Staff Barney Lin shares a story one of his students told:
We started off the year again with a push to engage the campus in
spiritual conversations, asking students who didn't mind stopping by,
"What are you thirsty for?" and proceeding to ask them if they're
interested in what Jesus says about the satisfaction of ultimate
thirsts. I was SO ENCOURAGED by how open students were to truly hearing,
and dialoguing about Jesus and faith. Here is a short story from a
student in InterVarsity who spoke to a militant atheist:
"I honestly believe God's Spirit was there with
me, in particular when speaking with a 'militant atheist'. How did I
know that? Well, for one, if you know me, you'd know that I'm quite shy,
reserved, and absolutely hate conflict. Indeed I felt that the strength
to keep the conversation going, though at times I did feel like a
punching bag, was not my own. And more so the patience and the absence
of hate. 'Cause I know that on my own, I would have been totally infuriated
and personally offended, but God really enabled me to speak boldly but
respectfully with love. And finally, I know that God was with me during the
span of the conversation because I felt absolutely no stress while
speaking with him. It was only after he left that I
realized that I was emotionally drained. I'll be honest - I kinda burst
into tears. BUT I was confused 'cause I didn't know why I was crying, 'cause
it wasn't because I felt personally offended/attacked (which is still
mindboggling to me). I do believe it was the Spirit weeping for him.
That he was so blind and hardened. I must say I've never so acutely
experienced God's heart for His creation before. But yeah - what a truly
blessed experience. And I think about how Jesus taught us to love our
enemies (what a crazy teaching), and how He himself was scorned and
shunned and CRUCIFIED by His own CREATION. It makes me marvel at our
Savior that much more."
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