An Alliance team runs a university campus ministry in a creative-access country. The following is based on a report about one student who made a life-changing decision following the team’s recent Christmas outreach.
Jake, a PhD student, has faithfully attended our campus ministry gatherings since last Christmas. Through friendship, conversation, practical scriptural teachings about life, and even free meals, we have consistently reached out to him with the love of Jesus.
Although encouraged many times to follow Christ, Jake had pushed back time and again. He knew the decision would cost him a lucrative future, including his Communist party membership.
We had begun to think, This guy is too hard to crack.
“Who Is This Jesus?”
Jake was one of 95 students who attended a Christmas talk one of our team members gave this year on the topic: “Who is this Jesus everyone’s talking about?” Afterward, 30 students stayed behind to hear more about Jesus. Jake headed back to his lab “with the worst feeling ever,” he confessed to us later.
“I have never felt such strong feelings weighing on my heart. I know that I can no longer push back the urge to accept Jesus. He loves me so much. I can no longer say ‘no’ to Him!”
With those emotions coursing through him, Jake rushed back to our meeting place, hoping to find us. “Thank God you were still there!” he said later.
When he arrived, Jake immediately crashed onto the couch, grasping his chest. Nate and Hope, two of our teammates, approached to ask if he was OK. “I can’t do this anymore,” Jake blurted. “I can’t resist Jesus anymore!”
This Must Be True Love
What a surprise it was for us all. We had no idea Jake was struggling with a decision.
Hope chuckled. “Then what are you waiting for?” she asked. “I did it. I gave up my party membership to accept Jesus. And so can you!”
After Jake prayed, it was like a cloud lifted from his countenance.
“So, what about your future?” we asked him.
“I don’t know—and I don’t care anymore,” Jake said, smiling. “Jesus loves me too much . . . this must be true love!”
*Names changed
Pray
“I just saw Jake again at our Sunday worship service,” a campus ministry team member reports. “He is a totally different person. PTL!” Pray for Jake to daily grow stronger in His relationship with Christ. Pray also for the gospel to take root in the hearts of the 30 students who remained after the Christmas program to learn more about Jesus.
Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to join the Alliance family in interceding on behalf of our global teams, who often serve in challenging places that require Holy Spirit–inspired wisdom to share the good news with people who have never heard about Jesus and His deep love for them.