Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit nudging you to speak up? That happened to me recently with a young man named Chris.
Chris works at the golf course where the Southern Oregon University golf team practices. This is a place I visit regularly. When I heard he was about to start a new job fighting forest fires, it hit me: I had never talked with him about Jesus. So I asked, “Chris, before you leave, can we sit down and talk about Jesus?”
He agreed. Last week, while he was working, I asked his boss if I could borrow him for a few minutes.
We found a quiet place to talk. I asked Chris about his faith journey. Some of his family have faith, including his grandpa whose life of alcoholism was radically transformed after coming to Christ. Other family members do not. Chris has been ambivalent. It wasn’t that Chris was against God, but not sure either. He had never really heard the Gospel or understood why Jesus matters.
He asked me questions, and I shared how Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” He pulled out a golf scorecard and I used it to sketch out the bridge diagram, showing how Romans 6:23 explains our separation from God and the gift of eternal life through Jesus.
After walking him through the Gospel, I asked Chris if he was ready to receive the gift of Jesus. He paused and said, “I’m not ready yet, but I want to keep this,” pointing to the diagram. I encouraged him to talk with his Grandpa about Jesus since Bobby saw firsthand what Jesus can do in a life surrendered to Him.
Later that day, Chris’s boss recounted with me how he encouraged him after I left, “I agree with Mark, by the way. You’d be wise to listen to Mark if you’re going to fight fires. I mean, I wouldn’t wait.”
Would you pray with us for Chris? That he would understand how deeply he’s loved by Jesus and say yes to that invitation?
As we look back on this past school year, we are incredibly grateful for moments like these, seeing Jesus work in people’s lives.
Thanks for your faithful partnership in the Gospel and Kingdom building.
You are truly making an eternal impact in the lives of college students.
