43 people from a variety of student ministries gathered for prayer at the site of the birthplace of American Missions 200 years ago
Normally I don’t like long layovers in airports, especially in these days of travel crises. Yet this time it was a different story. I was in route to Albany, New York where I was going to connect with a colleague and travel on to Williamstown, Massachusetts for a conference to be held in the shadow of Williams College. It was on this campus 200 years ago where 5 young men prayed and dedicated themselves to God to become missionaries and share Christ around the world. Today it is known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting and the beginning of the North American Missions Movement. It took just 5 men who allowed God to begin something small in their hearts until it became something great!
I enjoyed a quick lunch and settled in for a two-hour wait for my connection. I began reading a new book by a friend of mine, H.L. Hussmann, entitled God’s Greatest Passion: Every Christian, Everywhere, Sharing Jesus. H.L. is a Chi Alpha Missionary and an ardent witness of Christ’s love. I was inspired by his words and yet had given little thought to immediate action, that is, until Simon sat down.
Simon is a nineteen-year-old engineering student from Nottingham, England who was on his way to visit an American friend in New York. He took a seat just one space away from me even though the area was full of seats. I looked up and greeted him and sensed the prompting of the Holy Spirit, “Ok, Jerry you have been reading about sharing me with others and here is your chance.” So, as I engaged Simon in conversation. I quickly discovered just how open he was to talk. I asked him about the terrorist plot in England and how it had affected his travel. Then I asked him how it has affected the spiritual climate in England. We talked for two hours. We shared about concerns for the future, about the complexity of science and religion, and we talked a lot about Jesus. When they called me to board my flight I handed Simon my card and offered to send him a book, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I’m waiting to hear from Simon and expect that I will. However, I have this one hope - God often starts new works from very small beginnings. It happened with 5 college students 200 years ago and it can happen in Simon and thousands of other students who are returning to campus this month.
Pray with me for Simon. Pray for small beginnings. Pray for the hundreds of thousands of students who will affect destiny. Thank you for praying and supporting Gwen and I.
Chi Alpha: Call on us!
Thanks BGMC
Remember Chi Alpha, call on us!
This August we shipped out, to 48 Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, a 60-minute phone card to give to international students as a welcome gift for their arrival on campus. We had ordered 5000 cards and all of them are out. We are still receiving requests from other campus groups for more cards. The great thing about this card is when a person makes a call (BTW, these cards work for international calls as well) they will hear this message, “Chi Alpha knows it’s difficult to be away from home. Remember Chi Alpha, call on us.” Because of help from BGMC, a resource ministry from the children’s ministry of the Assemblies of God we have been able to bless our groups with these cards at a greatly reduced rate. We know that these cards are going to generate a lot of new contacts and many new-found friendships. Thank you BGMC!