CAMPUS LAUNCH PAD

GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE Chances are you’ve felt like the whole world is falling apart.  God is still good and God is still on his throne.  Perhaps he is giving his people a platform to serve and love the world instead of cower in fear, without hope, like our non-believing neighbors.  God has given us a spirit of power, not a spirit of fear and timidity.  The gospel runs in when everyone else runs out.  Don’t buy into the hysteria and fear-mongering! THE GOSPEL CALL HASN’T CHANGED It is times like these where the gospel has spread the quickest.  World-wide panic and fear?  The peace of the gospel is the cure.  Isolation and broken relationships?  The family of God leans in.  Corona Virus may have forced us into social distancing, but social distancing DOES NOT mean relational distancing.  Pick up the phone and call.  FaceTime, Google Hangout, Zoom call.  Find ways to stay connected and feed each others souls....

Do you spend much time at the doctor’s office? If you haven’t, just wait till you have kids! And, if you are blessed with boys, expect to spend some time at the ER as well. Just saying… I have four kids so I’ve seen a lot of waiting rooms. Waiting rooms are all pretty much the same. They usually have two sections to divide the well from the sick and a variety of things to keep both parties entertained and isolated until their time comes to move onto the next room. Next time you’re there look around the room. There isn’t much emotion. Each person is biding his/her time until his/her time comes to move on. Now compare that with a launch pad for the space shuttle. The cockpit is swarming with activity. Ground zero is alive with clicking and talking. All parties are frantic to make sure every detail is secure. The ground crew is scurrying about making sure everything is filled up, topped off, and packed. There is excitement and anticipation!  Every man and woman is doing...

If you've ever had kids you know about bibs.  They are a lifesaver! Bibs will save you, as a parent, from having to change your kids clothes 4 times a day!  They are a beautiful and useful thing.  And more and more today they are making bibs out of anything - clothe, silicon, plastic.  It's interesting that when you take that same piece of cloth and move it down 2-3 feet is something different. If you've ever been to a restaurant you've experience this.  As you are seated, usually a waiter will approach you, pull something out of his apron and write down you order.  You take that same piece of cloth and change its location and it changes the dynamic of your relationship with someone. A bib communicates that you need someone to do something for you.  An apron asks the question, "What can I do for you?" As followers of Jesus, are calling is to wear the apron.  We serve our neighbors, we serve our ministries and our families.  How ofte...

WHO: Full-Time Position for Recent College Graduates We only have recent college grads for interns.  If they are exploring a call to ministry, then this is the job for them! If they are pursuing “secular” careers we just ask them to give back a year.  We operate under the idea that if you pay a student to do ministry than you have a harder time helping other students understand that everyone is suppose to do ministry. We have a core team of student leaders who do the work of the ministry.  To pay one of them to do the work that others may be doing for free would be counterproductive.  We do have student leaders who operate similar to interns who we call “staff” but it is a volunteer position. For a person to be considered a candidate for internship we look at: Are they FAT (Faithful, Available, Teachable)? Do they fit the model of a Disciple Maker? I’m attaching the Discipleship Ladder from Steve Shadrach’s Fuel and the Flame that articulates what we mean b...

“What you’ve heard from me in the presence of many witnesses pass on to faithful men who in turn can train others.” Paul of Tarsus “The gospel came to you on its way to someone else.” Rob Gallaty “Your church is the fruit of other people and churches whose names may have been long forgotten.  Has your church started other churches, or did history stop with you?” Steve Addison The gospel is meant to be passed on.  It was meant to saturate every pour of our being and every nook and cranny of society.  It’s what Jesus preached: “Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  What a picture!  In order to see the kingdom come near and the gospel passed on Jesus had a big vision, a focused plan, and an open hand.  EVERY AND ALL: The Big Vision Jesus had a big vision and started with the end in mind. Here are a few of God’s “vision statements”: Go and make disciples of ALL nations... - Matthew 28:19-20 EVERYONE who calls on the name of t...

2 Timothy 2:2 - What you heard from me [Paul] in the presence of others pass on to faithful men who in turn can teach others. I love this verse! If someone was to ask me what is my favorite verse I don't know if this is it, but it is close.  I love the idea of 4 generations of believers!  4G discipleship!  Paul who trained Timothy who was charged with training faithful men who would train others.  Paul >Timothy>Faithful>Others. Can I be honest though? Sometimes I find myself pushing for 2 generation discipleship.  2 Clayton 2:2 goes something like this: "Now that you've heard from me in the presence of others go and invite your friends and family and anyone you can to come back next week to hear more."  2G discipleship.  Come, hear me teach, and be fed.  I tend to make discipleship more and more about attendance to something where I can teach them, rather than radical obedience to Jesus' call to make disciples.  I mean, if I ...

Finding a church in college is hard. It's hard transition to a new place and a new church.  For most students this is the first time they've had to find a church on their own. Just because it is hard or may feel awkward at times doesn't mean it's not worthy.  In fact, most things in life that are worth it are hard and have some awkward moments. Many students don't embrace this and end of up not plugging into a church. Look at what Scripture says though. Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. We've been given a great promise - a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and if we are going to continue to grow then it takes up meeting together.  Here are a few t...