In my three years of involvement at the BCM, I have seen God move in my life in so many ways. He has shown me ways to develop spiritual disciplines through my Journey Groups. He has also shown me how to live life on mission through Gospel conversations.
When I came to college, I thought that I had everything figured out. I thought I was a mature Christian doing the right things and that everything I was doing was “perfect.” But I soon realized when I spent time in scripture reading and prayer, that it was out of a feeling of obligation or achievement rather than to further my walk with Jesus. I was overworked and stressed out. I had an absence of peace because I wasn’t spending time with the Prince of Peace. I knew I needed to find effective ways to develop discipline in spending time and walking with Christ every day. Through my Journey Groups, I learned how to better do this. We studied scripture to learn in context who Jesus is and what He did for us. We not only analyzed the text, but we found ways to apply what we learned in our daily lives.
The BCM has also taught me strategic ways to share the Gospel with the people around me. Coming into college, I was terrified of sharing the Gospel because I had a very flawed view of what evangelism looked like. I thought that sharing the Gospel meant that I would have to have a list of reasons why Christianity is right, reasons why the other person is wrong, and use enough scripture to back it up to be successful. Because of this outlook, I was never bold or outgoing with my faith. I now realize what sharing the Gospel is: sharing the story of God. God created man, but man fell short in every way imaginable and needed a savior. God sent His one and only son Jesus to live the perfect life, to die a sinner’s death on the cross, and rise from the dead. Now whoever believes that Jesus is God, that He died and rose again to defeat death, and chooses to make Him Lord over their life will be saved. I have learned that this isn’t meant to be argued with another person but instead is meant to be shared through a peaceful conversation.
God has changed me in so many ways during my time in college, and I am grateful for all of the relationships I have made along the way that have pushed me to have a deeper understanding of Him.
If you are looking to meet people that care about you, I would suggest checking out a BCM Journey Group. I have so many great memories during my three years at UA, and my prayer for this next year is for you to find a close community that pushes you to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:8-14 ESV
Thomas Hargadon | Junior | Fairhope, AL | @t_harg13
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