Washing students' feet.

John 13:1-6 The Message (MSG)

Washing His Disciples’ Feet

13 ^1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

^3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

Earlier this week, I attended our Upstate Team Meetings, a semesterly spiritual formation retreat with the northern half of our NY/NJ region.  During one of the days there, we studied this passage (John 13) together. 

(Yes, it's the Message version.  You're not reading the link wrong.  A rare happenstance in InterVarsity, I know.  Don't worry, we still encountered the Lord.)

One of the big things that stood out to me was the fact that Jesus' identity and authority were not dependent on whether or not the disciples understood what he was saying or doing.  He knew His relationship to God and the authority He had been given to carry out His mission.

This didn't change when Peter clearly didn't understand what Jesus was doing, nor seemed patient enough to wait to understand later.  His identity and authority from God didn't change when Judas betrayed Him.  Jesus continued to love and serve them.  He pressed forward into the tension and confusion.  He didn't compromise his actions.  His authority didn't diminish with the disciples' comments or actions. 

This made me think about two things:

1. While I hunger for a deep sense of joy and compassion for this ministry at RIT, I wonder how much of my lack in those areas is tied to my belief that my authority is determined by how well people understand what I am doing.  It's a belief I know in my head isn't true, but I certainly act on it more than on the truth that my identity and spiritual authority come from Jesus.
   
2. What would it look like to 'wash the feet' of RIT students?  How can I serve them in such a way that would point them to the love of Jesus?

They are still things I am pondering over.  Would you pray with me as I continue to reflect on these thoughts and bring them to Jesus?

Awkward Jesus.

If I only ever did what was comfortable in my life, I'd never get past getting out of bed.  I like my bed.  It's extremely comfortable.  I rarely want to leave my cozy fluffy blanket and hunky husband in the morning, as much as I prefer mornings over evenings.

But I follow a Jesus who stood in the front lines of doing pretty uncomfortable things.  He invited not so special people to follow him that everyone else would have overlooked.  He shared meals with the unpopular, uncool, low-class people of his time.  He touched the untouchables.  He told people what to do, even though they hadn't met or interacted with each other before.  He broke the common cultural rules.  I mean, he even claimed to be the Messiah whom the Israelites have been waiting for for thousands of years?!

Talk about awkward.  I'm squirming in my seat just thinking about doing equivalent things today.

But if I claim to follow Jesus, then my actions need to reflect that belief.  That means talking to new people who don't know Jesus when I don't feel like it.  That means listening well and not getting defensive when students unhelpfully criticize our ministry.  That means confronting conflict, not avoiding it.  That means showing up on campus when I don't want to go.  That means being open and honest with students about how I'm doing and what I'm feeling when it would be easy to fake it.

Pray that RIT students and I wouldn't get stuck in the comfortable.

Something for me and my students to reflect upon.

The spiritual life is not a life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence.  No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now.  Therefore we need to begin with a careful look at the way we think, speak, feel, and act from hour to hour, day to day, week to week, and year to year, in order to become more fully aware of our hunger for the Spirit.  As long as we have only a vague inner feeling of discontent with our present way of living, and only an indefinite desire for "things spiritual," our lives will continue to stagnate in a generalized melancholy.  We often say, "I am not very happy.  I am not content with the way my life is going.  I am not really joyful or peaceful, but I just don't know how things can be different, and I guess I have to be realistic and accept my life as it is."  It is this mood of resignation that prevents us from actively searching for the life of the Spirit.

Our first task is to dispel the vague, murky feeling of discontent and to look critically at how we are living our lives.  This requires honesty, courage, and trust.  We must honestly unmask and courageously confront our many self-deceptive games.  We must trust that our honesty and courage will lead us not to despair, but to a new heaven and a new earth. 

--from Making All Things New by Henri Nouwen

A staff worker's response to student complaints.

Okay, Tammy, here are some examples of issues students have brought up to you this week.  Let's work on how you should respond.  

'Tammy, InterVarsity is not feeding me spiritually.'
'Tammy, you're going to lose these people if you don't personally invite them to participate or involve them in what's going on.'
'Tammy, I don't think the leaders are doing a very good job.'

How to respond to criticisms from students:

Step #1:  Repeat after me:  do not take it personally.  Repeat that over and over and over in your head.  Just because they've said your name or they're talking specifically to you, doesn't necessarily mean you're to blame or that it's an issue you have to take on alone head on.

Step #2:  Listen carefully.  Ask clarifying questions.  Dig deeper to find the core value beneath the complaint. The fact that they're talking to you and bringing it up in the first place indicates that there's some kind of significance or truth. 

