The ministry plan at Missouri State University has been approved and the fundraising is in progress. The East Grand Church of Christ in Springfield, MO will serve as the spiritual support and the local church home for seeking students. This congregation is very excited to be reaching out to young people searching for Good News.  

God’s Hand has been visible all through this plant formation. We have been training a three-person team for Springfield. There is much excitement about the activity God will accomplish in this place.

August 2012, Catherine Kraus and Lauren Burke (above) will arrive in Springfield ready to scout out the new territory. 

Catherine’s abilities will serve to organize and research all the possibilities for campus ministry effectiveness.  She has proven skills to assist in budgets and communication, or as I call her ‘my operational ninja’.   She has served two active campus ministries over the past 5 years.  After training and serving in Tampa, FL, she moved to Corpus Christi, TX and secured a job specifically to become an active member of this ministry.  She is very excited for the future adventure.

 Lauren Burke was converted in the Tampa ministry and was soon highly active in reaching others with the good news of Jesus Christ.  She has served for two years as an apprentice for this ministry in addition to committing to the two-year Masters of Ministry program through Harding University.  She is incredibly enthusiastic about the prospects at Missouri State University in Springfield.  She will focus on the developing the young ladies who are reached through this ministry. 

Both these young ladies that have committed their lives to the Lord’s work in campus ministry. They are willing to relocate to Springfield and secure jobs as they contribute to this mission on the university campus.

The third member of this team is Jeff Keely (above) who will be graduating from Harding University in December 2012.  He will then move to Springfield and serve as the campus minister.  Jeff spent two years in the CMU training program at Tampa and is now finishing his degree in Ministry.  Jeff has an avid passion for reaching young people with the gospel because he also was reached through campus ministry.   This experience and passion will make his work at MSU a joy and bring glory to our Father.

On my next blog I will share plans for the ministry plant at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma.

As you can see, God is doing great things with CMU by expanding our territory.  I wish to thank all of you that support this ministry making it possible to “Reach the world by planting campus ministries”.

Saul’s Conversion

¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

I find it interesting that God takes Satan’s hardest worker, who is on his way to persecute Christians, and steals him over to His side.  We know Saul thought he was serving God.  He was one of the witnesses at Stephen’s stoning.  Now here he was; “Still breathing out murderous threats against the Lords disciples.” Saul thinks, no he is convinced, he is working for God…but he is not!  This brings me to a point:

• It is possible to think or even be convinced that you are serving God and yet be serving Satan.

You can serve as a minister all your life and on judgment day find out you have been serving Satan. (look at Matthew 7:21-23)

From the story we just read above we see that Saul is not only persecuting Christians in Jerusalem, but asking the high priest for permission to do the same in Damascus.  Saul is good at his job and wants to expand his territory.  But on his way to Damascus he has an encounter with Jesus.  Like every encounter with Jesus, his life is about to change.  I want to look at the first part of the encounter to make my main point.

God hits Saul with a light!  Think about that for a minute, the God who made lighting hits Saul with a bright light.  How bright do you think He can make a light?

Then God says in verse: 4 “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Saul says: “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus answers: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

And that brings me to the main point of this blog:

When you persecute Christians, you are persecuting Jesus!

And that should make me stop and think;

• When I complain about the song leader, am I persecuting Jesus?
• Jim broke up with Sandy, I’m going to give him the silent treatment, Are you persecuting Jesus?
• Bill wore those ugly pants, I’m going to talk behind his back, are you persecuting Jesus?
• I tweet a hateful thing about another’s blog, am I persecuting Jesus?

When we persecute Christians, we are:

• Screaming Crucify Him!
• Driving nails in Him!
• Whipping Him!
• Spitting on Him!

We need to Stop and Repent!

“Every Christian mind is a seed of change as long as it is a living mind, not dulled by custom or ossified by prejudice.  A Christian has only to be in order to change the world, for in that act of being, there is contained all the mystery of supernatural life.  It is the function of the Church to sow this divine seed, to produce not merely good men, but Spiritual men – that is to say,  Super Men.  In so much as the Church fulfills this function it transmits to the world continuous stream of Spiritual energy.  If the salt itself loses its savor, then indeed the world sinks back into disorder and death.”

