"Legacy of Calling"

From Jeremiah at Gen 26

Monday, November 09, 2015

Legacy of Calling

Over the next couple days, I am going to be highlighting different students that need help attending Urbana. My unabashed hope is that you will fall in love with these students, and in turn donate money or frequent flier miles to help them attend. 

Wait, you don't know what Urbana is yet? 

(I am a terrible staff worker)

You should go to the website. 

Then you should DEFINITELY watch this video (warning, Billy Graham will give you goosebumps on your goosebumps). 


I love Urbana. I answered the call to come on staff at Urbana. I learned how much the American Church needed the Global Church at Urbana. 

God is doing something. Every week, another student who just met us asks me if we have money to help. One student, nicknamed "T" asked me if I could help her. Her dad won't let her drive (she lives in Akron, Ohio). She said to me "if I could get my flight paid for, I can go. He won't help. Is there anything we can do?" 

Who is T? She is a new leader of our first Black Student Bible Study. She is a member of God's Harmony (the WSU Gospel Choir). She is smart. Funny. Missional. She is a FRESHMAN. She wants to go to Urbana and lead with IV for the next 3 1/2 years. 

So yes, I want your money. But I want to re-invest in the Kingdom of God. I want to re-invest in the Inland NW. I want re-invest it in global missions. 

If you want to give, give here. 

And keep coming back here! I am going to start uploading pictures and stories of students who need help. I want you to love students like T with me! They are great. They inspire me. I hope they can inspire you too,

Honey on our lips

I think I've found my favorite InterVarsity job: pouring honey all over students' hands.

I was privileged to assist Whitman's team leader Sarah Le as she taught our student leaders the value of studying scripture. 23 students from 4 campuses came through the lesson in two groups. My job was to create the experience of honey dripping from their hands.

Sounds like a strangely sweet experience? It was and that was the point. Sarah hoped to create a memorable, sensory experience for students about the joy of scripture. She used an illustration from ancient Hebrew classes that when young students came for their first lesson, the teacher would pour honey all over their clean slates. These 6 year old students would gaze wide-eyed at the greatest treat they could image and their teachers would say, "Taste it." And then, the teacher would tell them that the word of God is like honey.

The greatest treat you can imagine.

And so, we re-created this by pouring honey all over students' hands. Students didn't know what to do. They were confused and uncomfortable by the sticky mess in their hands. They weren't sure if they should 'taste it.' Was Sarah playing some sort of a trick on them? Clearly, this wasn't what they were expecting.

The we read in Matthew 13

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

As we studied scripture together (after letting them clean off their hands) these were the types of responses that came out:
"The Kingdom of Heaven is worth everything you have."
"Finding the Kingdom of Heave is like a hitting a re-start button."
"The word of God is like a pearl. As we pursue it, we see it with the depth and fullness it contains."

And Sarah summarized our session with, "Do you expect that scripture will be a treasure that is worth everything?"

Will it be like honey on your lips? Will you lead others with the expectation that they will experience the sweetest of God? May this be the greatest treat you have to offer to your friends?

I hope so.

Here's a way to pray for us day by day...

Can you feel it? A new school year brings with it a tangible electricity in the air. New possibilities. New hope. The freshness of a collegiate fall. Newness is one of the reasons I love this time of year. I love the freshness of working with college students whose culture seems fluid. I feel as though I am constantly re-learning my job as students change. I enjoy the freshness of every new fall and every new class. That is why I have worked with IV for 10 years.

I also love consistency and deeply rooted values. When things are changing around me and I don’t know why, I cling to what I know and I find hope in the familiar. I think this is why attend a liturgical church. Some traditions and value gain depth in repetition.

Often these two loves can feel at odds. And yet, in the midst of the tension between old and new, I am reminded of my need for Jesus. I am reminded that God is at work in lives of students and our campuses. What is new is not unknown to Jesus. He dwells in that mystery. What is old is not stale to Jesus; he renews it. Back to school is this: the opportunity meet Jesus in the new and the mysterious and re-discover him in consistent and annual.  During this back-to-school season, I would love to share 5 essential parts of campus ministry how you can pray for them in this exciting back-to-school season. I will structure this guide around a 5 day work week in case you would like to include it in your daily prayer life.  