Step #3:  Find out what the student has done so far to try and address this complaint personally.  Remind them that they are InterVarsity, not you, the staff worker.  The community is only as good as those who are willing to do something about it. 

Step #4:  Pray.  Ask the Lord to fill you with compassion.  Thank Him for the students' honesty and willingness to come to you with their thoughts and feelings in the first place.  Ask the Lord to help you be mindful of these needs but not let them become burdens that prevent you from working towards bringing God's kingdom to campus.

Fresh perspective.

There are many ways I like to pray, but prayer walking is not one of them.

You'd think because of my sensory preferences of information gathering and tendency towards the kinesthetic learning style, that I'd enjoy it very much.  Walking, going, and being at the locations of sources of prayer seem like it'd spark a lot of creative and interesting ways to pray as opposed to sitting in a circle in a room with people holding hands.

And it's true.

I've discovered that it's prayer walking in groups that I don't like.  The prayer walks I've experienced in groups involved confusion around where to walk or which way to walk; the awkwardness of praying out loud so that the people you pass along the way give you strange looks; and not being able to hear someone's prayer, just for a few examples.

God finally nudged me hard enough to take a prayer walk on campus that I had been putting off all summer.

Fine, I said, but I'm going by myself.

And God replied, When did I say you had to go with anyone?  I simply said to go.

Oh.  I guess that's right.

So I went.

God's big nudge had come at a time where I was really frustrated with students for not doing things excellently, with myself for not being able to coach them or lead them well, and with the lack of fruit I was expecting and hoping to see after a few years of hard work.  I was at a breaking point, and knew I needed to do something to empty me of myself and be filled with compassion for RIT.

I committed an hour of my time on campus.  I simply wandered around a part of campus, stopping every once in a while to write down what I observed and what I heard.  Towards the end of that hour I used the contents of this list as springboards for prayer. 

I've only done this prayer walk once so far.  It wasn't an earth-shattering event, but it felt like it was groundbreaking for my hardening heart.  There were no evangelistic moments or divine appointments, but my obedience out of the desire to meet with the Lord created a shift in my posture.  There were no revelations or inspired images, but there were small, new discoveries of things I thought I knew.

Like bubble tea in The Market.  Or that there's a second floor of Global Village where the Study Abroad office is.

God's nudging was for me to do this on a weekly basis, so I'm hoping to get into the habit of spending an hour each week for this kind of prayer walk, exploring a different part of campus.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Creative ways to partner - September 2014

Please email me (tammy_bixler@ivstaff.org) if you'd like to help out in any of these ways!

(Note:  What is Expedition?)

1. Expedition snacks:  individual packs of Swedish fish and Goldfish to give out for student participation as we study the book of Jonah.  Get it??  Jonah + big fish?
2. Expedition decor:  send me favorite pictures from a road trip (sunsets, friends, sightseeing, etc.)?  Send them via email (tammy_bixler@ivstaff.org) or mail copies to me (ask me for address).  I'll post them around the room we use at the conference site.
3. Sponsor a Small Group care package:
   
   We now have 11 small group leaders leading 11 small groups this fall.  They could use a lot of encouragement and prayers as they continue to reach their communities on campus and grow as a mini-witnessing community. 
   
   Would you consider sponsoring a care package to send them this fall?  I can definitely give you suggestions and ideas of what to include if you would like help.  You can send it anytime this semester.
   
   Here are the small group leaders and their respective communities:
   
   
   1. Aidin - International students
   2. Amanda - Artists
   3. Doug - Freshmen
   4. Eric - Grad students
   5. Jeremy - Co-op
   6. Jessie - Artists
   7. Lydia - Health Sciences
   8. Mark - Commuter & Faculty
   9. Rachel - Mandarin Speaking
   10. Tim - Outdoors & Adventure
   11. Tin - Fitness

Confessions of a staff worker.

Honestly, I don't really like meeting new people.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I like people.  I love having good conversations and getting to know an individual's hopes, dreams, and learning about what makes them tick.

It's the approach and carrying on the conversation I often have issues with.

I don't like inserting myself into people's time and space.  I want to leave people well enough alone.  And I am perfectly content with being around a lot of wandering people without feeling the need to interact with them.  I don't want to be an interruption or burden or source of awkwardness for anyone.

Speaking of awkwardness, my fear of awkwardness is what tests my ability to sustain a conversation with someone.  I'm afraid we won't have anything in common for me to jump start our interaction, or that something I say will make the other person feel uncomfortable or trapped.  I'm afraid I won't know what question to ask next or what to do if the other person answers too briefly.

