URBANA Reflections...

Well, I've had a whole day and a half to reflect on Urbana, and I wanted to give you a glimpse of this life-changing event.

I had the privilege and honor (THANK YOU, CF Mission team) to join 10 other people from CF and 22,000 other college-aged, missions-minded, people from 144 nations! We sang in English, Spanish, French, Korean, and even Haitian creole. Most of the mornings were spent studying the book of Ephesians together, and our guys happened into a morning Bible study on the theme of urban poverty and slums.

To make a long story short, I don't know how I can go back to status quo ministry. I've been waiting, praying, and seeking the Lord for a vision for our college ministry. I wanted our fellowship to be more than just a bunch of students coming together and reliving their youth ministry experiences or just being a meat-market to meet some people. I was stuck for a while as I thought about what the Lord has specifically for CF college students. And now, I believe that the Lord is beginning to reveal the unique opportunity we have before us.

I can't go back to ministry about t-shirts and thoughtful Bible studies intended to increase our head knowledge - not when there is a world out there dying of AIDS, living on nothing, living for nothing. I don't think I could live with ministry that just seeks to help college students avoid having sex; not party; get a good job; and make the most of the American dream.

I believe more than ever that God has specially positioned this generation of college students and particularly this generation of CF college students to make a mark on the world by fighting for justice, amplifying the voices of the oppressed, and living out faith in compassion and mercy. I truly believe what I have always said: "True COMPASSION for people can only flow from PASSION for God."

James says it best, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

To that end, I'd like to suggest we alter the purpose of this blog. I'd like you to post via comments your ideas, your passions, your dreams, your prayers. How can we as a fellowship of college-minded Christians humbly work to raise awareness in the generation above us (our parents), and the generation already coming behind us (junior highers, senior highers)?

How can we mobilize ourselves and our generation to respond!? What are the opportunities we have right herein Chicagoland? What have you seen on your campuses? Report in and let's actively pray and see what God brings to our eyes.

So let the new chapter begin...