This past weekend, the BSM took a trip to Bastrop State Park with our focus set on building relationships in our community. We had around 60 students in attendance and many were internationals representing India, China, and Vietnam. It was great to see how God can bring such a diverse group of people together.
Even though our focus was on building relationships, a few of our interns and students had the opportunity to share the gospel with students who are not followers of Jesus! Below are a few of stories from the weekend.
Jessica (Intern)
Content to show love to students through serving them and quality time, Jessica was surprised when God presented her with two opportunities to share the truth of Christ to several students.
"But my joy was made full," Jessica wrote, "when a student leader shared her excitement for the students who heard about Christ. Her heart was full of hope and confidence at witnessing not-yet-believers drawing closer to God. I felt truly like a co-laborer with my sister in Christ."
Andrew (Student)
"It's cool how God can use unbelievers to help us in our belief and how we can be a brighter light to them because of it."
Hannah (Intern)
Though Hannah was unable to "share the gospel explicitly," she saw God's work and goodness in the student leaders and the nature surrounding her.
Bastrop State Park had experienced severe forest fires and most of the trees were charred and dead.
"I feel like through [the] landscape the enemy was trying to tell me that I was so spiritually dead that evangelism just wasn't in me anymore. The Holy Spirit's fire had come and left in smoke." Hannah wrote.
However, new greenery has sprouted since the destruction. Hannah compares this to the student leaders, who stepped up and lead the activities and small groups.
"Fortunately, God brought my attention to the young pine saplings that were growing all around... In the midst of me feeling spiritually dead, the trees I had planted as a student (the new student leaders) were sprouting and planting seeds of their own in the international students. So, I'm super aware now that God sees the big picture. You can't be 100% all the time, but the times you put in the effort for the kingdom are rewarded later on."
Isaiah 61:11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteous and praise spring up before all nations.
Written by Erin Lott, UH BSM Staff.