Also, I just want people to like me.  Who doesn't want people to like them?

That's what makes New Student Outreach (NSO) events so intimidating and draining for me.  I'd much rather just set up shop and wait for people to approach me.  Be there for people when they call.

But that's not how Jesus loved people.  He didn't stay in one place and wait for people to come to him - he left all that was comfortable and familiar and went to them.  He moved past potentially awkward situations.  He wasn't afraid to go deep really fast.  He crossed cultural boundaries.  He didn't lose focus from His purpose.  He boldly challenged others.  He invited people to join Him.  It was all worth it, to Him.  People in need are worth it to Him.  

So when NSO comes around, I work hard to step up and introduce myself to people despite my fears and discomfort.  I ask the Holy Spirit for courage.  I try really hard to be assertive but genuine at the same time.  I am reminded that not all of my attempts will bear fruit.  Rejection and failure should be expected.  But that doesn't mean I should let it paralyze me.

Meeting new students is not something that comes naturally to me, despite what some of my students may think.  It is something I discipline myself to do for the sake of the gospel.  God's love for me gives me the capacity to love others - even strangers.

It is tempting to be lazy or leave it to the "socially gifted" and "extroverts" of the group around me.  But we are all called to love God and love others, and that means we are all called to seek out the needs of others and to meet them where they are.

When it comes to loving people, Jesus always said, 'Go and do.'  When did he ever say, 'Sit and wait'?

Creative Ways to Partner - July 2014

Please comment or email me (tammy_bixler@ivstaff.org) if you'd like to partner with me in any of these ways:

1.  Sponsor a Small Group care package:

We have 9 small group leaders preparing to lead 9 small groups this fall semester.  I think it would be so cool if they could receive a fun and encouraging care package from someone who's thinking and praying for them!  I can give you suggestions and ideas for a package if you'd like, and you can send it to me anytime this semester.

Below are the small group leaders and their respective small group focuses:

Eric - Grad students
Jessie - Artists
Tin - Fitness
Doug - Freshmen
Lydia - Health Sciences & Commuter 
Tim - (n/a yet)
Amanda - (n/a yet)
Michael - (n/a yet)

2.  Help me decorate an office wall space:

I have a large empty wall space in my InterVarsity office on campus.  I had shelves taken down and I didn't want to paint the wall, so I left the tracking on there and hung a navy blue tablecloth over the wall, thinking I'd come up with some brilliant idea to decorate.

However, I have not come up with a brilliant idea, and it has not been the highest of my priorities, so I'd love some help.  If you have ideas or would like to send/give me some decor (e.g. banners, post-its, picture frames) that would help create a welcoming space for meeting with students and remind us of what our ministry is all about, please let me know!

It would just be a big cherry on top if that decorative space could be interactive/engaging (e.g. having students write an encouraging note to post).

Commanding voice.

By the time I was a senior in high school, I was a commander - a captain, in fact - in the JROTC program in my high school.  I participated in the JROTC program for all four years at Francis Lewis.  Not too many of my college peers, nor my current IV students, or even fellow IV staff, know about this little fun fact.  And for those who do know, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a hard time picturing me in it.

Maybe they have a hard time picturing me giving out orders.  I don't think I give off a typical Army-like vibe most people would have in mind.

Or maybe it's the idea of me in an army uniform?

Well, believe it or not, I did it.  And while I did my best to be a good leader and not abuse my power, I did enjoy being in charge.  Part of being in charge meant sometimes giving commands to cadets, and giving commands meant using what we called our 'commanding voice.'

I felt like an entirely different person using my commanding voice.  Most of the time I felt confident because I knew what I needed and wanted to do to lead those cadets well.  I felt brimmed over with authority because it didn't make me a bossy person and this was the position and responsibility I had been given to steward.   I also knew many of them wanted to follow me.  I appreciated their encouragement and respect, and was humbled by their desire to learn and grow.

As a staff worker, I have not yet found my commanding voice.

While I am confident about God's call on my life and am clear about the mission He has given us as an InterVarsity chapter, my temptation is to doubt the spiritual authority God has given me to lead His people.  While I know I have that spiritual authority in my head, I don't always feel it in my bones.  More often than not I step 10 feet out of my comfort zone when I lead RIT students, and with continuously seeing how far we need to go, it's hard to feel confident that my leadership is effective, or that I have any spiritual power to do anything helpful.

What I am confident about is my trust in the power God has to work in me and through me despite my doubts.  There's still time to learn how to embody the spiritual authority God has given me in the work I have been entrusted with.

Faithfulness, abundance, and generosity.

