This past Thursday night we had our last campus meeting of the fall semester. I was driving in just in time for the meeting after being out of town for a two day leadership conference in Jacksonville.
Before my arrival our student leaders had done a great job handling all the set up on their own in our usual meeting room in a classroom building. As we started the meeting, music was good, and attendance was not bad considering that final exams were right around the corner!
After the music and singing I got up to preach the message, but after only about a minute the fire alarm in the building started going off. This was really strange, and has never happened in all our years of meeting in this building, but though a little surprised we all exited the building. People who were in other meetings in the same building were also exiting with us, everyone having that slightly dazed look on their faces, and wondering why the alarm was going off.
On my long drive to the campus meeting earlier that evening I really felt that God wanted to do something significant at our meeting, and my heart was really stirred by the Holy Spirit. I had spent much time on the drive just quietly meditating on God, and in prayer. My heart was awake and eager to be used by God that night. However, the fire alarm seemed to have ruined everything.
Then I had an epiphany. I thought maybe I could just preach my message not only to the students who were at our campus ministry meeting, but to all the students from the entire building who had come outside, which was about twice as many as were in our meeting alone! (I even saw the Student Government President and Vice President there outside.) Fear immediately came into my mind with thoughts of how I may potentially get into trouble, or of what accusations could be made against me, but my wife (who seemed to know what I was thinking) encouraged me to preach “John Wesley style”, and so I went for it!
I tried to shout out to the crowd to get everyone’s attention who was outside in front of the building. I went on to proclaim the Gospel message explaining Lordship and the need for repentance from sin, and urging them to receive Jesus Christ, who is our only hope. (Ephesians 2:12)
Though some looked at me with puzzeled looks on their faces, when I gave a call to repentance of sin over a dozen responded!
Glory be to God for granting me the grace to preach with boldness, as I ought to preach. (Acts 4:31) It was good to be faithful and not give in to fear in that moment of great opportunity. Thanks to all of you who pray for me and for this ministry to reach the younger generation with the Gospel!