What draws so many men to Superman?  I mean, I see t-shirts with the Superman emblem everywhere.  When you’re at a ballgame and they play the Superman song…men stand and pose like Superman.  Why?  Well, whatever the reason, we all have a desire to be something more than just mere humans. We all want a purpose.

Look at Christopher Dawson’s statement again; “It is the function of the Church to produce Super men.”

Think of this connection:  If we become the kind of Christians God wants us to be, we are:

Aliens in this world.  (Just like Superman)

Trying to save the people of the world.  (Just like Superman)

Only one thing could stop superman – Kryptonite.  (Sin is our kryptonite)

I think God wants us to be Supermen!  But how?

In His most plain spoken sermon, Jesus told His followers what we are to be: “You are the salt of the earth”.  Matthew 5:13.

Then came a blunt warning:  “But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

Then He continued:  “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

What I see in all this, God wants us to be Supermen and that excites me.

What do you see?

The Consequence of Choice  

November 9th, 2011      by Patrick Mead

That was “A God Thing”!

As I was thinking about that moment I remembered a story that a man at the Tulsa workshop had told me a few years ago.  I was sitting with him and had commented on the amazing job he had done in planting two churches.  He then said; “It’s a God Thing”.  He said he had a story that inspired him to do church planting.  Here is the story he shared with me:

A number of years ago, I met a man who was running a homeless shelter.  This shelter was first class, feeding over a hundred each day.
I told him how impressed I was with this shelter and he said; “Well thank you, but we now have over twenty of these shelters in cities all across the mid-west and we’re working on more.”  He said; “It’s a God Thing”.

He asked him to explain.  The man said; “I didn’t start out to build homeless shelters.”  Here’s my story;  I was in my 40’s  and had done quite well.  I had a good education and had worked my way up in business.  I had a $500,000.00 home, a wife and two children.  We drove Mercedes
and went to church regularly and were involved in our youth group.  But, I wasn’t happy.  I wasn’t fulfilled.  I was just… going through the motions.

One day I was driving downtown, on my way to a Bible study,and got stopped at a railroad crossing.  I started looking around and saw this woman sitting near the tracks with her head in her hands…crying.  For some reason I felt compassion towards her, which was unlike me.  Something inside me said; “Go help her”.  So I pulled my car over to the curb and got out (very unlike me) and went over to her and said;   “Are
you ok?”  She looked up at me with tear filled eyes and said; “No! I haven’t eaten in three days and I have no money”.  So I begrudgingly reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet to give her some money and all I had was two twenty’s and I thought;  Great!  Now it’s going to cost me twenty bucks and she’ll just blow it on booze…thanks a lot.  Then she said something that
surprised me;  “Oh please don’t give me and money”  I said, What?  She said; “These bums around here will just beat me up and take the money” (and she looked like she had been beaten up a few times already).  Then she pointed at McDonalds and said; “Would you buy me some food?”

So we went into McDonalds and I bought her some food.  When she finished she asked me if I would buy her another order.  I just figured she
wanted some for later.  So I said; Sure.  Get what you want.  Then she said something that really surprised me;  “Thanks, I have a friend who hasn’t eaten either.  I’m gonna take her this food.”  (Here was one beggar taking another beggar food.)  Tears came to my eyes, but she wasn’t through with my heart yet.  She looked straight at me and said;  “You know, This was a God thing! I had my hands over my face praying and  cry out to God; Please send me some food, and you came up.  Thank you!”  I was barely able to squeak out;  No –  thank you!

She left in a hurry down an ally and I never saw her again.  After I composed myself, I got back into my car and drove to the Bible Study.
But God wasn’t done with my heart yet!  I get to the Bible study late and the first thing the teacher does is asked me to read a scripture;  Luke
10:25-37 (the parable of the good Samaritan).  After that study I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life and I haven’t looked back since.  And, by the way, I’m now happy.  I’m fulfilled.  My life has meaning!  It’s a God thing!

God will do mighty things in our lives when we get out of the way.

Here is just a sampling of what was written on that cardboard: Hate, distrust, damage, desire, pain, confusion, hurt, mean people,
stupid people, ugly, worthless, No one cares!

It got me thinking; What was causing all this pain?

