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Spring Break With the Gospel

Baptist Campus Ministries: Brad Simmons
Friday, May 1, 2009

During Spring Break, 27 international students from Wichita State University traveled to Stroud, Oklahoma for a Spring Break Retreat. We spent the week looking at Philippians 1:27-2:18. The theme of the retreat was "Worthy of the Gospel" and we were challenged to live lives worthy of the Gospel based on Paul's words to the Philippians. Within that passage, Paul lifts up Christ as the ultimate example of such a life, and encourages the believers to "be blameless and innocent" and "do all things without grumbling or questioning."

Among the 27 people who went, were at least three nonbelievers. Since other students invited them for the retreat, I'm not sure that they completely understood what they were coming to. After the first night, where I talked about what the Gospel was, and the hopelessness we have without it, one of the nonbelievers had had enough. As a committed Buddhist, she was offended to hear such pride and arrogance. It seems like Paul said that would happen (1 Cor 1:23). She wasn't interested in participating in the teaching times anymore, however she did join us for the fun activities. On the last day, we had a wrap-up time, and she was one of the most talkative ones. She even gave me a note thanking me for helping her to understand more about God.

Overall the retreat was a great success. Students asked other students for forgiveness for critical attitudes, and to hold them accountable in the future. As the semester comes to an end, we will be sending students home or to other universities to continue their studies. Please pray for us as we replace leaders, and look for how God plans to use us on the campus in the future. Hundreds of new international students come to WSU each year, and we have the wonderful opportunity of reaching them for Christ, or helping them grow in their faith. Thank you for the opportunity to serve these students, and the association churches in this ministry.