Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Back to the Basics



I feel as though before I can proceed in blogging about the events that transpire while I am here I need to first establish some groundwork as to why I am here, because I don't think I had a chance to thoroughly explain that to many people.
Over the past two years at university, I’ve had the opportunity of becoming involved with Campus for Christ, an interdenominational organization that seeks to change the world by turning students into life-long Christ-centered labourers through movements of evangelism and discipleship. Becoming involved has taken a few forms for me, including: participating in a discipleship group(which is basically a small Bible study group), being a member of the prayer team, and a first year events coordinator. Through these experiences God has taught me innumerable lessons about his mighty power, love and the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I’ve now learned to make “God-sized” dreams and consistently “push the envelope” when it comes to imagining how and where God can use me. While away at Winter Conference, a 5 day long event in Toronto, during this past Christmas holidays, God challen
ged me to step out of my comfort zone, move out of the complacency I had fallen into, and take steps of faith for him. He also revealed to me a prime opportunity for that: Halifax National Project. This project runs from May 4th – August 1st.
While on this project, I am going to get a job during the day in which God can work through me to share the gospel. Each weeknight has a special focus including a time for discipleship groups, weekly meetings, specialized ministry team meetings, fellowship events, inductive Bible study times, and training in evangelism and discipleship. Saturdays are a time where we will apply what we've learned and share the gospel to students in summer session at the surrounding universities and the community around where we live. Sundays are days of rest with God and a time to check out the local churches in Halifax!
Halfway through the project, the Campus for Christ staff are going to leave and hand over the leadership of the project to us, the students! We will then have an opportunity to apply what we've learned as God leads the group to greater steps of faith. I am especially excited for this time. Over the last few weeks I was challenged and accepted the position of prayer team
coordinator for the upcoming school year. While this opportunity overwhelms me because I know my abilities are insufficient, I’m also excited because I know I will have to seek God that much more to compensate for my inadequacies. I am confident that after the staff leave and hand over the project, God will teach me lessons in my role I am designated that I will be able to transfer to the role of Prayer Team Coordinator.
Now, you might be asking, “Why Halifax?”. Well, one of the things I love most about Campus for Christ as an organization is their passion and strategy. Their passion is reaching university students because, essentially, they are the future leaders of tomorrow. Future presidents, prime ministers, businessmen, teachers, are all in university right now. As well, they are a movement which, simply enough, means they are aiming to go somewhere. They aren’t just aiming to provide a nurturing Christian environment for students while they are away at university…but they’re aiming to build those Christians up in their faith, send them out to share the Gospel to win others for Christ, who will eventually win, build and send others, etc. To be a movement, a force if you will, you must be moving
against the established order. In today’s society where Satan is so keen and prevalent…it requires strategy to conquer. Campus for Christ views Halifax as a strategic city to plant a ministry in order to reach the province of Nova Scotia and furthermore, our country. Immigrants/International students coming from the East often settle in Halifax because it is the first large city they reach. If their stay here is temporary and they return to their native country, this means that reaching Halifax equals reaching the world as they take the gospel back to their respective countries. Exciting, eh?!
I am so ecstatic to be here in Halifax, placing a footprint on eternity; I really feel as though I'm a part of changing the world.

Although I've done my best to explain things here, I'm sure you still have questions, please feel free to email/write me at any time about anything I mention in my blogs and I'd be more than happy to answer your questions!

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