Two things kept coming to my mind and I want to lead into the first one with a statement;  Never allow a parent to limit your vision for yourself!  One of the reasons I say that is because I was guilty of that myself for far to many years.  I allowed a parent to make me feel worthless and stupid.  My earthly father was a mean drunk that beat the family.  He left us when I was five years old and for many years I thought it was my fault.  For a long time I felt I was the only boy without a father.  It felt “strange”.  I’m fifty nine years old now and realize something;  I’m now the norm.  Most men in our current generation are just like me:  Raised without a father.

Something is missing in the souls of un-fathered men.

When times get tough, courage is in short supply. Their fathers’ examples give no reason to dream of becoming good strong men.  And these
thoughts move in: maybe it’s can’t be done.  You see, no one has led the way.  No one demonstrated that it can be done.  Their example did not do it.  So we start thinking;  maybe quitting, compromising, indulging in a few moments of cheap pleasure will relieve the pain.  I mean, really, who will care anyway?  What’s there to lose?  So I fall into obvious sin – what’s the worst that will happen?  People will shake their head and say: “Did you hear about Lynn? I always wondered about him. I heard they might divorce…etc.”  No one will care. No one will seek me out and look at me with eyes of hope.  It makes current friendships mean less.

You see, when a father fails his son, he introduces additional battles into his son’s life, battles that his son should never have
had to fight.  I realize many of you don’t fall into this category.  And some of you don’t even understand the problem.  But
over 60% of the men in the two youngest generations fit into this category.  They are walking their own walk, carving out
their own road, doing what works for them. But the problem is:  It’s not working!

And by the way, I’m not just talking about men.  The women have the same problems, plus more.  Here’s what I mean:  Do you know that 1 in 4 women today have been sexual abused?  That’s why some of those signs said;  Hate, distrust, pain, damage, disgust.  This abuse left scars.
Scars like:  I’m disgusting, I’m unworthy of anyone’s love (even God), I’ll never get married, (unless I marry wimp so he won’t leave me).  They start thinking; “Why should I deny myself pleasure?  Why not just give in to sin, numb myself with drugs, after all, no one will care”. Do
you see a pattern?

I’ve only touched on two of the problems causing all that pain. But from what I’ve pointed out here; What do they need to hear?  Well I think a good place to start would be in John 4, the woman at the well.  I believe hurting people need to hear what that woman heard. She found out that her life was no secret.  She found out that Jesus knew her.  But most importantly, she found out Jesus would take her just the way she was.  That’s big to world that is hurting and thinks they have made a mess of their lives.

I mean, really, how many of you have secrets you don’t want known?

Tell me, What do you think hurting people need to know?

Why all this compassion?  Why the urgency?

Now don’t get me wrong, I agree with the urgency and the compassion. I am glad people have such a heart for those in need. But, where is our urgency to give them living water?  When is the church going to have the same level of compassion and recognize the urgency of the worlds need for…Living Water?

We get so excited over the physical need (and rightfully so).  But, why don’t we have the same urgency to supply their Spiritual need?

Please understand, I’m not saying we should not have compassion for those in need of physical needs brought on by disaster.  I just want us to have the same level of compassion, the same urgency, for a world that is dying of thirst – Spiritually.

Jesus said in John 4:14 “…whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Do you see that?   We have water to give them that will Satisfy Thirst!

People have a well inside them that they try to fill with drugs, sex, music (wine, women and song).  But they can drink of that all their life and die of thirst. That hole in their life cannot be filled with that stuff.  It’s a monster that cannot be fed  (And some of you know what I mean because you have tried).  But Jesus said we have living water to give them and that they will never thirst again. And the water we have to give them will lead to eternal life. 

And there is something else I want you to see in verse 14: Jesus says this water will be “welling up to eternal life”.   The Greek for “Welling up” is “Peegee” (pay-gay).  It is an expression of a vigorous action like leaping up.  The implication is that this “living water” will cause a vigorous abundant life that will lead to eternal life.  Jesus said in John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

You see – Jesus wants us to tell the lost world that they can have an abundant life to the full and have eternal life.

