Why do you do what you do?
Posted by tom | Feb 12, 2008The other night Theresa and I were discussing love languages. One's probably not surprised to find words of encouragement speak to me deeply, even if its only from the few [Note: Theresa's is acts of service. So help her out :-)]. Last night's sharing by graduate students and faculty regarding the value of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship affirmed my personal sense of call and passion for our work. Here's a few tidbits I'm passing along to affirm your prayferful support of this brave, pioneering, out-of-the-box ministry endeavor:
We [graduate students] need a prayer & support group. Some at Church don't understand why we study so much. We really understand 1-another. We have similar circumstances. I really believe grad Christian group shold be continued.
There are very few Christians in my new discipline which struggles with a lot of difficult issues [Note: pray for us to identify a mentor for this masters student in genetic counseling].
The presence of [Christian] faculty is important [for Christian gradatute students], they provide examples of those who relate academia to their faith.
[InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry] provides a place to think about problems in Higher Educatation as a Christian. As I've become closer to graduate students in my program I've had less time in the Graduate Christian Fellowship, but I've found that when I share my faith with my colleagues they don't think I represent other evangelicals. Lone Ranger Christianity is of limited utility.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry provides a place to penetrate the secularism of University life and meets a desire for spiritual companionship in the most secular place in all of society.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry 1. recognizes ministry in higher education occurs not in five minute conversations, but over decades; 2. recommends Christian books which teach me something I don't already know; 3. provides an environment to shape a Christian perspective on one's whole vocation, not just the ethics of it . . .
