2005. That was the year I graduated from college. Since then, I've been on a college campus maybe a handful of times. I've visited my alma mater and been on some campuses in Florida and that's about it.
But today, I got to walk on the campus of PLU (Pacific Lutheran University). It was weird to see just how young everyone looked! It was cool to have a tour guide, a freshman that attends PLU that helps out in our youth department. It was amazing to see just how many college-aged students there are in the area. At times, it seems like they've almost disappeared. Tomorrow I will be touring the other campus - Pierce College. The task to reach this age group with the gospel seems daunting at times. In fact, there are times that I even wish I was an old-fashioned, straight-up missionary, bringing the gospel to the heathens. Here, there is a dissonance in the culture that makes it seem that I have a mighty mountain to climb.
The good news is, that mountain is not my own! God is in control, he is sovereign. And I know that His heart is the same as my own - to know and love these students, one-and-all - to seek to see them move toward Christ on their spiritual journey - to see life-change - to know Jesus' love!
Pray for us as we begin this journey, that Christ would give us humble hearts of grace and mercy. That he would equip us to do His good work! That lives would change!
Thanks.
A blog following the Ross Family's journey, ministering to college students and young adults in Pierce County, WA
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Real St. Patrick
Few people know that my middle name is Patrick. This make St. Patrick's Day a bit more exciting, but basically the holiday has become nothing more than a day to drink and turn things green. I recently did a message on St. Patrick for the youth at Bethany, and I would love to share with you about his life and mission.
There is a lot of mystery about St. Patrick's life, but there are some things that we know to be true. First, his father was a leader of a local church in Britain. His family was fairly wealthy. At the age of 16 Patrick was captured in a raid and taken back to Ireland, where he stayed as a slave for six years. During his time there, he developed a passion for his relationship with Jesus, and grew greatly as a Christian. He worked as a shepherd, and was able to spend considerable time in prayer.
Here's where things get cool - after six years, he heard God's voice, telling him to leave Ireland. Acting on what he heard, he left his captivity and walked about 200 miles to the coast where he escaped back to Britain. Once there, he had a second vision of an angel who told him to return back to the land of his captivity - as a missionary! He trained a long time and finally got ordained as a Priest, going back to Ireland to reach a people that didn't know Christ's loving grace to that point.
What a life! He listened to God's voice and he heeded God's call to make disciples of all nations (even the one where he was a slave). He is a great example of our need to follow Jesus' Great Commission as well:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Emily and I are also called to seek and save the lost, and to be instruments of grace to the young adults of Pierce County. Consider joining us in this bold mission. Click on the picture to the left to learn more about how you can impact this county in Washington state.
There is a lot of mystery about St. Patrick's life, but there are some things that we know to be true. First, his father was a leader of a local church in Britain. His family was fairly wealthy. At the age of 16 Patrick was captured in a raid and taken back to Ireland, where he stayed as a slave for six years. During his time there, he developed a passion for his relationship with Jesus, and grew greatly as a Christian. He worked as a shepherd, and was able to spend considerable time in prayer.
Here's where things get cool - after six years, he heard God's voice, telling him to leave Ireland. Acting on what he heard, he left his captivity and walked about 200 miles to the coast where he escaped back to Britain. Once there, he had a second vision of an angel who told him to return back to the land of his captivity - as a missionary! He trained a long time and finally got ordained as a Priest, going back to Ireland to reach a people that didn't know Christ's loving grace to that point.
What a life! He listened to God's voice and he heeded God's call to make disciples of all nations (even the one where he was a slave). He is a great example of our need to follow Jesus' Great Commission as well:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)
Emily and I are also called to seek and save the lost, and to be instruments of grace to the young adults of Pierce County. Consider joining us in this bold mission. Click on the picture to the left to learn more about how you can impact this county in Washington state.
Friday, March 9, 2012
What is the least?
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
(Matthew 25:40 ESV)
The veil of comfort has been eliminated. After years spent serving in various ministries in a way that felt comfortable for my "discipleship first" education, we've been called and sent to serve college students in an atmosphere that is anything but discipleship first. In fact, the lack of Christians here makes that model almost impossible.
