Intervarsity Christian Fellowship was a new and eye-opening experience for me. For one, I had never really given to thinking about my faith as being integral to daily life. Like many, I went to Sunday church sang a few hymns, did a few prayers, took communion, and listened to the weekly sermon. And, that was it. I was a Christian in good standing as I did my weekly duty. There wasn't much more to my faith than that. I believed in God and Jesus as my savior, but as I entered college, that was it. Not a relationship, just more an acknowledgement of "yes, I believe in you and thank you for what you've done". I know I probably touched on this topic a little in part 1 of the OSU experience.
Art was the one who first invited me to an Intervarsity meeting one Friday night. His response to me, I believe was "What else are you thinking of doing?" On a college campus, this is where I would spend my Friday evenings. While most of the students were out at the bars on High Street, I was hanging out with other Christians learning more about Jesus. To be honest, I never felt tempted to go out partying on Fridays and skip out. That's a real testament to what God was doing in my life and to the fact that I made solid life-affirming friendships during my time there.
That's pretty important too. College, for the most part, is the first time you live on your own away from parental supervision. It can either be intimidating or liberating, or a combination of both. You determine the beginning of the course of your life and the decisions you make in college affect your life, I feel, for decades if not the remainder of your life. Part of the foundation starts with the people you surround yourself with. For me, I became surrounded by a group of friends who supported me, held me accountable, talked and listened with me, but most of all prayed with and for me. You cant beat that.
As I became more involved, I joined a bible study group off campus at University Village. Never growing up in a church that had home bible studies, this was a new experience. I quickly understood the importance of Intervarsity having these groups all over campus. It gives people a more intimate environment that you cannot get with the large group on Fridays. It helps to develop stronger friendship bonds among the members and gives a sense of ownership. "This is our home group" allows people to be committed to a larger whole than themselves. Finally, small groups are a safer environment to invite new people to. It can be very intimidating to be invited to a large group, where you can feel lost or overwhelmed by everything. In a smaller environment, you can move at your own pace and develop friendships. All of which is important on such a large campus at Ohio State. It's great to be able to have a circle of friends among so many students.
During the years I was involved with Intervarsity, I met many interesting friends and got involved in different events. I went to the Billy Graham Crusade in Columbus. That was quite the experience to see so many people go forward and accept Christ. Listening to him, you could understand why he was so popular. It wasn't his charisma or speaking ability (which he has plenty), but rather that you just felt the honesty and sincerity flowing from him. He believed with his heart what he was saying, it was important to him, and it wasn't a show to him. He was much older than those in attendance, but he connected with the young audience. It proved to me that the message of Christ transcends age and other barriers we might erect that keep groups apart.
Another time while in a home group, I heard a line that has stayed with me forever. The discussion was on the nation of Israel and how they constantly rebelled against God. One of the participants, Steve, said the choice was always "Your way or Yahweh". The line was a joke, a throwaway - but that statement has always stayed with me. Isn't every life choice come down to our way or God's way? We can either choose to follow or go our own path. That's what it means to me. It reminds me that words you say in this life, no matter how insignificant to ourselves, might impact someone else deeply. You never know when one word or gesture can change another person's life in a profound way. It taught me to do better to guard my words since they can be so important.
While I was a part of the group, I think our large group never numbered more than 20. Yet, it never seemed too small or too much work to keep it going. Credit to God for giving us so much youthful energy. As we grew, there were some concerns but I always remembered the line uttered "We'll trade up for those problems". It was helpful to remember that if we faced these struggles, it meant we were involved in some good things - that we were growing and doing God's work. One of my favorite "Popeisms" as we called them.
As we got closer to graduation, it was time to move on. Careers, moving back home, and families were calling us to newer paths. Around 1993 to 1994, a good chunk of us were moving on as we were graduating. I remember Sriram asking me what was going to happen, now that a large group of leadership was leaving. Trying to be nice and reassuring, I told him that God was going to take care of things and it would continue growing. I never claimed to be a prophet, but years later Intervarsity has grown to multiple groups on the OSU campus. Sriram is a regional director now I believe. It's always refreshing to hear about how its grown over the years and the amazing things happening there. God did all the work, I am just glad to have had a small role there. It laid a major foundation to my life that will stay with me forever. Even though I do not talk a lot with my fellow IVCF members, they always remain on my mind.
