Connection to "the Vine"

First of all, we celebrate today our second baptism last night of a college student this year.  It is exciting to see two college students begin their journey with their Rabbi Jesus so soon in the school year.  Both Terrance and Christina were influenced by the students and "family" that surrounded them.  Eric and I actually didn't know them all that well before their baptisms.  How incredibly exciting it is to see our student leaders and friends engaging their fellow college students in the Way that leads to life!

Two weekends ago, our Impact team hosted a retreat for the students at University of Idaho and Washington State.  We traveled up to Silver Lake Camp just west of Spokane and enjoyed some great time away.  It was an opportunity for us to build intentional relationships with students in a great setting away from the worries of the classroom and roommates.

God really seemed to strengthen the relationships between students as well.  One WSU student remarked at what a great time she had and how easy it was to connect to other gals, even from another university. There was a lot of time spent playing and resting, whether that took the form of paddling the kayaks in the lake or playing games late into the evening.

But the time that we were really excited about was the opportunity to specifically target the spiritual formation of these students.  We created five sessions where, after some great worship sessions, we dove in and attempted to create spaces to encounter the living God. Our theme passage for the weekend was John 15 ("I am the vine, you are the branches...") and we took the opportunity to share with students the "bread n' butter" of Impact Campus Ministries.

We showed them our passion to help train them in creating daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms that help them stay connected to the True Vine.  We can't control how much fruit God bears in our life and we can't control the circumstances that we find ourselves in, but we CAN control how much intention we have in pursuing our relationship with God.  If we create these spaces in our lives, God promises us fruit that will last.

To find, as a college student, a meaningful and fulfilling walk where God is real and alive and bearing fruit in your life -- this would be an inspiring experience that would last through a lifetime.  It may even help us make effective disciples.  We look forward to being able to share with you stories as God bears fruit in the lives of these students as they follow through on their commitment to create sacred space for God.