This past August, during a golf tournament, Abby (a college golfer) and I ended up paired against each other for a match. She had
several teammates following along, cheering her on. It was a wonderful day of friendly
competition. I fought back from four holes down with four to play, taking her all the way to the 18th hole. She won on the final green. Later, Abby told me she’d been so nervous on that last hole that she was sweating!
Flashforward to last week, I texted her to see if she could meet me for coffee which she was happy to do. As I asked her about her
spiritual background she shared, “Yeah, my dad is Mormon, but my mom and I never went to church.” Right then, I sensed the Lord opening a door. I reached for my purple pen, a piece of paper, and my NIV Bible, already turned to Romans 6.
I asked Abby to read verse 23 aloud:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
As I began to diagram that verse, the same way I’ve done with hundreds of athletes through the years. Abby leaned in. She was engaged, asking questions, and then she looked up and said, “Of all the verses in the Bible, why did you pick this one?”
That question gave me the perfect opportunity to tell her, lovingly and clearly, that even though we are all sinners, Jesus loves us with a love beyond measure. A few minutes later, Abby traced her finger across the bridge diagram, from the side marked sin to where I had written God, right across the name Jesus.
“This is where I want to be. I believe in Jesus.”
Rejoice with me! God’s Spirit is moving in the hearts of these young college students. Because of your faithful prayers and support, Abby now knows the forgiveness and a new life in Christ.
Please continue to pray for Abby as she grows and matures in her new faith. I can’t wait to see what God will do in the next two years of her journey with Him. Together, we are taking the love and forgiveness of Jesus to college students like Abby, one heart at a time.