It's a reminder that we wont always be involved in the harvest, sometimes one tills the ground or waters the plants. Our roles change here and there but God is the true gardener. And with IVCF, God's harvest has been great individually and corporately.
Art was the one who first invited me to an Intervarsity meeting one Friday night. His response to me, I believe was "What else are you thinking of doing?" On a college campus, this is where I would spend my Friday evenings. While most of the students were out at the bars on High Street, I was hanging out with other Christians learning more about Jesus. To be honest, I never felt tempted to go out partying on Fridays and skip out. That's a real testament to what God was doing in my life and to the fact that I made solid life-affirming friendships during my time there.
That's pretty important too. College, for the most part, is the first time you live on your own away from parental supervision. It can either be intimidating or liberating, or a combination of both. You determine the beginning of the course of your life and the decisions you make in college affect your life, I feel, for decades if not the remainder of your life. Part of the foundation starts with the people you surround yourself with. For me, I became surrounded by a group of friends who supported me, held me accountable, talked and listened with me, but most of all prayed with and for me. You cant beat that.
As I became more involved, I joined a bible study group off campus at University Village. Never growing up in a church that had home bible studies, this was a new experience. I quickly understood the importance of Intervarsity having these groups all over campus. It gives people a more intimate environment that you cannot get with the large group on Fridays. It helps to develop stronger friendship bonds among the members and gives a sense of ownership. "This is our home group" allows people to be committed to a larger whole than themselves. Finally, small groups are a safer environment to invite new people to. It can be very intimidating to be invited to a large group, where you can feel lost or overwhelmed by everything. In a smaller environment, you can move at your own pace and develop friendships. All of which is important on such a large campus at Ohio State. It's great to be able to have a circle of friends among so many students.
During the years I was involved with Intervarsity, I met many interesting friends and got involved in different events. I went to the Billy Graham Crusade in Columbus. That was quite the experience to see so many people go forward and accept Christ. Listening to him, you could understand why he was so popular. It wasn't his charisma or speaking ability (which he has plenty), but rather that you just felt the honesty and sincerity flowing from him. He believed with his heart what he was saying, it was important to him, and it wasn't a show to him. He was much older than those in attendance, but he connected with the young audience. It proved to me that the message of Christ transcends age and other barriers we might erect that keep groups apart.
Another time while in a home group, I heard a line that has stayed with me forever. The discussion was on the nation of Israel and how they constantly rebelled against God. One of the participants, Steve, said the choice was always "Your way or Yahweh". The line was a joke, a throwaway - but that statement has always stayed with me. Isn't every life choice come down to our way or God's way? We can either choose to follow or go our own path. That's what it means to me. It reminds me that words you say in this life, no matter how insignificant to ourselves, might impact someone else deeply. You never know when one word or gesture can change another person's life in a profound way. It taught me to do better to guard my words since they can be so important.
While I was a part of the group, I think our large group never numbered more than 20. Yet, it never seemed too small or too much work to keep it going. Credit to God for giving us so much youthful energy. As we grew, there were some concerns but I always remembered the line uttered "We'll trade up for those problems". It was helpful to remember that if we faced these struggles, it meant we were involved in some good things - that we were growing and doing God's work. One of my favorite "Popeisms" as we called them.
As we got closer to graduation, it was time to move on. Careers, moving back home, and families were calling us to newer paths. Around 1993 to 1994, a good chunk of us were moving on as we were graduating. I remember Sriram asking me what was going to happen, now that a large group of leadership was leaving. Trying to be nice and reassuring, I told him that God was going to take care of things and it would continue growing. I never claimed to be a prophet, but years later Intervarsity has grown to multiple groups on the OSU campus. Sriram is a regional director now I believe. It's always refreshing to hear about how its grown over the years and the amazing things happening there. God did all the work, I am just glad to have had a small role there. It laid a major foundation to my life that will stay with me forever. Even though I do not talk a lot with my fellow IVCF members, they always remain on my mind.
It's a reminder that we wont always be involved in the harvest, sometimes one tills the ground or waters the plants. Our roles change here and there but God is the true gardener. And with IVCF, God's harvest has been great individually and corporately.
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