Monday: Freshmen.  We tell student leaders that the first four weeks of college are a unique opportunity because freshmen are eager to make friends and try new things. Pray that freshmen would try out Jesus through studying scripture and prayer. Pray for freshmen to make an adult decision to follow Jesus with their whole lives. We know that 60% of freshmen leave their faith in college. We can believe that Jesus can change that, starting with this class!

Tuesday: Large Group gatherings. InterVarsity wants to see students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed and world changers developed. Often our large group events are the first encounter new students have with our group. Pray that new students would have eyes to see the love and hospitality present at these gatherings so that they would draw closer to Jesus. Pray that these gathering events will be the first step of transformation in many students’ lives and a launching pad into small group communities.

Wednesday: Student leaders. InterVarsity believes that students are the most qualified individuals to model for their peers what it means to follow Jesus in college. At WSU, we have six students who said ‘yes’ to leading their peers this year. Pray that these students will be filled with God’s love, grace, power and boldness as they invite their friends to study scripture.

Thursday: Small Groups in residence halls. This year, InterVarsity hopes to see communities of faith in the very places students live. We want to be the yeast working its way into the dough (Matt. 13:33), bringing Jesus as the transformation element to our communities. I know how important it can be for many students to have access to scripture be near to them. Pray for students who are eager to host a small group bible study in their rooms and students who are intrigued to attend.

Friday: Ethnic-Specific Small Groups

At WSU, Staff John Paradis is helping several passionate Latina students grow one 12-person small group to multiple groups that will be mini ‘familias.’ At EWU, a student leader is launching LaFe. Pray for new friendships to be formed across Catholic-Protestant lines. Pray for a desire to study scripture and apply it to life. Also, pray for  deepening relationships between InterVarsity staff and students with ethnic-specific communities on all of our campuses. InterVarsity would love to provide spiritual communities for students of color who often don’t feel they have a spiritual home on campus.

Written by Jeremiah Nealon

Adapted by Donan Nealon

Donan's thoughts on work and motherhood, Summer 2015

"God often calls people to the obscure, the ordinary, and the mundane. Some of the most important word that God accomplishes in the world is fulilled by ordinary people doing ordinary work, This is not and cannot be merely tolerated, but rather is something we must embrace and even celebrate."
Courage and Calling. Gordon T. Smith. 140.

As a recently minted mother of two, I find most of my day filled with the ordinary and mundane. Sometimes, I think this is a great blessing, Other times, I find it tedious. I've sensed that God is inviting me to continue on right where am, in the tension between the blessing and the the tedious.

What does this mean for my employment with InterVarsity? I'm grateful to work for an organization that is so accommodating to mothers, letting me craft my job so that I can be fully present with my children and pursue living out the vision of InterVarsity. I've realized that as my kids grow, my desires for work will also change (like the number of nights a week to spend on campus, amount of travel, etc.) In this season of life, I want to work from home as much as possible with the option to travel to retreats and trainings. And so, my supervisor and I have crafted a job description that will help out the area team, allow me to try some new things as a staff worker and be home with my children.

My plan is work about 10 hours a week with time divided evenly into the following categories:
- area logistics: arranging our team meetings, coordinating student gatherings and communication
- coaching: new type of job for me! I'll be helping other team leaders develop chapter growth goals and implement plans to reach these goals
- teaching and training: one of the things I love to do! I'll be working with Jeremiah to provide training and mentorship for our interns. I have flexibility to travel to other schools within the area for large groups or scripture dig-ins.
- discipleship: another thing I love to do! I'm looking forward to coming alongside younger women to help them see where God is at work in their lives.

Student reflections on Summit 2015

A few student responses to the questions: What did God do in you during Summit? How has your outlook on life changed? How has your outlook on Christianity changed? What are the things from Summit that you will take with you?

- God removed the feeling of apathy I was carrying and turned it into empathy for others. He also taught me to go deeper into prayer and pulled up many dead roots. My outlook on life has changed from luxury to simplicity. My outlook on Christianity has gone from an unclear picture of community to an understanding of a Christian community. I will take the values of simplicity, community and empathy for the poor as I leave Summit.