I've just returned from a wonderful three day prayer retreat in the cascade mountains in central Washington state. Being removed from tasks and to-do's, had a wonderful impact on my prayer life. It may be hard work at times, but I love being with my Lord and I love being with my Christian brothers. To hear their stories was amazing, and though we may have come from vastly different backgrounds, we all have the same discomfort, the same longing
(Matthew 25:40 ESV)
The veil of comfort has been eliminated. After years spent serving in various ministries in a way that felt comfortable for my "discipleship first" education, we've been called and sent to serve college students in an atmosphere that is anything but discipleship first. In fact, the lack of Christians here makes that model almost impossible.
I've just returned from a wonderful three day prayer retreat in the cascade mountains in central Washington state. Being removed from tasks and to-do's, had a wonderful impact on my prayer life. It may be hard work at times, but I love being with my Lord and I love being with my Christian brothers. To hear their stories was amazing, and though we may have come from vastly different backgrounds, we all have the same discomfort, the same longing
To seek and save the lost.
To truly fulfill God's great commission by showing
just how awesome it is to know God's love and forgiveness.
To see guilt, addictions, loneliness, fear, etc.
fall away in the power of true life-transformation.
To see true community welcome in the sinners and the forgotten,
and to show them His grace.
The wave of people in Pierce County that don't know this message are the least. The college students here are the least. And only by building relationships with them and sharing God's saving message are we going to follow Jesus' call to make disciples!
This is going to be a great journey! If you would like to join us on it, please give me an email (ian@bethanysite.com), drop me a line on facebook, or give me a call! We need your support to reach these young adults!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Numbers [don't] matter
It's been a sobering few days looking at the numbers and statistics for college-aged students in Pierce Co. From what I can figure, there are about 80,000 college-age people in Pierce Co. Of that, a large chunk sits right here in Puyallup. The sad thing, is that most of those students don't know who Christ is. Or if they do, they have some warped version of Christ in their minds, causing them to reject the Christian message altogether. At best, about 17% of those 80,000 students are Christian.
Emily and I have been called to spread the gospel to this missing generation in one of the most secular areas of the country. And what a daunting task that is.
But if God has called us to be the salt of the earth and the light in the darkness, then that is what we will do. And there is no more engaging a mission than to spread God's word among those who have such a need for true hope, joy, grace, mercy, and love, that only Christ and His message can bring.
God has called us to transform lives. And sometimes we think that it's ok in church circles to not worry about numbers. But when there is only one church that is effectively ministering to 13,600 souls, we need to stand up and pay attention. We need to make sure that we understand that numbers matter, souls matter, and that this many unsaved people matters to God.
As we begin this journey, let's pray for souls, for numbers, for depth, for salvation! Consider joining us on this journey. How? Pray for numbers. Pray for souls. Pray for Ian and Emily. Give. Contact Ian at ian@bethanysite.com to learn more about how to give to the college ministry at Bethany Baptist Church.
Let's let the world know that 1 in 13,600 just isn't good enough!
Emily and I have been called to spread the gospel to this missing generation in one of the most secular areas of the country. And what a daunting task that is.
But if God has called us to be the salt of the earth and the light in the darkness, then that is what we will do. And there is no more engaging a mission than to spread God's word among those who have such a need for true hope, joy, grace, mercy, and love, that only Christ and His message can bring.
God has called us to transform lives. And sometimes we think that it's ok in church circles to not worry about numbers. But when there is only one church that is effectively ministering to 13,600 souls, we need to stand up and pay attention. We need to make sure that we understand that numbers matter, souls matter, and that this many unsaved people matters to God.
As we begin this journey, let's pray for souls, for numbers, for depth, for salvation! Consider joining us on this journey. How? Pray for numbers. Pray for souls. Pray for Ian and Emily. Give. Contact Ian at ian@bethanysite.com to learn more about how to give to the college ministry at Bethany Baptist Church.
Let's let the world know that 1 in 13,600 just isn't good enough!
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