If there's one thing ministry partner development (MPD) through InterVarsity has taught me, it's that fund raising is not simply a money transaction, it's the opportunity to develop a relationship.

Raising funds was never really a big, scary thing for me.  I think that's probably really strange to most people, particularly as an Asian American woman.  But when I think about the kind of environment I grew up in and how I responded to my circumstances, it makes sense. 

My dad was a pastor of a small English congregation in a Chinese Alliance church for the first 10 or so years of my life, and then went full time into directing a non-profit para-church organization, continuing to this day.  My mom was a stay at home mom (which I loved and am so grateful for), and so my family didn't exactly have a stable income or the nicest of things.

But in the midst of how different my family's lifestyle seemed to be in comparison to others, we never had to worry - we always had just what we needed and then some.  We swam in a vast ocean deep with grace, generosity, and provisions every single day.

God often expressed His faithfulness, abundance, and generosity in our family through the love of my parents and my community. Whether it was through tangible materials, opened homes, or the occasional unique life experience, it was all rooted in relationships our family had with others.

Now that I think about it, I don't think it's a big surprise that ministry partnership is not just about transacting funds.  The primary ways I've experienced and witnessed God's faithfulness, abundance, and generosity has been through the context of relationships with others.  In fact, I would even say that the very foundations of my childhood are based on them.

I guess as a child I was more often at the receiving end of what these beautiful relationships between my family and others developed.  Now as a staff with InterVarsity, I'm learning how to develop, cultivate, and deepen my own relationships so that I may learn how to extend that same faithfulness, abundance, and generosity from the Lord to others.

Who will go?

As someone who has grown up in a Christian family, there's often a temptation to let certain verses or passages from the Bible that I've heard so many times to just slide over me like the way water slides over a dolphin's skin.

Sometimes I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me fight that temptation and be intentional about re-examining, meditating on, or letting sink in what this specific part of His Word means for me in this season of life.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit just lets it hit me like a ton of bricks; it often hurts.  Other times, it's a gentle light bulb turning on that connects my heart and my mind.

Jesus says to his disciples, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (John 4:35).

via

I've heard this verse, and the phrase, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few," many times in my life, but there's something about hearing it recently that has really stuck with me and started to sink in a bit more than before.

Our Regional Director sends everyone stories of what God is doing among campuses around the NY/NJ region, and that's mainly where this repetition of "The fields are ready for harvest," has come up.  And God has been using this word and these stories in a number of ways to challenge me:

Celebrate with my colleagues.  Maybe you don't really have this issue, but I realize that when I'm not trusting Jesus and am placing my identity in my work rather than God Himself, it's easy to be insecure, envious, or jealous of the fruit my colleagues are seeing in their students and among their campuses.  Over time, with intentionality, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, I've been challenged over and over again to trust and obey Him and place my identity in Him, not solely in the work I produce.  When I do so, I can experience the deep freedom and genuine joy of celebrating with my colleagues the fruit God has graciously given us the opportunity to partake in and witness.

Healthy discontentment.  That being said, instead of feeling resentment that I am not seeing the kind of fruit my co-workers are seeing, these stories and reminders that the harvest is plentiful create a desire for me to keep pushing forward and build upon a confidence that God is working on RIT's campus.  We cannot stay where we are.  

A sense of urgency.  I don't know about you, but when I hear, 'Lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest,' I don't hear Jesus saying, 'Hey, the fields are ripe!  That means it's time for you to kick back in your lounge chair and wear a pair of shades.  Here, have an exotic drink with a paper umbrella in it.  Just sit back and get ready to watch all of these ripe fruit pick themselves while you relax and be as comfortable as possible.'  I don't hear Jesus saying, 'You're right - let's keep this scarcity mentality until something worthwhile happens; there's no immediate work to be done, so you can wait a few months until all of the circumstances are perfect and your life is in order.'

I hear Jesus saying, 'There is more than enough fruit ready and they're ready now.  What are you waiting for?  The question is not When? or How? but Who?  Who will go, right here, right now, just as they are?  Will you?'

February prayer: Day 29

Thank you so much for partnering with us this month in prayer! 

A few more illustrations to show how God is answering:

Jainnie (staff in Long Island) writes about her students’ living out the gospel:

Becky has been praying for her friend. They have had numerous spiritual conversations. Becky has been sharing her faith.   Her friend is interested. This spring break (March 17-23), Becky's friend will actually be staying with her! Becky feels she can take the step to ask her friend about following Jesus. 

Kevin found out that his theater professor is a Christian and attends a local church. This has given him boldness to approach his theater friends and start conversations about Jesus!

