For the sake of our kinsmen

Walking to the soccer fields next to Alex, I decide that now is probably the best shot I have at initiating spiritual conversation with him. But before I can even make my way there, God provides the open door.

“So, you work for Campus Crusade? Do you know Laura Friedman?” Alex asks.

“Umm, no, I don’t. There’s a lot of people there, and I’m new here, so I’m still learning people’s faces and names,” I respond.

“Yeah, Laura goes there and she likes it a lot.” Then Alex pauses for a few seconds and seems to hesitate.

“You’re welcome to come anytime. We meet on Tuesday nights at 7:30.” as I pray the encouragement will break the awkward silence.

Alex responds quickly, “Oh, I’m an atheist.”

Trying to respond graciously, I ask, “Oh, really, why is that?”

We continue in conversation and I leave the door open for more dialogue in the future, as well as the invitation to attend our weekly meetings on Tuesday nights. He seems reluctant but thanks me for the invite.

The next week I show up to the game thirty minutes before to warm up. I sit down to put on my cleats and the first thing out of Alex’s mouth is “Hey Matt, when does Campus Crusade meet?” Naturally, I’m shocked because just seven days earlier we had a lengthy discussion about why he thinks religion is a joke. I respond with, “Well, we meet on Tuesday nights at Mountainbrook Church. Are you thinking about coming?” Alex stares at the ground and says, “Yeah, I sort of had an epiphany this weekend. I was out drinking with my friends and realized that there had to be something more.” We continue the conversation while warming up for the game and I can sense God moving in Alex’s heart.

The next day Alex sends me a text message saying that he’s going to be late but that he’s definitely coming with his girlfriend, Laura. I respond and tell him to let me know when he gets there so I can meet him and we can sit together. 8pm rolls around, the meeting is starting, and still no Alex. He finally text me at 8:30 to say he just pulled into the parking lot. I meet him out front and we sit through the meeting while listening to the speaker talk about world missions and why God’s heart has always been to seek and save the lost of this world.

I have to admit that I was nervous the whole time that Alex wouldn’t come back since many non-believers see the Christian worldview as pretentious and arrogant. But after the meeting I asked what he thought and he said he would be back next week. Praise God that I’m not the one in control because he came back the next week!

Two weeks later I see Alex at our weekly meeting again and notice that he is headed for the door. Well, I make a b-line for him to make sure he is personally invited to our fall retreat. “Alex, are you coming to fall retreat this weekend?” I ask. “Well, I really want to go but I just don’t have the money,” he reluctantly replies. “Oh, money is not an issue. If you really want to go we can make it happen. Here, follow me.” I take him over to the sign-up table and right there he signs up for fall retreat. Not only that, but because God has provided me with gracious friends and partners who give to my ministry, I offer to pay for the whole cost of fall retreat for Alex out of my own staff account. If you are one of those wonderful donors and you’re reading this, know that your gift DOES make an eternal difference in student’s lives; and mine!

After much preparation and prayer, fall retreat rolls around and we are thick in the middle of hearing from and applying God’s word through the messages and discussion groups. I decide to check in with Alex and grab breakfast with him Saturday morning to see how things are going. We create an adventure and go on a hunt for a great local spot to eat in downtown Ventura. After searching through downtown, we find our way into the Cajun Kitchen and order up some pancakes and eggs benedict.

Me: “How are you liking the retreat? You getting to know people okay?”

Alex: “I have felt so comfortable opening up to the guys in my d-group and sharing my struggles and doubts. I mean, when I walked into the room Friday night I was a little hesitant but I felt such a sense of peace and freedom that I could be myself and be honest with those guys. It’s something that I’ve never experienced before.”

Me: “Yeah, I know how you feel. I had some doubts and second thoughts about my faith in college, but God put some really great guys in my life who showed me what it looked like to have everlasting joy in all things and it totally shocked me that I didn’t have that joy. I remember getting to that point in my life where I realized I couldn’t live this life on my own, I had to give my life to Jesus to experience true joy and purpose. Is that something that you have done?”

Alex: “Yeah, I’m getting to a place where I see my need for Jesus.”

The rest of that weekend was SO influential in Alex’s life as he DID give his life to Jesus that weekend and has decided to follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads. Praise God that he has a mighty arm and is strong to save.

Would you pray with me that Alex would remain faithful to Jesus, that satan would not snatch up the seed that has been sown and is bearing fruit already? Pray that Holy Spirit would keep and protect Alex from the attacks of the enemy. Ask God to grow Alex into a strong leader who will be influential in bringing many others to Christ. Also, pray for me as I continue to disciple Alex and teach him the basic truths of the Christian faith.

As I look back on how this all came together, I recognize that I’m able to use my God-given abilities and passions, like playing soccer, to bring the salvation message of Jesus Christ to those around me. Paul says in Romans 9: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

When I first joined this intramural soccer team through the recreation center on campus, I prayed that God would simply use me as his messenger for these lost students. He is answering that prayer and I’m confident that the work will continue, especially with a new co-laborer on the team, Alex.

I encourage you, like Paul, to find ways you can use your God-given abilities to reach your “kinsmen.”