When I think of open-air preaching, or modern-day wandering preachers images of Brother Jed trying to scandalize students into repentance race through my mind. This last week we cafeteria-preached, or rather Nick preached and Jon and I were there, but this is something we all plan on doing more of in the future.
"Hey! Everyone, excuse me. Yes, just a second...What would it look like for the Kingdom of God to break out on campus..." 150 students fell silent, momentarily jarred, "Could it look like folks healing each other, setting each other free of the things that hold us back; depression, loneliness, sickness? Could it look like folks getting together to change society, here at IUPUI, Indy, the world? Could it look like folks having so much fun that at the end of the day no one wants to leave campus?" We continued only for a brief 5 minutes.
This wasn't street preaching or at least not the stuff folks had heard in public-preaching before. Most folks said, "that took guts" and one guy said he was interested and that he knew a lot folks who would be too, we also met with a lot of opposition. Most folks have said that faith is not something people talk about. It makes people uncomfortable to talk about. So, we're proclaiming it into the public world by preaching to crowds, small groups and individuals and starting conversations in small groups or individuals, like "do you think God talks to us today like He did in the days of Israel?" to get a public dialogue started and maintain it.
This will look different than any public-preaching I've ever seen/heard of. We want to not only do crowd preaching, but also sit down at tables and just start conversations, which a lot of folks have been really open to. Then it's not just some guy who clearly has no idea what I'm about, trying to tell me what to do, but "oh, that's Jon. I spoke with him the other day. We talked about what it's like to be at IUPUI and had that thought-provoking conversation about..." Meanwhile, folks start to trust us as they get to know us and see us on campus more and more. And as we've seen, not everyone is going to agree with us but there will be a greater amount of trust, respect and in this, chance to build a people.
Please pray for IUPUI, the students we talk with, that God's Kingdom break out and that His Will be done.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
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4 comments:
My heart just leaped with joy to see what you guys are doing! We're on break this week from school, so I'll spend time in intercessory prayer for you.~marge c.
To make sure I am following this correctly, you guys are "street preaching" on the campus of IUPUI? Are you hoping to start a new People of Praise community near campus similar to the Dinkytown community?
Rus your up next to tell the Good News! Did you know alot of us are going out by twos to preach? Im going out with Collin today, your prayers!
"What would it look like for the Kingdom of God to break out on campus..." TJ and I used this post as our guide today. It was super helpful and encouraging. Thanks and God Bless!
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