Eric chose to engage his Japanese suitemate instead of watching TV this Saturday night. They had a great spiritual conversation. Eric's friend has downloaded an online version of the Bible and will start reading the gospels. Wouldn't it be amazing to see Eric's friend amazed by Jesus and deciding to follow Him?

Dan's friend is ready to explore faith. He has been praying for her and nurturing their friendship. He took the next step in asking her to study Jesus and Christianity together. 

And this from Glen Ewart, we’ve been praying for their proxe outreach at Clarkson/Potsdam:

This past week we thought we were being appropriately ambitious by setting a goal to guide 120 students through the station with at least 60 follow-up requests.  But, by the end of Monday, we could see that God was already “doing more than we could ask or imagine.”  Over the course of the week 200 students walked through and heard the gospel and 96 follow-up requests were collected!  

Last night we held an event at the center of Clarkson University featuring a local Christian band, which performed several popular songs related to the theme, and our speaker, who made it clear to those in attendance that only in Jesus can we find complete satisfaction.  To have the opportunity to proclaim the gospel in Clarkson’s Student Center Forum - a very open, public space - was a tremendous answer to prayer and a great Kingdom opportunity.

In the last 30 years there has not been a week when we shared the gospel with as many students on these campuses as we did this past week!  Seeds like never before are being sown and watered.  Please pray with us for God to provide the increase.  Specifically, we are praying for at least 11 students come to faith in Christ this semester, but we hope that God will, once again, surpass our expectations.  

February prayer: Day 24

Yesterday, we prayed for Travis as he made an invitation to faith at Montclair State University.  This is what Travis reports:

Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. And tonight at our meeting, Jessica expressed her desire to be found. We met Jessica toward the end of last semester. She didn't know why, but she wanted to learn more about God. This semester, she engaged with our group and attended our meetings, wrestling with the idea of God and the identity of Jesus.

Last week, she shared with me that she really wanted to believe in Jesus. But she was unsure:

"I mean, I believe in God. But I believe that each religion is kind of right. All these things lead to God" she said.

After hearing her out, I asked if I could share what I believe. I shared that her current view operates on an assumption and has a very frightening implication:

The assumption supporting this view is that God has not reached out to man at all. That God is distant and that it’s man doing all of the reaching.

The implication is that God has just created mankind and left us in the dark. God is just floating around while we experience death, war, violence, abuse, and famine. And this God has left us in the dark to do the reaching on our own. A god that would do that is not worth finding. That god is not worth my time, my worship, or my life.

Last week, she had to think about that as it was a lot to take in. Tonight, I gave a Gospel message and a careful invitation. When it came time for the response, she bravely stood up in front of everyone so that all could celebrate her decision to move from spiritual death to spiritual life!

Afterward while we were talking, I asked about her decision. She pointed to how I illustrated Eph 2:8-9 and said, "You mentioned this new life was a free gift. That I can just come to Jesus. Well, I really wanted that."

She still has some doubts which she says are largely based in her lack of knowledge of the Bible. But she knows she wants what Jesus has to offer.

Praise God!  Please join us as we continue to pray for 7 more turns toward Jesus this week.

Isaiah 2:5-“O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”  The cold, darkness of winter will come to an end soon.  Light always dispels darkness.  Light     a l w a y s  wins.  ALL WAYS.  When a believer-- a Christ-bearer-- walks into any room, the room should light up!  Lord makes us to reflect your glory, dispel our own darkness, help us to walk in your light that we might help others find their way out of the dark corners they are hiding in.

February prayer: Day 23

Thank you for praying with us!  Here’s some more evidence of how God is hearing our prayers:

From Travis, staff at Montclair State University:

Over the past few weeks, our Small Group ministry leaders have tripled, a GIG (Group Investigating God) has a good chance of starting, numerous seekers and younger Christians have moved from crowd to visitor to member. Last year, they didn't get past crowd. Our administrative capacity has increased and we've invited small group leaders to join our Servant Leadership Team  meetings. At our leader's day earlier this month, we set a goal of seeing 10 students come. 12 did! In the past, that number has been more like 2 or 3.

From Diane, staff at Lehmann College:

Tim gave a great call to faith—6 students responded and I know that 4 were definitely not believers!  We’ll be following up to see exactly what all those responses meant.

As a group of staff prayed today, someone sensed that the Lord wanted to call 12 individuals this week to make a significant turn in their faith—as in new believers or recommitments.  Please pray for this!