So the next time you hear about a disaster and your heart is touched with compassion and feel the urgency to help…allow that to be a reminder that people everywhere also need  “Living Water”

• Lynn Stringfellow – “Workshop Kickoff: Ministry Updates” (32:34)
• Lynn Stringfellow – “Workshop Kickoff: CMU Mission Overview” (18:55) PowerPoint
• Jonathan Storment – “Passing the Torch: Moses to Joshua” (48:35) PowerPoint
• Tyler Ellis – “The World in Our Back Yard: Reaching Internationals” (57:31) PowerPoint
• Tyler Ellis – “Reaching Internationals Q & A” (18:53)
• Free Resources/Teaching Materials From Tyler Ellis (221.6 MB)
• Johnny Bond – “Hero or Zero? Attitude in Campus Ministry” (50:44)
• Johnny Bond – “Attitude in Campus Ministry Q & A” (22:36)
• Patrick Mead – “Alexander Who? Barton What? Why Restoration Movement History Matters pt. 1″ (75:28)
• Patrick Mead – “Why Restoration Movement History Matters Q & A” (14:24)
• Patrick Mead – “Alexander Who? Barton What? Why Restoration Movement History Matters pt. 2″ (84:08)
• Robert & Kerry Cox – “Leadership Development in Campus Ministry pt. 1″ (46:14)
• Robert & Kerry Cox – “Leadership Development Q & A pt. 1″ (25:12)
• Robert & Kerry Cox – “Leadership Development in Campus Ministry pt. 2″ (50:48)
• Robert & Kerry Cox – “Leadership Development Q & A pt. 2″ (19:13)
• Josh Ross – “God is Good When …: Dealing With Life’s Tough Stuff” (57:46)
• Macky Shedd – “Tools From the Shedd: Crafting Creative Curriculum” (48:52) Proving the Resurrection Without Using the Bible PowerPoint
• Macky Shedd – “Crafting Creative Curriculum Q & A” (15:46)
• Free Resources/Teaching Materials From Macky Shedd (129.8 MB)
• Patrick Mead & Josh Graves – “Passing the Torch: Paul to Timothy” (59:01)
• Wes Woodell – “Evangelistic Bible Study With Non-Believers: Establishing the Credibility of the Bible Using the Bible” (85:56) PowerPoint; King & Kingdom Study Handout; Historical Reliability of the Bible Handout
• Lynn & Carol Stringfellow – “Reach: Starting a Campus Ministry Planting Movement” (54:27)
• Lynn & Carol Stringfellow – “Starting a Campus Ministry Planting Movement Q & A” (23:13)
• Robert & Kerry Cox – “Passing the Torch: Elijah to Elisha” (51:29)

To reach the lost for Jesus Christ!

Why?  Consider the last thing Jesus said before He ascended into Heaven:  “Go into all the world and feed the hungry” or “go into all the world and take care of their physical needs” or “go into all the world and love them”.  Right?

NO!   He said: “…Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

If that is not what we are about then we are nothing more than a glorified social club.  Jesus came to this earth to provide a pathway to the Father.  He died on a cruel cross to do just that.  And He established His Church here on earth to do one thing:

Show lost people the way to the Father!

Now, I know there is a mindset that says;  Lynn, even Jesus had compassion on people and healed them and fed them.  And that is true – but I think if you look closely at those same places where Jesus fed and healed you will see His real focus.  For example, Let’s look at Mark 6:30-44

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,”  they said, “and it’s already very late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages!  Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

 ”How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five-and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied,  and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.  The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.    (from New International Version)

The Apostles have returned from their time out (You will remember that Jesus had sent them out to preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick. Mark 6:12 & 13.)  So here they are with Jesus, telling Him all about it and Jesus takes them out in a boat to get away from the crowds and get some rest.   So here is a “Snapshot”: Jesus and His apostles are in a boat landing ashore and Jesus see’s the crowd that has run ahead to catch them. Look at verse 34 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them,”  Hold it right there, This is real important! It says: “He had compassion on them”. The Greek seems to mean that it is “to be moved to the point of pain” or “to have your heart hurt for them”.  Jesus see’s these people and His heart Hurts!  But Why?  What was it about that crowd that generated such “compassion” from our savior?  I used to think that Jesus looked at these people and had compassion because they were hungry and poor…etc.  But as I looked closer I saw what the verse was saying;  “because they were like sheep without a shepherd”.  I looked at that and asked myself;  What are sheep without a shepherd?  Hungry?  No, sheep will find food.  Their physical needs were not the problem.  They were lost!  And worse, they were in danger of being devoured!

