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Other Recent Blog Entries: God always
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Rick Lance's blogMay 2012Find Some Nice Old People
"Find some nice old people": That was the response to a question posed by Tom Elliff, current president of the International Mission Board (IMB). Some years ago, Tom asked a veteran campus minister at an Oklahoma university how to engage students in the life of the local church, especially those who were from international areas. The campus minister surprised him with this statement about finding "some nice old people.” Much is behind that statement that needs to be fleshed out for us as we seek to relate to students in our college and university settings. Obviously, many of these young adults are away from home for the first time in their lives, and unconsciously they long for some mentoring and nurturing. Most median-aged adults still face the challenges of having children still at home. Older adults usually are not dealing with those responsibilities. When students visit our churches, a welcome means more than a handshake and a smile. It means saying, "Do you have any lunch plans for the day?" It also expands to a wider appeal, "Do you have some friends who would like to join you?" These basic but beautiful invitations make a huge difference in the "feeling at home factor" as the students are actually away from home. In a recent meeting of state executive directors at the IMB International Learning Center, I heard a sad story of an international student who never felt at home while here in the States. The young man was leaving to go back home following his graduation. In preparation for departure, he said to his roommate, "Here is a suitcase you can have." Puzzled by the statement of his friend, the roommate asked, "What is in the suitcase?" The response to that question is heartbreaking. The international student replied, "It is a suitcase filled with gifts from my country. I was supposed to hand them out to the people who invited me into their homes, but no one ever invited me to be their guests, so you can give the gifts to whomever you please" Few statements can cut to the heart any more than one that reflects a lack of hospitality. In the New Testament days, Christians personified this ministry in a Christlike fashion. It was a major ministry of the church in terms of reaching others for our Lord. If we are to emulate the early church, we must learn or relearn the meaning and purpose of this ministry in the name of Christ. Every church, regardless of size, can be hospitality ministers to students and others. Each year, college and university students flock to campuses all over our country. They come from all parts of the world and from cities and towns closer to home. Each of them is facing their need for a home away from home. I pray that our churches will become that home place for them. "Finding some nice old people" might be a good beginning place for such ministry. However, all of us need to be conscious of such needs in the lives of people who will shape the future of the world! April 2012God always has the last word!
 God always has the last word, and that word is hope! I do not recall where I first read or heard that affirmation, but for me it has been a comforting assurance during these days of remembrance concerning the horrific outbreak of tornadoes we experienced one year ago. In an observance of this anniversary, Govenor Robert Bentley spoke to an assembly of Alabama citizens on the Capitol steps April 27. His comments were brief but on the mark. He reminded us what that eventful day meant in the lives of people across our beloved state, in terms of loss of lives and property. Since I have known the governor for 30 years, I could tell his heart was heavy as he described meeting with citizens so adversely affected by the more than 60 tornadoes that hit Alabama a year ago. His somber mood reflected the intensity of this worst weather-related disaster in our state's history. He spoke like a pastor to hurting people as he delivered his remarks. Before his speech, I made some general comments to the gathering. Those introductory words included the affirmation I have already mentioned: "God has the last word and the last word is hope.” For Christians, that is more than a sweet-sounding statement. It reveals the foundation of our lives. Our lives are built upon the hope we have in Christ. The hymn writer Edward Mote captured the essence of this firm belief in these familiar words: "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness...on Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” The storms have come in our lives in an unimaginably destructive way. In the future, more storms, literal and figurative, will intrude their mighty presence upon us, but we stand on the solid Rock of Christ! God has the last word, and that word is hope. Jesus Christ is our hope! With hope in Christ, we can cope with the circumstances of life. |