Isaiah 1: 16-17-“…cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”   Soon many students will come to NYC to participate in our weekly spring break New York City Urban Project.  Students will prepare and serve meals for the homeless and learn about opportunities to be involved in agencies fighting human trafficking, among other things.  

Pray that God would kindle a flame in these students to seek justice, do good, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, etc. 

February prayer: Day 22

Isaiah 44: 8-“…You are my witnesses!  Is there any god besides me?  There is no other rock; I know not one.”  The authenticity of our witness is based in who we understand God to be.  

Pray that as we grow in insight and revelation, our witness would be empowered.  That nothing would douse the flame that lives in our hearts.

From Cook/Douglass:

I just wanted to say that I have been blown away by the power of our prayer campaign this month. I decided when the month began that I would make a concerted effort to send out an email every day, regardless of what I was doing. I also decided that as often as I could I would send a specific request for Cook/Douglass. I've done both of these things in the past, but was never super faithful in sending the requests out each day, and often failed to include specific requests for my chapter. 

All I can say is that I am amazed at the response we have seen. Despite the snow canceling numerous meetings, small groups and large groups, we continue to see new people EVERY week at large group, small groups are thriving (we currently have 8, with one or two GIGs starting after our big justice outreach event in March) and we are seeing our CORE growing and stepping up. We have seen at least 2 people make first time decisions to follow Jesus, and many other students desiring to go deeper in their faith. Students are inviting friends, roommates, people in their classes, to small and large groups. They want to learn how to study the Bible for themselves and be able to talk about it with their peers. They regularly eat together during the week, and invite others to join them. I am seeing their heart for the poor and oppressed growing, and a stronger desire for justice developing. 

From Clarkson/Potsdam:

 Yesterday we were thrilled to guide over 50 students at SUNY Potsdam through the Satisfied Proxe Station, with over 20 requesting follow-up.  Today we are on track to exceed that number.  

Last week I mentioned our goal was to bring at least 120 students through the Proxe Station this week with at least 60 follow-up requests.  We now see our faith was way too small.  By the end of today we are likely to be very close to reaching that goal and we still have another two full days left!  

February prayer: Day 21

Isaiah 54: 2-“Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.”  We are seeing a rise in interest of reaching out to affinity groups: Athletes at The College of New Jersey, Greek students (fraternities and sororities) at RPI and Cornell, International students at Clarkson and Potsdam and NYC.  The sites of our tents are indeed enlarging.  

Pray that none of our InterVarsity chapters would hold back from exploring new territory to announce the good news of Jesus.  Where does the flame of the gospel need to burn on your campus?  With what new groups?  Pray that as we become more bold in our witness, the kingdom would expand into these new sectors.  Pray by name for your not-yet Christian friends.

Thank you for praying with us!

February prayer: Day 20

Isaiah 6:3-“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”  What would happen on our campuses if there was a greater comprehension of the holiness of God?  What would you do if you recognized God to be thrice holy right now in this moment?  How would it change the next thing you did?  

Lord, stir up worship in our hearts.  Stir up adoration.  Light a fire of repentance under us as we gaze at your holiness. 

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

February prayer: Day 19

Thanks for praying with us!  God is at work!

Thursday night at Cook/Douglass, four students indicated a desire to follow Jesus as their Savior! We know that at least two of these were first time decisions, and we are following up with all four to find out more about their decisions. And later at Busch students stood to reclaim an active following on Jesus and one of those students was claiming her faith in Jesus for the first time!

At the Columbia freshmen retreat Mark Scandrette inspired students to try some spiritual growth 'experiments'.  Some students decided to set aside 15 minutes at the beginning and end of every day to practice breath prayer.  They started doing this with the door open.  Other students began to show up.  Some of them non-Christians.  But they are drawn by the practice, listen to the psalm (or proverb) and practice breath prayer.  This seems to be gaining momentum.  

Isaiah 40: 22-23-“It is he who sits above the circle of the earth…who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.”  Sometimes we shrink in fear of earthly authorities and throw up our hands when an obstacle comes our way saying, “That’s just the way it is in the world.”  The word from Scripture is “NO!!”  God is in power; he sits above and can change the tide of what is happening.  

Pray for those who may feel overwhelmed and pressed under by worldly authorities.  Only a small flame can light up a dark room.  Pray for a deeper realization of God’s power and authority and the access to it.

February prayer: Day 18

Isaiah 49: 6c-“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”  Thousands of international students—THE NATIONS—study on our campuses in NY/NJ.  University of Buffalo, Rutgers, Cornell, Columbia, NYU and others are temporary home to students from countries where missionaries cannot enter or where it is a life-threatening situation to convert to Christianity.  Last week a Chinese International student made a decision to follow Jesus at Columbia's Global IV.

