An unexpected opportunity came to us this past month when I (Brian) was asked to be one of plenary speakers at the 250 person all campus IGSL community retreat.  Initially I thought it might have been some kind of rookie hazing here.  And despite being overwhelmed with so much first time teaching I felt prompted to say yes to the opportunity because I felt the Lord grant me a clear message from the word to share in light of my experience here this year.

     I spoke from Hebrews 4 and other places in Scripture about the power of drawing near to the Lord through the sacrifice of Christ.  Many students come from backgrounds in which God is still quite distant to them or impersonal.  And many because of that also struggle to really bring their authentic selves to community.  I spoke to some of these issues and directed them to the freedom and power of God’s grace.

     While I always go through a significant self-critical phase after speaking, I was very encouraged to hear from so many staff, faculty, or students that the Lord really used that time to help them take steps to share with their small groups more of who they are move towards deeper and more authentic fellowship.  I also heard from many, especially from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka…) that the Lord used that time to really help them repent of sin and get right with the Lord or helped them to rethink their orientation towards their devotional lives and view of God.  It was very encouraging to see God use it, especially when I don’t see myself as a powerful or gifted speaker. Was grateful that God was at work the whole time.

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    One of my favorite moments though was spending time with the man below – someone captured a good photo of us talking the day after I spoke.  He and his wife are from Pakistan and teach at the Bible college level and also do some incredible ministry through radio that is reaching some of the most difficult places to reach in Pakistan.  He and his wife both shared with me and Christine how my session really blessed them and had them thinking about their marriage and relationship with their kids in a whole new way.

     These are the humbling moments – seeing God use you to equip, encourage, and sharpen men and women in the faith who are doing ministry that is 20 times more dangerous and risky than anything I’ve ever done.  But we rejoice in what God is doing – that we are contributing more than we could have imagined, but that we are learning and receiving twice as much as that from the Lord and from the community here.