- God reminded me why I want my friends to know him. I feel more motivated to start a GIG (scripture study with Non-Christians) in the performing arts community next spring. I feel like I have a deeper understanding of houselessness and will apply that to how I choose to give.

- God did a lot of things for me! He dug up a lot of crap that I have been burdened with and showed me what it looks like to serve others and live simply. I see a lot of growing opportunities for me and I know that God is doing something my future that I don't see yet.

- I have feelings but this is really hard to articulate in words... for starters, my whole view of evangelism changed.

- I don't even know how to summarize this. God probably did more in these two weeks that I have in the past several months. God brought up lots of wounds in my life that I really didn't want to deal with and opened me up to more... I have learned so much about God's character through this community I have been with and worker with. I have a more positive understanding of the church because of my experiences, and have faith that because of experiences like these and the love of the Christian community, the church can heal the many wounds it have inflicted on the world throughout history. As a new Christian, this is something I struggle with a lot. So, this definitely has been healing for me.

Introducing WSU Interns for 2015-2016 school year

Jeremiah and Donan are excited to welcome 2 interns! These recent college graduates will spend a school year working with students and discerning if college ministry is a place where God might be calling them to invest 3-5 years of their lives. Please pray for them as they transition to living in Moscow and doing campus ministry at WSU. Pray specifically that they find part-time jobs which will provide for their financial needs and providing flexibility to do ministry on campus. Here's a brief intro to each in their own words...

Annie

As the school year quickly approaches it’s end, I quickly approach the end of my college career. After four years at Oregon State University, I am excited to receive my Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Spanish! The last four years have been exciting and filled with academics, travel, and a lot of learning about life and myself. My most important development in college however, has been my faith in Jesus Christ. In college, I’ve learned what it means to follow him, trust him and also how good it is to see my friend’s lives changed by God. Coming to know Jesus has given me purpose and motivated me to want to see change in the world, especially on college campuses. I am a little nervous but very excited to continue ministering to college students next year as a Campus Intern for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Washington State University! Throughout my four years in college, I have been actively involved with InterVarsity at OSU. Coming in, I was excited about the people I met, and their passion for life. Some of these people became my best friends. By the end of my first term in college, I committed my life to following Christ. After my freshman year, I lead a bible study, and I joined the worship team. Now, during my senior year, I lead the worship team, and I am helping two freshman start a new bible study in their dorm. I am so excited at the opportunity to continue college ministry. I am excited to develop relationships with students, share Jesus with them through scripture studies and worship, and to see them follow Jesus with their lives.

Amy

 As this school year comes to a close, I am reaching yet another transitional point in my life. After four years at The Evergreen State College, I am excited to receive my Bachelor of Arts! It has been a long but fun four years filled with not only the rigors of academics but also the joy of developing as a musician, as well as building and developing friendships and community. Most importantly, though, I have seen my faith in Jesus Christ grow in numerous ways during my time at Evergreen. I have learned to trust him, to invest in his Kingdom, and to become a leader who mentors and raises up future leaders. I am very excited to continue ministering to college students next year as a Campus Intern for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Washington State University!

As a student at Evergreen, I was a part of an InterVarsity group that really blossomed my sophomore year. I had the privilege of seeing God grow the group from one student leader to now a dozen student leaders, with 40 in the fellowship. I led a freshmen dorm Bible study and mentored several underclassmen, and it was amazing to see God working not only in the lives of those whom I mentored but also my life as I obeyed him in investing in younger students. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading at WSU next year. With my supervisor Jeremiah and my fellow intern Annie, I will play a part in devolving the chapter at WSU. I am excited to develop relationships with students, share Jesus with them through scripture studies, and to see them eventually follow Jesus with their lives.

I fully expect God to do amazing things in the lives of the WSU students next year, and I am so honored to be a part of his work. I am also excited to invite you to be part of this work as well.

Veritas 2015

Veritas exists to "engage students and faculty in discussions about life's hardest questions and the modern relevance of Jesus Christ." Campuses invite a speaker to present on a topic that will interest students, staff and faculty from a variety of spiritual backgrounds in order to bring Christian scholarship into the fray of academic discourse. On the Palouse, almost a dozen campus ministries come together to promote event and host speaker.

