New in Christ

She sat down at my table and as typically happens at camp meals everyone starts to introduce themselves. When she said her name, she said: "I don't really know why I'm here, I'm not that into IV." What an intriguing statement! In reply I said: "Oh really, why aren't you that into IV?" Off she went on a long trail.

She talked about how in High School and Middle School she was really into Christianity. She was in her youth group, young life and other Christian programs and missions trips. When she got to college, she had every intent of getting just as involved in Christian activities. But there was just something about being away from home - new freedoms - new opportunities. The girls on the hall were all about experiencing all of college life and my new friend just went along with them. She didn't know why. But a connection was made and before she knew it her desire to get involved in Christian things fell to the bottom of the list. It wasn't because interVarsity & Campus Crusade people didn't try. They came by, left her notes, invited her to Bible Studies to college fellowship meetings and anything else to get her involved, but she just passed them by.

So what was the ticket? How did she wind up at IV's Rockbridge Summer Camp? It was after Spring Break and she was alone on campus and actually she was feeling kindof lonely. A woman, actually the one who had been coming by to invite her to the IV Small Group Bible study, was walking by, stopped and asked her how she was doing. This started a long discussion that began with formalities and led to deep discussions about loneliness and faith and dependence on people and on God.

It all came rushing back to her. The fellowship, the community, the people who were selfless, who loved her regardless who had become a memory were now pushed up to the front again. And she realized what she was missing, but now there was a different problem. Why would God love her? She had turned her back on Him. She had forgotten her "First Love". She was the prodigal - squandering her wealth in foreign countries.

But the small group leader said that God wanted her back, He had been waiting for her for months. This was her chance to set things straight. So that was it - she prayed that night and began to get involved in regular campus fellowship opportunities. She met weekly with the Bible Study leader then the next thing she knew she was filling out the form and signing up for camp and then 20 days later she was sitting at my dinner table, learning about "Following Jesus".

Does God NEED us to do his witnessing? Of course not. But He does use us. That young woman walked by at just the right moment, a coincidence or a God-incidence - Because of God of course! And how about this work of His:
He touched my dinner partner
He touched the Small Group leader,
He touched me.

It was amazing!