"If I perish, I perish."

This fall, I (Megan) have been studying Beth Moore's Esther. I was able to share some of what I have been learning with our students on Thursday night at our Real Life Connect.

Beth Moore says, "The most critical breakthrough of faith you and I could ever experience is to let God bring us to a place where we trust Him - period! We don't just trust Him to let us avoid what we fear most. We determine to trust Him no matter what, even if our worst nightmare befalls us."  With this in mind, we read Esther 4:12-5:2. Towards the end, in the exchange between Esther and Mordecai via Hathach. Mordecai underlines this reality for Esther: That either decision - to approach the King or to do nothing at all - has its risks (death). And Esther was moved to a point of being able to say, "If I perish, I perish." She recognized the risks on either side and chose.
We have so many opportunities to fill in these blanks with our greatest fears: "If ____ happens, then _____." But as Christ-followers we can apply the gospel to our life and remember that God has in effect extended the golden scepter towards us in Jesus Christ. We can approach His throne with confidence and ask Him to change our hearts and attitudes, so that we trust Him more and more, even in the midst of our circumstances. Here's what some of our students shared:

"If I don't get accepted to RPI, then I'll be embarrassed."
Other students applied the gospel: "You are still valuable, even if you don't get accepted."
"God has a plan, even if that's not the one." (Jer 23)

Another students shared, "If my dad doesn't become a Christian, I am a bad ambassador."
Others applied the gospel: "His decision/choice is not up to you."
"God is the one who accomplishes growth, we only plant and water; we can't make someone trust Jesus."

And so, we shared some of our fears and the reality that the Gospel changes our response to them, the way we look at them.

And music to my ears: a couple days later a student facebooked me to say that he would be sharing this with the high school kids he leads in the church youth group.

men's breakfast

This morning, Dave and the staff guys are meeting students at Bob's for some men's time - hopefully accompanied by lots of bacon and coffee. They will be talking about Piper's definition of Biblical Masculinity:

AT THE HEART OF MATURE MASCULINITY IS A SENSE OF BENEVOLENT RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD, PROVIDE FOR AND PROTECT WOMEN IN WAYS APPROPRIATE TO A MAN’S DIFFERING RELATIONSHIPS.

Fall 2011: a season of learning

We feel as though we have some exceptional clarity from which to lead this Fall.  That’s the good news!  The bad news is that clarity is the result of some, “Oh man, that was a big miss!” kind of moments.  So there’s this whole thing that God is working out in us about his sovereignty and our effort and what’s ours to own and what’s his to own and how we can rest because of what Jesus has done, not only when things are hard, but when things are hard because, perhaps, of us! We are meditating on the 7 Gospel Truths while learning so much.

One lesson that seems true for our area at this time is this: mission flows from community.  There are some areas we clearly see we can facilitate community on campus and we pray that God is in it and blesses those efforts like crazy.

7 Gospel Truths

We were first introduced to this powerful list in Wildwood this summer, when our dear friend J.W. Betts shared them with our project. The list originates with Drew Hyun, a pastor in New York City. He was also our speaker for the Upstate NY Fall Getaway this fall, where he shared this powerful message. 

Because of Jesus/In light of the Gospel:

We are fully loved. 

We are fully accepted. 

We have nothing to prove. 

We have nothing to lose. 

We have nothing to hide. 

We are free to make mistakes. 

We have nothing to fear.

International Students

From our dear friend, J.W.

I didn't really believe Dave when he said there were hundreds, even thousands, of international students in Wildwood over the summer. I honestly thought, "right." I'm on staff at Cornell, there are a lot of international students there! But, now, I see, there really are a lot of international students. This year, when I invite students to consider WWSP, I'll tell them, "No, really, there are a lot of international students!"

There are 500 students from Bulgaria alone! They commented on Saturday, "we really want to practice our English. But we keep meeting and running into other Bulgarians!"

Wildwood

Our staff team of 24 is preparing to leave the Wildwood Summer Project. Today we had some time to share with one another and remember what God has done during our time here. Here are some highlights:

One staff shared about a student who had a great desire to go to Asia this summer, instead of staying in the states. However, God led her to Wildwood, and she obeyed. On Saturday, we hosted our annual neighborhood cookout, and this student met a few Taiwanese students who are growing Christians. The student shared, "Instead of having me go around the world this summer, God has brought the very people I have a heart to minister to to my backyard [literally]."

One student shared, "At McDonald's [his place of work], I have a hard time remembering I'm in America. There are so many people from other places working there!"

One staff shared about her group of girls she has been working with and the way they are ministering to one another: "One week one of the girls came and shared openly about her struggle with identity. She had spent time journalling all the things she doesn't like about herself. In response to this the other girls were able to speak in grace and truth. And then one of the girls said to her [the student who had journalled], 'give me that paper.' Then, she took the paper and ripped it up." A powerful example of our dream that students would learn and experience the beauty of transformational community, where they are all important contributors to the life of the group and the life of one another!

Another staff shared about her group: "I had a hard time seeing how this group could come together. I had a southern belle, a punk, a homespun middle America and a smart Asian. Quickly they have learned to love one another and share their gifts. Fro me this is the closest to Philippians 2 that I have ever seen lived out."

About a men's group: "Our group is quiet, teachable and they are becoming vocal. They are most comfortable behind the grill. If there is ever something, they grill. So, on Saturday [at the project cookout], our guys were grilling. So I wondered what would happen when they finished grilling. I didn't give them any direction. They got their food, and went and sat with international students and had great conversations!"

One of our staff guys had a group of men who, at the beginning of the summer project, would blankly stare at him in response to his questions during their time together. He shared today that "they are getting it!" They are leading and mining the Word together and encountering the Gospel together, too. When he asks questions like, "What does this Scripture reveal about your brokenness that requires the redeeming work of Christ? How does this Scripture point to Jesus?" they have answers and a discussion!

This year, we had four students from WWSP10 return as "student staff." Although they are not on full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ regularly (they are still students!), this summer they served exactly like all of our full-time staff. One guy shared, "Last year, at my job, I became pretty good friends with a girl, Jess. We kept in touch. So, on Saturday, late in to the cookout, I realized I hadn't invited her. I texted her [at 9:30pm], expecting her to be like "no thanks." But instead, she responded, "ok. see you soon." As it turns out, Saturday was the first time she had actually completely heard the gospel message. So, I invited her to Monday [our large group weekly meeting]. She came and loved it. When she left [the meeting on Monday], she asked, "How do you get there?" Meaning, how do you know God? It's been great to see God work over time, even though I had no idea what His purposes were at first.

WWSP 2011

The Wildwood Summer Project is up and running!

Our staff team, 22 staff including ourselves, arrived May 23 for a week of preparation. 47 students from around the country arrived June 1. Most students have jobs, which they will work all summer; only about 12 are still looking.

Our theme is "treasuring Jesus, making Him known."

The other day I was talking with one of staff and she expressed how God is using this summer in her own life: "I just have a tendency towards performance and trying to do things in my own strength. I feel like this summer, I am experiencing some freedom from trying to perform in order to be accepted. And I am seeing things happen [like the student relationships in her small group] that I couldn't make happen. God is just doing it and better than I could."

We are so thankful that God is moving in the lives of our staff and students!

Big Break on NBC

Big Break was highlighted on NBC!

http://flash.video.worldnow.com/wjhg/WJHG_1603201117590112305_8817793C.mp4

Boston Winter Conference 2011

Holly Sheldon is a National Director with Campus Crusade for Christ.

http://vimeo.com/18761225

Boston Winter Conference 2011

Enjoy this main session "Free Together" from BWC 2011

http://vimeo.com/18670872