Creating "God Space"

Last night (Thursday night)I met some students at 8:00 on campus.
All day and even on the way I was debating what that time would look like. We had talked about releasing them to do some "God space" (the title of a book about initiating spiritual conversations) but I was skeptical that there would be enough students around for them to approach and engage. Even as we sat talking about their breaks and their hopes for the semester I was uncertain about how much I would immediately challenge them to.
After talking about their hopes for the semester, I asked them what their fears were for the semester, or what they hoped would not happen. All three of them said they hoped they would not let fear stand in the way of what God had for them to accomplish that semester. I had silently asked God to confirm through what they shared whether or not we would venture out to engage students that night.
I asked them to start putting their fears away immediately by approaching students with God space questions for the next half hour. We did a brief role-playing training emphasizing four things:
1. Introduction, identification as a Jesus-follower, and permission to ask a question.
2. Active listening.
3. Summation with a statement like, "So what I hear you saying is..."
4. Ending by saying "Thanks for your time" or sticking around for more listening and some dialogue if invited to it by the student.
They went out having each picked a question they liked from page 63 in "God space". I told them I would stay in the student lounge and pray for them, which I did.
Jess was back in fifteen minutes, beaming. She had approached a girl, identified herself as a Christ follower, asked the question, listened intently, and summed up. The girl thanked her profusely, repeatedly, and wanted to know when and where the group was meeting. The agreed to connect on FB.
Maddy was back in 20 minutes with a new friend. The same thing had happened with her except this girl was a believer who thought she was alone at college and wanted to meet other believers immediately so she came with Maddy to our debrief. She visited for a while, asked us to pray for some things, and then left to play bingo, which I guess everyone loves.
Todd came back after an hour and a half. He had met some old high school friends and had a hard time transitioning to the question. He sat with them and caught up for a long time, sat through a minor drug deal, and a visit from a friar, and then finally worked up the courage to go to the question at the very end. They weren't as interested. He came back a little discouraged I think.
When they came back we went briefly through the Listening Test on page 57.
We spent the rest of our time together connecting relationally and talking small group shop, specifically about the idea of everyone committing to meditate on the agreed upon Scripture passage for the week so everyone could encourage the group with songs, hymns and spiritual songs and so the group didn't get too top-heavy.
The next training challenge I see is helping our students know when and how to walk through the spiritual and emotional doors that open for them. We talked about our 3-minute stories and having a brief Gospel presentation at the ready.

Progress in the Athletic Department

From Joe: What a day at SEFCU Arena! Today was my first day back to work and it was awesome. I led basketball chapel today and we had 6 girls there. 2 came back and it was great to see them! I passed out the Passion and Power Bibles and the extra 5 that I had were all taken. In fact, the coaches had to give theirs away, because there were more girls that wanted them than Bibles that were available.

While we were in Chapel, a football coach came into the room to check it out. The football coaches had a meeting following us for new recruits. A basketball coach with the woman's team went over and asked for 15 more minutes to finish off our time. The football coach asked what was going on. When the b-ball coach shared about the ministry and who I am with, the football guy gave the basketball coach his card to give to me. They currently have a chapel and want to connect with a campus ministry or AIA. I will be scheduling a meeting with him sometime in the next few weeks. Another coach came up to me and said "I am excited to work with you." I hadn't even initiated anything yet!!! :) It was awesome. Please pray for the meeting coming up with Juan and any other coach that wants to join him. This is another door that God has clearly opened. Exciting!!!!

Looking for Opportunities to Serve

From Aaron: January 22nd Steph and I went to walmart, bought some poster board, Sharpys, and Glitter and made signs to take to the Womens Basketball game. Steph showed great leadership and invited a lot of people and was excited about doing this with me and anyone that would join us. It turned out to be Steph, Mandy and I that went to the game and cheered for the girls. But as we discovered, it only took the three of us to make a significant impact! There were maybe 50 in attendance at the game, mostly parents, some student athletes. In between me explaining the rules of basketball to the girls, we had tons of fun being loud, making up cheers, at many times we had the whole crowd doing cheers with us, and we definately played a part in the come from behind win! We had guys from both the Boys Basketball and Hockey teams come and talk to us and want us to go to their games. I think we struck a good chord and I believe out of any service thing we've tried, this has the greatest potential to bring unity within our group, attendance, and positive response from our greater HV community. We're planning the next for Saturday afternoon Feb 13th, girls play at 1, guys play at 3. We are definitely planning to be at the girls, then those that want to stay for the men can as well. Free for HV students.

Real Life on Campus

From Aaron: John's long time friend growing up, who had plans to come to RPI and do ROTC Navy with him died on Tuesday in a car accident. Be praying for his comfort and for him to grow in this time. I haven't talked with him yet, but his roommate Matt (not a christian, but through last semester has heard a lot of truth and gospel) called me Wednesday and wanted to meet. He told me that John was struggling about wether or not his friend was in heaven or hell, and was really feeling some deep emotions over the loss of his friend (obviously). Pray as I communicate with John while he is gone and when he comes back, that I could communicate God's love and comfort. Pray also that I would be able to have a hard but needed conversation with John along the lines of knowing the truth of God's word and being a witness unto salvation for his friends, he has great concern for others and out of any student I am meeting with, I believe he has a great great calling in the kingdom as a leader.
Also, Matt asked me a really hard question, "In your denomination, what do you believe happens to people when they die." I didn't know how to answer but the Spirit did and had me share about the apostle John and his relationship with Jesus and then we read what John wrote in John 11 and 1 John 5:9-13. The gist of the conversation was that all people die, young or old, that Jesus displayed power over death by raising Lazarus, a man who would also eventually die. That as Christians we put our trust in the reality that God has revealed in Jesus. And we trust in Jesus to give us life because he conquered it at the cross and displayed his power on this earth. That we are promised life in the Son by faith, and that this is the testimony of God himself. That made sense to him and he understood it.