Lord, today we pray that you would draw into your fold students who have sought their education here in the States, but who come from places where they have never heard of the name of Jesus.  Bring them to yourself, Jesus.  May we be a light to the nations, aflame for you.

February prayer: Day 17

Isaiah 41: 10-“do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am with you, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”  Knowing God’s presence kindles a flame within us.  Knowing God is victorious kindles a flame within us.  

Name your fears today before the living God who lives within you.  Relinquish them—all those things that keep you from witness.  Trust in God to uphold you, to work through you.  Pray that for our student leaders and staff.

Thanks for joining us for prayer.

February prayer: Day 16

Thank you for praying with us!

Isaiah 4: 1-6-“…indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy.  It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.”  

Lord, would you make our InterVarsity chapters like this canopy where your glory is made known to all who enter, where refuge is found, where shelter is experienced?  Make us to reflect your glory, to be your torch-bearers.

February prayer: Day 15

Isaiah 52:1, 2 - “Awake, awake, put on your strength…Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion!”   There is a strength that we have not tapped into.  Our witness is dulled by dust and hindered by chains.  

Pray that those who have called on the name of Jesus will arise from their slumber, awake to the mission of Jesus at their doorstep and take bold steps of action today as the Lord gives them strength.  Name the name of your friends who need Jesus to the only One who can give them life; ask the Lord to awaken them by kindling a fire in their hearts.

Thanks for praying with us.

February prayer: Day 14

Isaiah 6:8- “Here I am, send me.”  Many of our schools are either unstaffed, understaffed, or staffed by a volunteer.  We have new groups sprouting up contacting us for help, but we need staff to help them.  Pure and simple we need more staff.  

Praise God!  We have some potential staff in the pipeline.  We need more.  Pray for a faithful response, like Isaiah’s, to God’s calling.  Pray for the funding, pray for God’s flame to set us ablaze.

Thanks for joining us in prayer!

February prayer: Day 13

Thanks for praying with us!

Isaiah 40:28-“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary…”  How big is your God?  Does God seem far off and disinterested sometimes?  That is not the truth of the Scriptural record.  

Lord, bring us back to the truth of what the Scriptures tell us about you.  We reject and renounce the lies we have been living under and have allowed to rule our hearts.  Fan your truth into a fire within us.

February prayer: Day 12

We start a new theme today: Kindle a Flame

Isaiah 46: 11b-“I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have planned, and I will do it.”  More than 132 times in chapters 40-46 of Isaiah God speaks of his actions or nature using the words shall, will, is, has, have, makes, am, give and others.  These words speak of promises, of faithfulness of God’s desire to work on behalf of his beloved.  Make no mistake: the flame is kindled by God’s hand.  

Worship him today and look for where that flame is being kindled.

February prayer: Day 11

Isaiah 47:10-“You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’  Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.’”  Making ourselves out to be God.  Arrogance.  Pride.  Utter Rebelliousness.  

Deliver us, Lord, from ourselves, from our pride that deadens us to your authority and sovereignty.  Melt our hearts of ice, Lord.

Thanks for praying with us!

February prayer: Day 10

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

Isaiah 58: 6, 7-“Is this not the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice…to let the oppressed go free…is it not to share your bread with the hungry…”  Many of our InterVarsity chapters have been leveraging campus outrage at injustice as a touch point for introducing folks to Jesus.  Many students come away intrigued about Jesus.  

Pray that as unbelieving students get involved in justice concerns they would meet the God who calls us to do justice.  Pray that practicing justice would bring a thawing of the heart.

February prayer: Day 9

Isaiah 5:11-“Ah, you who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger in the evening to be inflamed by wine…”  This weekend hundreds, more likely, thousands of college students around NY/NJ sought to escape their insecurities, parental pressure, depression, loneliness, and inhibitions by filling themselves with as much alcohol as they can.  

Pray that as Christians we will reach out, not with judgment, but with the love of Christ.  Which of your friends are found in this category?  Pray for them by name now. Thaw our hearts Lord to those in need.

Thank you for joining us in prayer.

February prayer: Day 8

Isaiah 6: 5-“Woe is me!  I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”  The prophet recognizes his own sinfulness and names himself among his sinful neighbors, admitting that their sin is also his sin.  Revival always begins with repentance amongst the faithful.  

Lord, pour out your mercy upon us.  Cleanse us, stir up a heart of repentance among your people and so, help us to identify with, and stand alongside (not lord it over) those with whom we live.  Take your coal and thaw our iced hearts.

