Monthly Archives: March 2016

Stopping the Exodus

31 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Campus Apologetics

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You have heard dismal news.2016-stopping-the-exodus

As we sound the alarm in our congregations, think of what the youth are thinking.

  • Is this the way it is supposed to be?
  • Will I make it through college with MY faith in tact?

Here is some good news:

This research revealed that many of the 70% merely take a hiatus from regular church attendance during the college years. There are many factors which drive this. Some of which are good, not bad.

For instance, many students are very active in para-church ministries, which technically are not church, and would not be seen as regular church attendance. I have been involved with these students and these ministries for years at multiple campuses. The spiritual needs of these students are being met with regular worship, small group Bible study, discipleship groups, service projects, and Christian outreach. These students go on to more stable lives and return to church when jobs, marriages, and kids come along.

That is NOT to say that there is no exodus. There is. But it is not 70%.

Here is some better news:

  • We know the traits of those students who DON’T leave the church during the college years?
  1. They REALLY are Christians, and were not just in youth group for the pizza.
  2. They were equipped by their youth program, not just entertained.
  3. Their parents preached the gospel to them.

Here is some BETTER news.

Ratio Christi College Prep (RCCP) exists to train mentor youth leaders to run high school apologetics clubs within the church or school. The purpose of these clubs is to:

  1. Disciple the youth, helping them become confident in their Christian convictions.
  2. Equip the youth, helping them be comfortable in ANY conversation with ANY person about ANY topic related to the Christian faith.

Contact me to set up a training in your area. I’ll put you in contact with the RCCP Coordinator.

And for you in Huntsville, Texas, here is the BEST NEWS!

We are hosting a High School Retreat to:

  1. EQUIP your kids.
  2. ENCOURAGE their faith in Christ.
  3. ENABLE them to confidently meet future challenges.

Your youth will meet college mentors from SHSU who have NOT lost their faith in college. Instead, these college students have grown closer to the Lord through Bible study and through the study of Christian Apologetics – the Rational Defense of the Faith.

That’s what Ratio Christi is all about.

I sincerely hope you will support us by telling the youth in YOUR church to attend our High School Retreat on April 16, 2016.

All they have to do to sign up is text “@16retreat” to 81010.

The High School Retreat landing page is here.

God bless you and your youth.

-Darren

dw8

Love One Another

24 Thursday Mar 2016

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Última_Cena_-_Da_Vinci_5

This is the mandate from Mandate (Maundy) Thursday.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” [John 13:34 HCSB]

Tonight is the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his students. Tomorrow night is the Good Friday service where the recitation of his arrest, trial, flogging, mocking, and crucifixion will occur as candles are extinguished allowing darkness to fill the room.

Find a church to experience this service if you have never been – especially if you are a college student away from home and seeking community in your college town. If you are near Huntsville, TX, then join us at Faith Lutheran Church at 6:30 PM, Friday, March 25, 2016.

Nothing will bond you to other individuals more than attending a funeral with them. Tomorrow night is Jesus’ funeral for lack of a better term.

A funeral is required if there is to be a resurrection. There is no empty tomb without a full tomb.

What is Holy Week all about? I know of no better answer than Hymn 430 in the LSB.

1 My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
O who am I
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh, and die?

2 He came from His blest throne salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend,
My Friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend!

3 Sometimes they strew His way, and His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.

4 Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease
And ‘gainst Him rise.

5 They rise and needs will have my dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet steadfast He
To suff’ring goes,
That He His foes
From thence might free.

6 In life no house, no home my Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave.
What my I say?
Heav’n was His home
But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.

7 Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine!
Never was love, dear King, never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend,
In whose sweet praise
I all my days
Could gladly spend!

Amen,

-Darren