This year, we invited Mary Poplin who speaks on worldviews. She recently released a book with InterVarsity Press called, "Is Reality Secular?" which covers similar themes. If you're interested, I recommend watching her talk from Reed College two years ago which is similar to the one she presented in Moscow and Pullman.

In preparation for the forums (April 7th at WSU and April 8th at Idaho) InterVarsity hosted interactive displays to ask students about debt and hope. We started conversations by asking about personal debt and how much hope students had of paying those off. Then, we moved to telling stories of individuals freed from slavery through International Justice Ministry's work and asked how can we hope to change systems like human trafficking. Finally, if students were interested, we shared the hope we believe Jesus brings to change us and the world. 

At Idaho, three different campus ministries came together to host the display. Staff and student leaders lead 20 people through all the questions including sharing how Jesus is hope for the world. Idaho staff Tyler commented that, "the whole group [of student leaders were] pumped about how easy it was to share the gospel. Everyone left really excited." 

At WSU, staff John met a student who wanted to learn more about Jesus and how He is hope for the world. John and this student now meet regularly to study scripture.

We're thankful for all the resources we get to use to see students transformed, campuses renewed and world changers developed.

Vision for LaFe (Latino specific ministry)

"Hey northwest region lets do this! #encuentro15 #northwestlafeconference #lafe" John Paradis, 2.7.15

How do you help students see what's possible? How do you make an idea more than just words coming out of your mouth? One answer within InterVarsity: take them to a place it's already happening.

WSU staff worker John Paradis drive 6 Latina students from the NW over 16 hours to go to such a place: Encuentro. 350 Latino students and staff gathered to ask what it means to be Latino in Christ and how they can reach out to their communities.   John showed the women what God can do in gathering Latino college students.

In response:
- One decided to follow Jesus.
- One committed to starting a new Latino specific small group on her campus
- One grew in her understanding of the power of community asking how her current small group could reach out to Latino students across campus.

For John, these responses made the hours of driving (a few in a torrential downpour) worth every second.  Continue to pray for these students that the vision they saw at Encuentro will be imprinted upon their hearts so that they can pursue God and His kingdom back on campus.

INN Dinners

“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:11-12.)

 

Sometimes leading a campus ministry is like the disciples huddled in a room at the beginning of Acts wrestling with the call to go and make disciples yet feeling so small and incapable. What if the college campus is a petri dish for Pentecost-like experiences? Like the birth of the church, the campus is in an environment with different languages, ethnicities and cultures. Most are eager and open to hear the wonders of God, provided it is presented in an accessible way.

InterVarsity/the INN have stumbled upon this Pentecost-like opportunity this school year. We have centered the Tuesday night Inn meetings around food. But we haven’t been ordering pizzas. Instead, students have spent hours of their time (and some of their own finances) preparing food that reminds them of home. Tacos, homemade salsa, macaroni and cheese, and delicious cheesecakes. Food is language. Food helps to welcome people in; not into a foreign or a generic setting, but into a home away from home. Or as a WSU freshman put it: “I really enjoy being able to meet new people and learning their perspectives on the questions we discuss. I also like having a home cooked meal, it's like a home away from home”.

We average about 25-30 people for our monthly dinners. The vast majority of the food is prepared by students. There are really two events: the dinner at 7 and the party in the kitchen around 5.

It has been a privilege to watch God at work through these dinners. There was a point last semester InterVarsity/the INN wondered what to do next. Students were attending small group bible studies around campus but not our weekly worship. We began to ask the question what students on campus needed. Students leaders answered this question with words like ‘home’, ‘belonging’ and hospitality. The decision to switch from weekly worship, to meal and spiritual conversations around tables was an attempt to try something new. It has been new and beautiful.

As one returning INN student put it, “I think the Inn dinners are a perfect place to get together to meet new people while have fun and building a community in Christ. The Inn is a place where you can meet people from all different walks of life and learn about different viewpoints. Basically it's exactly what it should be an should've always been.”

As we look ahead to 2015-2016 school year, we are excited to continue with the dinners and see how God might use this new structure at WSU.