This summer, over 20 campus students and singles took part in an evangelistic movement with the Ministry and Missions program (MnM) to encourage Churches in the Northwest and China by helping strengthen Campus Ministries in different Northwest Churches and mainland China. Reprinted from the Seattle Church of Christ website
"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy ... He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him." -- Psalm 126
This summer, over 20 campus students and singles took part in an evangelistic movement with the Ministry and Missions program (MnM) to encourage Churches in the Northwest and China by helping strengthen Campus Ministries in different Northwest Churches and mainland China. These disciples worked tirelessly as they were led by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news to another generation of disciples. There is no formula to helping someone become a Christian; however, a willing spirit, faith, prayer, and laying down your life are all necessary ingredients for allowing the Spirit to move powerfully and act in a person???s life. This summer, the disciples that set out on various Missions were young and inexperienced (some had been baptized only months before leaving). But what they lacked in experience, they mad up for in faith and zeal. They sowed with hard work and tears and returned singing songs of joy.
Ashland, Oregon ??? Rogue Valley Church of Christ
After being in Ashland, Oregon only a few weeks, the mission team there was faithful that miracles were happening. They were embraced by the Church, as the disciples in Ashland had begun a summer campaign with renewed zeal and inspiration. God blessed their unity, and the Rogue Valley Church of Christ began to see miracles.
University of Oregon Junior Amy Campbell was met on campus the third week after the team arrived. Heidi, a recent UW graduate invited Amy to Bible Talk. Amy accepted the offer and was inspired by hearing God???s Word preached with conviction. She was looking for a change in her life, and knew the way she had been living wasn???t consistent with the scriptures. Motivated by the unity and faith of the disciples, she committed to studying the Bible every day and was baptized into Christ three weeks later.
Her life had changed so much, that she invited her best friend, Saundra Schaapman, to start studying the Bible. Three weeks later, the mission team returned to Seattle and brought Saundra to visit the UW campus ministry and come to a campus devotional. Seeing the depth of relationships, the consistency of the message, and the love and cooperation between disciples in other cities, Saundra decided to commit her life to Christ and be baptized right away. Her baptism was an encouragement to all the UW disciples on hand.
The mission team returned to Ashland with a new sister in Christ, which further inspired the Church. A few months ago, there were no disciples at Southern Oregon, today, they now have a Bible Talk that meets on campus and another student, John Phillbrook, is currently counting the cost to become a Christian.
The Rogue Valley Church as a whole now has more Bible Studies than ever before, with people who are eager to find God and enter the Kingdom. The Church, led by Evangelist Rob Skinner, is looking forward to even more miracles this fall.
Boise, Idaho ??? Treasure Valley Church of Christ
The disciples that traveled to Boise, Idaho experienced similar stories. They were embraced by the disciples and were encouraged by the sacrifice and perseverance of the Treasure Valley disciples. The team devoted themselves to prayer and evangelism, and studied with as many people as they could find before the fall semester started, spending 12 hours a day on campus and praying together every morning and evening. They were on campus so much, the team faced a peculiar challenge: finding new people to meet because they met every summer student on the campus!
Once school began in the middle of August, they had their first Bible Talk where twelve visitors showed up to hear an inspiring message about, building your spiritual foundation on the rock of Jesus and his teachings. God blessed their faith and six students started studying the Bible that week. Demetra Powell, an incoming freshman at Boise State University was eagerly searching for the Kingdom and began studying the Bible after her first Bible Talk. She was baptized two weeks later.
Chris Clawson, the Boise State Campus minister and leader of Treasure Valley Church of Christ, worked closely with the mission team and the Church. Calling one another to renew their commitment and faith, the Church saw one miracle after another. People who had fallen away were restored, and the church has experienced a wave of baptisms. Another student was recently baptized, and there is now a dorm Bible Talk that meets on Campus.
Calgary, Ontario, Canada ??? Calgary Christian Church
The mission team to Calgary, Ontario had the same reaction from the Church and approached the summer with the same faith and diligence. Their faith was rewarded by bringing out numerous students at the University of British Columbia, including a couple of football players who started studying the Bible. Though no one was baptized before they left, many people studied the Bible and got an opportunity to see the Kingdom of God. The church was challenged and strengthened this summer and is heading into the fall with the faith that God can do anything.
God has truly blessed the faith and willingness of the disciples who sacrificed their summer to go anywhere for the sake of the Gospel. The Northwest Churches were strengthened and inspired as many souls were saved through the efforts of a few willing spirits. What???s even greater is that the Northwest Churches have come to the conviction that sharing our strengths and working together is the only way to effectively evangelize the world. Like the disciples who returned to Jerusalem in Psalm 126, all the disciples in the Northwest can rejoice in sharing a mutual harvest. We look forward to the continued advancement of our campus ministries and the many more souls that will be saved this year from the cooperative efforts of the Northwest Churches of Christ.