Ministry Surge!
September has been a bustling month of activity! The pandemic may not be over, but it hasn’t stopped the students from engaging with us day by day at the University. More than ever before (in my five years of doing this), students are arguing, spitting, and even dumping smoothies on us (yes, really!). But more importantly, they are asking serious questions, having their worldview challenged, being convicted by the Holy Spirit, and humbly acknowledging their need for saving faith in Jesus Christ. We are also hearing from more and more Christians on campus who are encouraging us, and whom are encouraged because of us.
Just the other day, while I was preaching, a young Chinese man passed by where I was, stopped for a minute, and moved on. Then he passed by again. And again. Finally he stopped and came up to me. He said to me, “I have seriously been thinking of becoming a Christian, but I have two big questions that I need answered.” I can’t remember the second question, but the first was this: “If Christianity is true, how can I accept the idea that 99% of my countrymen are wrong about faith? This is a very hard thing for me.” First I answered that 99% is not a correct assessment of the faith of China. There are millions of Chinese that serve God genuinely, most in the underground church. Secondly, I told him that the same problem lies in most every country. If the Chinese are right, then India is wrong, etc. We cannot ascertain truth by looking at what the majority of men believe. We must examine truth claims according to their merit. I pointed him to Jesus, and how He said that the way to Life was narrow and that few find it. He struggled with this greatly, but he also went away with the road blocks of his mind removed, now to wrestle with that great ‘hound dog of heaven’ as C. S. Lewis calls Him. I pray that God not only saves him thoroughly, but uses him as a vessel to reach more of China.
This is just one of many, many stories I could tell. The pictures below represent just some of the many lives that we have been able to pour into.
I Love What I Do
This work has had more ups and downs for me that anything else I have done. It has been a challenging venture, for sure, not just in the work itself, but in the emotional toll that it can bring. More than ever I can understand the meaning of the words of the apostle Paul when he said, “Who is sufficient for these things?” My weakness and failings and want of discipline from time to time manifests itself more in this work than in other things that I have done. I have to operate at peak performance, being ready ‘in season and out of season.’ Yet despite the pressures, I really enjoy what I do. I enjoy the gospel being proclaimed in the open air. I enjoy the one on one conversations. I enjoy seeing God work in unsuspecting places. Just yesterday a student approached me, asking me to assist in a school assignment that he was doing. He was conducting a survey for one of his classes. He asked me, “Who do you aspire to be, and what do you aspire to do in life?” I said, “I aspire to be more and more like Jesus. But what do I aspire to do? I’m doing it right now, and I don’t want to do anything else.”
Will you help us?
I pray that you’ll consider joining us as we preach the gospel in the streets. If God moves on your heart to help us, please click here to partner with us. God bless you!
Hal Chaffee 