Orphans no more! Reaching college students.
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6
Late one night in 2011, I walked into the dorms to lead a Bible study with 8 Division I baseball players. My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, and my nerves were screaming, “Just turn back! It’s not too late to bail on this one.” These guys were tough. They had little interest in God and sneakily called me Bible Kenny (I found that little fact out about 2 years later!). The decision to hang in there led to God not only saving a set of twin pitchers on the team, but so much more. I vividly remember gathering 3 years later in my living room with friends on the soccer team who came to Christ as well as their girlfriends on the volleyball team who had chosen to follow Jesus. It was truly amazing! Little did I know where this journey would take me or what God would do with my meager plans.
Laura and I adopted Maria Klaire, our fourth child, as a result of a seed that was planted in my heart during that Bible study with baby Christians. First, through studying Ephesians 1:6, God showed me how He adopted me into His family. Second, God compelled me to live an outward-facing life built off the motto “orphans no more.” Laura and I began a two-year journey that ended with bringing our daughter home. There were two distinct moments I gave up, but God kept us going. It was not easy, but great things never are. And we were reminded how God, the Great Evangelist and our Heavenly Father, has never given up when gathering His orphaned children home.
This Fall, I have a similar opportunity with the Calvin football team (helping lead a weekly Bible study) and I cannot wait to see once again how God works beyond us. As a church, we have a similar opportunity with all the CAM students in our midst. Please be praying with me that God would use us to help connect spiritual orphans to the Heavenly Father we all desperately need.
Photo by Jake Ingle on Unsplash