As I mentioned yesterday, I am really wanting to write about, and reflect the amazing ways in which college students live their lives, and to testify to some of the amazing things that I have seen them do.
1 John 1:1-4 (New International Version)
The Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
I absolutely love this passage of scripture. I think it speaks boldly and plainly of what it means to share with others the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is the simple act of passing on, of testifying to, what God has done in our lives. What we have seen him do…What we have touched, etc.
I see this take place day in and day out with the college community that I work with, and in many other college communities. I see students reaching out to others in their community, whether they know these people or not, and making a difference. I see students testifying to what God has done in their lives. Sometimes it’s done in a more structured setting where someone shares a testimony, and there is an obvious attempt to evangelize. But more often that not, I just simply see college students sharing their lives, and forming relationships with many different people.
I do not know if it is the stage of life, or it is a time issue, but it seems that college students, more than any other group tend to get really involved in community outreach. Sometimes it is because it is an empasis put on by their school; sometimes they are wanting it to boost up their grad-school resume; but more often than not, I believe they genuinely care, and what to help others out.
And as for the time issue. Well, I just don’t see students anymore who aren’t invovlved in a million things with school, work, outreach, etc.
But this is one of the reasons I love working with college students. Watching them serve others. Tonight in our college group we are focusing on outreach, both here locally, and globally. Each quarter we try to have one night where we make outreach the focus so that students will know where, how, what, and why to get involved in their community, and the communities around them. It is something we have to cement into our conscious, otherwise we know that the giving of our time doesn’t always come that easy.
Every year the students at The Quest, and many other college ministries and campus give of their time, and work with many organizations. Tonight we want to focus on only a few, because when we overload with too many groups, then we can too easily at times become overwhelmed.
This year we have decided to really focus on two urban/inner city organizations, and one global outreach organization.
Tonight, we are inviting these groups to be with us. If you are in the Los Angeles area and are interested in getting plugged in, these are two great groups for you to get plugged into:
Both of these groups do amazing work, and we hope that we can join them, and serve with them in their efforts.
If you are interested in going on a great mission/outreach trip with college students, or you want to take your college group, this group is amazing. We have been taking this trip for about 8-9 years here at Bel Air, and last year was my first experience taking a team down to Mexico City, Mexico, through
and
This is a trip that will transform college student’s thinking regarding the gospel message, especially in a setting like Mexico City, Mexico, and the surrounding communities.
Thanks to all the college students out there who have made a difference in their communities, and the communities around the world by selflessly giving of their time, money and talents.
And for a really great video on what it looks like to juxtapose what we spend our money on, and what we can put it towards, check out Sara McLachlan’s video, World on Fire.
