summer Project. The 63 students on the project haven’t arrived yet; some are still in classes at their respective schools. Staff, however, arrive a week early to prepare for their arrival.
I will be pouring into 4 specific guys this summer: Andrew, Elijah, Eric, and Matt. I haven’t met them yet, but am excited to get to know them and invest in them. Pray that they will grow closer to the Lord this summer and grow in their knowledge of how to introduce others to Jesus in a relevant way. Pray for close relationships within our group. Pray that they would grow in loving others well.
I will be updating this blog with posts throughout the next month. Check back for updates.
Kaylyn
“Kaylyn, can I come with you to church tonight?”
Kaylyn (right) had invited Jillian to church numerous times, but she had always declined. It was Jillian’s first time ever attending church, even though she had been exposed to the idea of God and His existence. She had no idea what to expect, but as the pastor explained the message of the Gospel and having a relationship with Jesus, she knew it was what she needed. The pastor invited people ready to make a decision to come forward, but instead Jillian turned to Kaylyn and they moved to the back of the room. Kaylyn could hardly believe what was happening, but right then she had the opportunity to help Jillian ask Christ into her life!
Their relationship began about a year ago when they both came to UCI to audition for the dance department to be accepted to the program. When they arrived, they were the first people to meet each other. They talked for a little while and then, right before going in for the audition, Kaylyn turned to Jillian and asked if she could pray for them. To Kaylyn it was just a simple prayer, but Jillian was very impacted and felt a strong sense of safety and connection with this new friend. They left that day unsure if they would ever see each other again.
It was no coincidence that they both showed up to UCI in the fall and had been assigned to live not only in the same dorm, but in the same suite! The two reconnected and developed a friendship. Although Jillian was not ready to be open to God, Kaylyn continued to invite her to church each week. Through the year, Jillian’s relationship with her roommate has become increasingly strained and the stress was causing her to question her purpose and meaning. She had not forgotten that day when Kaylyn had prayed with her and knew that she went to church every Sunday. Jillian was at her end and reached out for the first person she knew that had a strong relationship with God.
Since the night Jillian placed her faith in Christ, she has been going every week with Kaylyn to a Campus Crusade bible study led by one of our staff members, Ashleigh. Ashleigh says it’s amazing to see Jillian’s excitement for growth and her eagerness to develop her relationship with God in community with others. It’s so encouraging to see what God has done in Jillian’s life and the ways He has used Kaylyn’s steps of faith to bring her friend to Christ. So exciting!
Thank you so much for your partnership in reaching students like Jillian for Christ!
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Love is a word that is thrown around a lot. I love my girlfriend. I love that sweater. I love strawberry ice cream.
It’s hard to figure out what love is sometimes. Honestly, I’m still trying to get a grasp on it. While it’s most often used to describe something that one feels, I’m not so sure that encapsulates the full meaning. Yet, it’s not exactly easy to define.
As I look at Jesus’ words, however, I see that love for him manifests itself not necessarily in a feeling. While there probably will be emotion at least a good portion of the time, Jesus says that a better test of our love for him is our obedience to his words.
At first thought, this is scary for me. When I read the words of Jesus, I see so many areas where I fall short.
Love your neighbor as yourself? I struggled with doing a simple favor for my roommate this morning.
Do not worry? Take a look at my chewed fingernails.
Do not lust after a woman in your heart? Lord knows how many times I’ve failed in that.
Still more could be said. If love is demonstrated by obedience, it looks like I’m sorely lacking.
However, if I’m realistic, I do obey some of Jesus’ commands. Yes, there are mixed motives and imperfections even in my obedience. Even when I do serve my roommate there are selfish tendencies. But, there is some good. Although it’s not as overwhelming as I would like it to be, there is evidence of transformation and obedience. There is love.
If it could be described by quantity, my love might be viewed as a mere puddle compared to God’s vast and unending ocean. I fall so short. Yet, why would I expect anything different? In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller offers some good insight:
“We dream of Christ’s love for His bride reading like Romeo and Juliet; two equals enflamed in liberal love. I think it is more like Lucentio’s pursuit of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. That is, the groom endearing the belligerent bride with kindness, patience, and love.”
