Celebrating 'first downs'

Friends,


Sorry for how rarely this blog has been updated.  It was meant to be something our whole team could use to share stories and prayer requests.  Little did I know that people on our team would be keeping their own individual blogs!  So, if you have some time and would like to read about our various perspectives on our trip to Australia, here are some blogs for you to check out:


Hannah S:  http://australiasp12.blogspot.com
Teo:  http://ocmd2011.blogspot.com
Julie:  http://juliegoestoaustralia.tumblr.com


As for me, I would sum up our ministry here as a lesson in celebrating 'first downs'. I'll explain what I mean, but I'll warn you up front that for the analogy to make sense, you'll need to know the basic rules of football (or, as they call it here in Australia to differentiate it from soccer, rugby, and Aussie rules football-- "gridiron").


In football, we're often so demanding of our favorite team (let's go Steelers!).  When our team has the ball, we're often only satisfied if the drive ends in a touchdown.  If we have to punt, or even if we get 3 points from a field goal, it doesn't feel worth a cheer.


And yet, this attitude probably betrays a wrong understanding of the game.  A possession in which our team moves the ball down the field, even if it doesn't end in points right away, can change the momentum and advantage of a game in our favor.  A key first down and an effective punt are often worth some celebration.


Similarly, our emotions in ministry can reveal a misunderstanding of just how long and complex a person's spiritual journey is.  Here's what I mean.  When we love people, we desire to see them believe and experience God's love for them in Jesus Christ.  Sometimes, anything short of that full faith and love feels like a failure.  We don't celebrate the 'first downs' of what God is doing in people's hearts.


For instance, when we engage Aussie students in spiritual conversations, they often enter the conversation steeped in spiritual apathy or even disdain for religion in general.  We have in the last few weeks had many great talks with such students about God, faith, truth, afterlife, etc.  Now, typically at the end of such a conversation there is no triumphant moment of repentance, belief, and transformation.  Like when watching a football game, we might be tempted to be discouraged at a perceived 'failure'.


BUT... these conversations might be the first times these Aussies have ever had fun with a Christian.  They might be the first time these students have ever truly considered what might happen to them after they die.  It might be the first time they've considered the life and message of Jesus.  As we meet with these students again for coffee a few days later, it might be the first friendship they've ever had with a 'religious person'.


We simply have to celebrate this!!  I don't care if we long for a touchdown-- games ultimately hinge on first downs.  And in a post-modern culture that largely sees God and religion as irrelevant, people's eternal destinies often hinge on meeting, befriending, and having honest discussions with a Christian.


I, for one, am thrilled that God has sent me here for a while to possibly be that Christian for some of these students.  For actual stories of our activities, conversations, and relationships, please read the blogs above.  Julie's most recent post has a really cool story about her new friend Sophie.


Until next time, thanks for praying for us!
Jon