God’s Plan For Sharing
By Jon Sapp
March 2010
I wanted to share an article that Brett Yohn wrote about a recent opportunity to share God’s Plan on the University of Nebraska campus:
What does God’s Plan for Sharing look like on a college campus? Each collegiate ministry related to KNCSB has a strategy for introducing students to Christ and for making spiritual discussions a part of campus life.
Christian Challenge/BSU at the University of Nebraska launched a lecture series on sexuality and spirituality entitled “Sex Unashamed.” According to Brett Yohn, UNL Challenge director, “Students are daring to speak up in the public forum at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln about the connection between spirituality and sexuality. They created a poster advertising the three-week series that elicited a response from the student newspaper.” Before the event occurred there was a conversation going about why “sex” and “shame” seem to go together. The aim of the lecture series was to talk honestly about sexuality and to explain how God is glorified by sexual expression in marriage and by purity at all times. According to Yohn, “Most students, whether Christ followers or not, have not really connected the dots of God’s wonderful plan for sexuality nor do they understand why sexual expression belongs in the safety of a marriage relationship.”
Prayer was a part of the strategy. On campus prayer meetings with students were planned, and over 100 friends and alumni of Challenge were invited to pray for the three weeks of sharing on campus. Prayer requests were emailed sent out before each lecture and a report following each event.
Over 90 students attended the first lecture. Matt Penland—Nebraska Football Chaplain—laid a biblical foundation for “Sex Unashamed”. He explained how like a fire started in a house outside of a fireplace, sex outside of a marriage is very destructive. Matt brought several athletes with him to share their stories of committing their sex lives to God.
Students were given the opportunity to respond to the lecture by completing a response card and were encouraged to have conversations with Matt and the Challenge staff. One conversation Yohn had with a sophomore guy led to an appointment the following week. The student had some sexual issues and did not have a relationship with Jesus. Using the “Creation to Christ” Bible storying method of sharing the gospel, he explained the Gospel and shared his testimony. When he finished the student said, “What should I do?” Yohn explained how to pray and trust Jesus as forgiver and leader of your life. In the UNL Union building, he prayed an earnest prayer from his heart. He was forgiven and was on a new path—following Jesus. “He was under conviction. I know it was because so many were praying. Anyone could have led him to Jesus,” said Yohn.
The following week during the second lecture, Brian Sturm from K-State’s Challenge shared from the Bible about purity. He answered questions about what is purity, what do you do about sexual sin, how can you build a better spiritual and sexual life. Brian told stories and used God’s wisdom from Proverbs to frankly talk about sexuality. Yohn said, “Students were stunned by how open and transparent Brian was about his own struggles. He pointed to the need for openness with trusted people rather than the bondage of shame. Students understood that sexuality for a Christian is totally different from what most college students think. There is a freedom to pursue sexual pleasure in marriage that is shame-free. There is power to redirect sexual urges that enables them to glorify God before marriage.”
During the third week, Kevin and Karen Shinn (former Challenge staff, now Lincoln business owners) talked about what to expect in a romantic relationship that develops and moves toward marriage. What is healthy and what to avoid? In preparation, they interviewed four of their employees over a meal asking them their thoughts on sexuality and spirituality as people who are not Christ followers. They used that conversation to form an apologetic of sorts for the need to pursue God’s agenda in relationships.
Now that the series is over, Yohn shared that new students have come to know Jesus, students have joined small groups, and students have a new freedom in pursuing Jesus and purity. One of the Challenge prayer partners wrote, “So glad to hear about the one young man beginning a relationship with Jesus. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to pray.” Prayer definitely made a difference.
You can listen to all three of the lectures online: http://www.unlchallenge.com/UNLChallenge/Unashamed.html
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