My love will never match God’s love; his will always be greater than mine. I will never serve my roommate with fully unselfish motives. I may never be fully free from worry. The battle against lust could continue until I die. I will never be perfect until I’m with God in heaven.
Yet, he still readily pursues and accepts me. He sent Jesus to pay for my sin and brokenness, and he has provided his Spirit to make me more like Christ. His love never ends, despite my imperfection.
It is in this grace that I rest.
Hippie? Conservative? Liberal? My homeboy?
I wanted to tell you about an outreach that is happening this week.
Matt Mikalatos, the author of Imaginary Jesus, is coming to UCI to examine who the real Jesus is, as well as the imaginary Jesus many make him out to be. Some say He’s a friend, a counselor, a Prophet, or a simple man with good ethics. Who is He exactly, and what did He stand for?
We are really excited to see what God does this week. We are blitzing the campus with ads for this event. We are going to have a giant graffiti board on campus with questions like, “Who was Jesus?” and “What is our purpose?” Our goal is to create a buzz on campus, bring people to our event to hear Matt, and to reach as many students as we can with the gospel!
It started Monday April 11 and the Matt is speaking this Thursday night! Please pray!
As a missionary, and simply as a person, I’m constantly interacting with people. And I really, really like people. However, I’m also an introvert. As I do ministry, I’m constantly discovering how to make an impact in people’s lives given how God wired me. I have to be content, and even take joy, in who God made me, and strategically work with that in mind.
Someone I know posted an article called, “10 Myths About Introverts” that sheds a lot of light on who I am as a person. As I read, I found myself constantly nodding in agreement. Yes, I’m definitely an introvert.
As I interact with students and people in general, the truth in the article is something I can keep in mind. It might help me be more strategic in the way that I invest my time, and thus help me work out of my strengths, helping me make the most impact in the lives of others.
Here are a few things I’ve thought of for my sphere of interaction:
Are you an introvert? What things have you found that help you work out of who you are and also make the most impact in the lives of others?
Are you an extrovert? What things have you done that have helped the introverts in your life to flourish?
When I was in South Africa last summer, I got to know more than just South African college students. I also got to know Cameron, one of my co-leaders on the team.
While leading together for six weeks, I was able to observe who Cameron was from close up, both in a ministry setting and in day-to-day life situations. I came away incredibly impressed by her and knew that she was someone that I wanted to pursue when we came back to the states.
Out of sheer wisdom for team dynamics, Campus Crusade has a policy that people on their summer teams can’t begin to date while overseas. The joke is, however, that once the plane hits the ground in the states and the fasten seatbelt sign is turned off dating becomes fair game. The day that we were leaving South Africa, I went to the local market and picked up a blank card. Inside, I wrote a bunch of things I appreciated about Cameron and, at the end, asked her if we could talk. I also enclosed a daisy (her favorite flower) with the stem cut off within the card. I sealed it and put it in my backpack. It stayed there for the next forty hours and 15,000 miles, traveling from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg to New York and finally Los Angeles, where we landed extremely exhausted from our trip. I grabbed the card and anxiously held it in my hand. We began to taxi down the runway (which seemed to take forever) and arrived at our gate. The fasten seatbelt sign turned off. At that moment, I jumped out of my seat and handed the card to Cameron, who was one aisle in front and across from me. We began dating the next day.
I’ve been dating Cameron for 7.5 months and am even more impressed with her today than when we started dating. She loves Jesus, is mature, sweet, intelligent, beautiful, a great friend, and super compatible with my personality. I am so excited to be dating her.
Cameron is in her junior year at UC Davis, which definitely makes it a long-distance relationship. We’ve managed to see each other at least once a month, however, and we Skype and talk on the phone regularly throughout the week in the meantime.
Cameron is a big part of my life, and since you are invested in my life as well, I wanted you to know about her. Pray that our relationship would be honoring to God, that he would help us continue to get to know each other, and that he would give us patience in this season of long distance. Pray that we would continue to enjoy each other.
I’m thankful for your involvement in my life!