Hammer on Anvil '

Last week my husband and I had the pleasure of traveling to California. John is a journalist, and was assigned to cover a gathering of Chi Alpha students.

For those of you who are not familiar, Chi Alpha is a college ministry committed to a fivefold philosophy: being a community of worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship and mission. If what we experienced with these young men and women last week is par for the course, they are going to turn the world upside down for the gospel.

A stroke of genius is that Chi Alpha erects small tents on campus and draws students with the promise of doing "spiritual readings" (unique to Central Valley campuses). Kids who are experiencing trials and heartaches in their lives come in, as well as those who may simply be curious about what a spiritual reading entails. At any rate, Chi Alpha makes it clear up front that they represent Jesus Christ. They ask if they can pray for the student, and the Holy Spirit will often reveal a need if the student does not. Prophetic utterances and words of knowledge have been spoken during prayer, encouraging the student who may have entered the tent confused and bewildered about life. Prayers of healing are also offered. One Chi Alpha collegian sees anyone in a wheelchair as an opportunity to extend the healing love of Jesus.

Worship with these students was as passionate as their zeal to win others to faith in Christ. Some knelt, some wept, others jumped as they worshiped their God with complete abandon.

One thing that struck me about this gathering was the unity of the Spirit. Though three college campus groups were represented, everyone seemed to genuinely love and care for each other. It is obvious that Chi Alpha is a great place for young believers to spread their wings -- to begin to do their part to fulfill Christ's admonition to not only preach the gospel, but to heal the sick and to cast out demons and raise the dead. Chi Alpha staff members encourage the exercise of spiritual gifts, and it is a safe place for newbies to try them out and receive feedback from others. If you fancy yourself a prophet and others don't see that gift in you, you will be encouraged to ask God what gifts He wants you to employ for the furtherance of His kingdom.

The best thing I heard in our time there came from the pastor who leads the Chi Alpha group. We were discussing how students are "caught," if you will, and why Chi Alpha offers spiritual readings. He explained, "The net you catch them with is the net you keep them with." If you catch them with entertainment, they will expect to be entertained in order to stay interested. But if you catch them with the power of the Holy Spirit, their faith will be genuine and based on God alone. That's a powerful word in this age of churches that pride themselves on drawing people in with "worship" that resembles a rock concert.

These young people came from all walks of life, and were refreshingly candid. One young man had previously been affiliated with gangs; a woman had undergone three abortions in her late teens and early 20s; a young couple, though promiscuous in their teens, fell in love and waited until marriage to share their first kiss. All had been profoundly impacted by the transformational love of Jesus. Chi Alpha doesn't merely preach Jesus -- they are His hands and feet to hurting kids on campus.

Our call to make disciples is a serious one, and these kids are doing it right.