But – didn’t they have shepherds (the Pharisees)?  Well – yes…but they were the ones devouring them.  And that’s the very problem we have going on all around us today.  People are being led by shepherds who have invented a religion to suit their own desires and they are devouring the flock.  They are in desperate need of someone to look on them with “compassion” and that needs to be us!  It should hurt us to the point that we are driven to do something.  But what?  Well, look at what Jesus did when He was moved with compassion. (the end of verse 34)  “So HE began teaching them…”

Now the story is going to go further and show His compassion for their physical needs as well by feeding them.  But if you focus on the miracle you will miss what Jesus knew their deepest need was.  Today, our compassion leads us to first feed them or take care of some physical need and rarely get around to their Spiritual need (and that’s just plain backwards).  Jesus knew that their greatest need was God’s Word! Not food.  Yes it is true Jesus did go ahead and feed them and that is a neat story: The disciples say: Hey, these people need something to eat…send them home.  But look how Jesus answers them;  “You give them something to eat.”   You see, Jesus knew the food part was easy!  Understand, to us it’s a miracle!  But to Jesus, It’s just food…it’s no big deal.

The big deal to Jesus was the teaching He gave them.  So here’s my point:

The Spiritual needs are more important than the physical needs!

Social justice without an eternal purpose is just self gratification…and that’s just sick.

 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Now focus your attention on verse 6.  Imagine the scene with me:  Mary and Martha realize their brother is sick and he may not make it.  What a wonderful thing it is to know that their dear friend Jesus is in the region.  So they send word to him; “The one you love is sick” And they just assume Jesus is going to come.  I mean, He had healed others He didn’t even know, so of course He’ll come to heal His friend.

But…Jesus doesn’t show up!  Where is He?  Why doesn’t He do something?

Questions like this must have swirled in the hearts of Jesus three dear friends. He didn’t show up in their greatest hour of need.  Can’t God see we need Him?  Doesn’t He care?

When I look at the Lazarus story and realize that Jesus did not immediately get up and go to Bethany…I have to admit…I’m bothered.  I’m bothered because a rapid response seems like the Christ like thing to do.  But Jesus didn’t jump on the white horse and ride to the rescue.  No, instead – He left Lazarus, Martha and Mary to themselves to deal with the reality of death.  The hearts of those who waited and waited and waited for Jesus to show up must have been in chaos with questions, anger, and confusion.

When Jesus doesn’t show up today, we struggle with the same chaos in our hearts.  Does He just not care?  Why does Jesus linger?

You know the sisters must have been expecting Jesus to do what He did for the centurion who simply asked Jesus to “say a word” and your servant will be healed (Matt. 8).  I mean, come on, healing Lazarus from a distance would be easy for Jesus (and think about it) It would have been Glorious!  But – It didn’t happen.  In fact, Jesus didn’t even send word He was going to show up at all.

The last thing Jesus told His disciples before ascending into heaven was: “I am with you always…” Matt 28:20    So…Where is He when we need Him the most?  Isn’t He Emmanuel – God with us?

Where was he when the world trade centers came falling down?  Where is He when doctors struggle to save a life?  Where is He when a child is being abused, raped or murdered?

I have to admit – these things bother me.  It’s the same age-old question:  Why does God allow so much suffering in this world?

Now, I know we read the story of Lazarus and we have the advantage of knowing that Jesus did show up…eventually.  But Mary, Martha and the dying Lazarus only knew that God was absent.  For days on end they only knew the tomb!  You see – experiencing the Jesus who lingers means having no clue what’s happening in you or around you.  Today I am in between the life I want and the life I am living. I’m in between the faith I want and the doubts I have.  I’m in between the person God wants me to be and the person I am right now.

And here is where a point comes into play:  Waiting for Jesus is part of the transformation process.

You see – in this waiting – in this in between time – something deep is happening within us.  That’s the way it has to be because if transformation is anything at all it is change from the inside out.  External spirituality is cosmetic and Jesus sees right through it. 

Just like the Lazarus story – sometimes Jesus lingers so something greater can be revealed.