Thank you for praying with us!

February prayer: Day 7

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

Isaiah 53:6-“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way.”  

Let’s pray today for an awakening to this truth, a thawing of spiritual iciness, so that students, faculty, administrators and staff might in their repentance turn to God, the Shepherd of our souls. 
Please take a moment and pray now, before moving on to your next email.  Thanks.

February prayer: Day 6

Thank you for praying with us!

Isaiah 3: 7-“But the other will cry on that day, saying, ‘I will not be a healer…you shall not make me leader of the people.”  Some of us have a coldness in our hearts that keeps us from a) sharing the gifts we have been given among the body of Christ and b) stepping out in faith, boldness and risk into places of leadership to which God is calling.  Lord have mercy on us!  

Pray for submissive, obedient hearts; that the Spirit’s thawing of our coldness would reap a harvest of courage and confidence.

Before going on to your next email, won’t you take a moment and pray now?

February prayer: Day 5

Isaiah 54:10a-“For the mountain may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you…”  There are some on our campuses who feel lonely, stripped bare, isolated.  

Pray that today they might encounter the amazing steadfast love of God.  Pray that this love would thaw their hearts and win them over.

Thanks for praying with and for us!

February prayer: Day 4

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

Isaiah 5: 20-21-“Ah, you who call evil good and good evil…Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight!”  

Pray for those who dismiss faith as only for children or the elderly, who reject a belief in a transcendent God as intellectual suicide, who have already determined in their heart that they have truth.  Every time you step on ice or slush today, let it remind you to pray for this ice to melt.  Jesus still meets rebels on the road to Damascus.  AMEN! 

February prayer: Day 3

Isaiah 44: 22-“…return to me…”  There are those on our campuses who once believed in Jesus’ redemption, who once bowed their knee—some have wandered away, others have fallen, perhaps others have deliberately, intentionally run away.  The message is the same to all: Return to me.  

Pray that this would be so. Pray that cold, hardened hearts be thawed.

Also, many hundreds of new students expressed interest in spiritual matters in September, but have drifted away.  Pray that as we endeavor to reconnect with them, they would warm to the idea of seeking Jesus again.

February prayer: Day 2

Isaiah 2: 17, 18-“The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low…The idols shall utterly pass away.”  Idolatry is a function of pride.  If pride is dealt with, so is idolatry.  Lord, help us.  We cry out for mercy which we do not deserve.  

Pray for the thawing of pride—in administration, in faculty, in those who don’t believe, in those who do believe.  Pray by name for your friends whose pride is keeping them from saying “Yes!” to Jesus.

Also, please pray for our need of Area Directors.  Recently we have heard from a possible candidate from another region who may be interested.  Ask the Lord to remove any obstacles and to make his will known.

February prayer: Day 1

Isaiah 45: 4-“…I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.”  Many students, faculty and administrators walk about their business completely unaware of the God who names them, who has called them into existence and put breath in their lungs.  

Who do you know like this?  Pray for this awakening, for this thawing.

Also pray for the number of colleges and universities in NY/NJ who do not have an InterVarsity chapter on their campus like Empire State College, Stockton State, SUNY Cortland, that God would raise up a robust Christian witness.

Join our NY/NJ Region for a month of prayer.

cold adj \ˈkōld\ UNEMOTIONAL; done after deliberation or calculation and uncolored by personal feeling; COOL; UNCONSCIOUS; dead; retaining only faint scents, traces or clues; STALE, uninteresting.

kin·dle verb \ˈkin-d^əl\ to start (a fire) burning: LIGHT; to stir up: AROUSE; ILLUMINATE; to become animated.

In speaking about the signs of the end of the Age, Jesus said:

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…BUT … he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations…”  Matt. 24: 10-14b

Our hearts grow cold toward God unless a fire is kindled within.  Sometimes the fire comes from our seeking.  Sometimes it comes mysteriously,  from the movement of God in our lives.  Usually, it is a combination.  

And so, in this dark, deep winter season we pray for deliverance from the coldness around us and within us and for God to ignite a fire within and among us for the sake of his kingdom.

Join us daily in prayer in this month of February that winter’s hibernation would be aroused into glorious spring on our campuses.   Please pick an hour each day and join hundreds of folks praying around the region, country and globe for the mission of InterVarsity on college campuses throughout New York and New Jersey.

Witnessing communities love like Jesus.

"Being loved by Jesus makes you love like Jesus." --Brent Campbell, Staff Conference 2014

That's what I want to see happen on campus - students loving others on campus, in their families, among their communities, because of the love that Jesus has for them.