Euro Campus Ministry

Just a Girl - A testimony by Mildred V Levine

“I’m just a girl in the world. That’s all that you’ll let me be…

Oh I’m just a girl living in captivity.

Your rule of thumb make me worrisome

Oh, I’m just a girl, what’s my destiny?

What I’ve succumbed to is making me numb…

Oh, I’ve had it up to here.”

Just a Girl , No Doubt

More often than not, I have been able to identify with the feelings of hopelessness expressed in these lyrics. Growing up in America, I learned all about the struggle of women to be seen as equal to men. Throughout history women were considered the property of their fathers and husbands; they were believed to be less competent and weaker than their brothers; and they were treated as second class citizens of many communities and social groups.

In the world’s eyes, because we are physically weaker than men, we are often treated like we are unworthy of respect. In the world’s eyes, because of the emotions we go through, we are deemed less trustworthy in positions of influence. In the world’s eyes, we are not much more than feeble-minded objects to be used, abused and exploited. In my study of women’s history, I found out that too many women have experienced the hopeless numbness that I felt before I found my true destiny: a real relationship with God. Continue reading Just a Girl - A testimony by Mildred V Levine…

Dangerous Dreamers : Guest Editorial by Andrew Smellie

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes to make it possible. This I did.”
- T.E. Lawrence
When I first began studying the Bible, a brother in our church showed me a Scripture that I remember to this day. In Proverbs 16:9, the Bible reads, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

This passage cut me to the core, as the obvious truth that I was not in control of my life came into focus. By nature, I am very goal-oriented, driven and motivated. But that same ambition was not being used to further God’s purposes. Instead it was used to glorify myself. I grew up in a strong religious family, and was taught from a young age to respect God by going to church and reading the Bible. However, the goal of “holding to the Scriptures” (John 8:31-32) in addition to my beliefs was not significantly enforced in my life. I could boast that I knew more than my Sunday school teachers, yet by the time I hit college, much of the morals that were instilled in me from a young age vanished. The knowledge of the Word that I had learned had not been planted deeply to my heart, and was easily snatched up by Satan due to a lack of deep spiritual roots (Mark 4:16-17). Continue reading Dangerous Dreamers : Guest Editorial by Andrew Smellie…

Blessings Of Persecution : Phil McCallen

Matthew 5: 11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:20a
Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

Jesus’ words to his disciples have always made me feel a little uncomfortable, sure I want to follow Jesus and yes I want to lead my friends and family to Heaven but this talk about persecution, which is found alot in the New Testament, scares me. As a young disciple I would often ponder what this passage meant for me and how I would be when it happened. I read the Gospels to see how Jesus’ was actually persecuted and found that it was done in many various ways. His family thought that he had gone insane, the leaders of his community accused him of being the son of Satan, they constantly accused him before the authourities raising trouble for him and expelled him from their meeting places. Ultimately we know that they handed him over to be beaten, tortured and killed. This was a lot to take in. Continue reading Blessings Of Persecution : Phil McCallen…

Measuring Commitment by Chris v Staden

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chron 16:9

God has never looked for a perfect disciple, because there are no perfect disciples. We are all imperfect beings, often weak and in need of strengthening. Some think that being fully committed is to be strong and almost perfect but if we look at the Bible it says that the Lord strengthens those who’s hearts are fully committed to him. Why would they need strengthening? If someones heart is fully committed isn’t that enough. The Lord only looks at the heart right? Wrong. I have heard so many people say: ‘Well, God knows my heart’ or ‘I know I love God with all my heart’. Inasmuch as God knows our hearts he also knows our deeds. Our deeds only shows God what is in our hearts.
As Jesus spoke to the churches in Revelations and warning them, 5 times he says: ‘I know your deeds’ (Rev2:2, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15) As we know with the church in Ephesus they lost their first love and Jesus commanded them to remember the height from which they have fallen and repent and DO the things they did at first. The church in Sardis had a reputation of being alive but according to Jesus they were dead. He commanded them to also remember what they have received and heard and obey it, as their deeds was obviously not showing obedience. Then we also have the lukewarm church of Laodicea. Jesus ‘measured’ their ’spiritual temperature’ by their deeds and not their hearts. What struck me was what Jesus said in Rev 2:23 “Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”
Although the Lord searches the heart and the mind he will repay each of us according to our deeds. It is very clear that the Lord looks also at our deeds and not only at our hearts. Continue reading Measuring Commitment by Chris v Staden…

Workers for the Harvest! By Chris Van Staden

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matt 9:35-38

As Jesus went through the towns and villages, he wanted to help people. Although he was teaching and preaching the good news to the people and healing every disease and sickness he still saw a big problem: the people were harassed and helpless. Another translation says that they were confused and helpless. The people’s needs were not met. This must have been more spiritual needs than physical needs, as the scripture says Jesus healed every disease and sickness. He compares this to sheep without a shepherd. The funny thing about a sheep is that it ‘lack’ a sense of direction, because no matter where you leave them, they will not be able to return. Sheep are also dumb in the sense that even as they are led to the slaughter, they won’t even object! That was the problem what Jesus saw, the people had no spiritual direction and he knew so many of them are following blindly and actually led to the slaughter.

This is why Jesus had so much compassion on them, and knowing that there are only a few workers with him that can help he says that they should pray for more workers to be send by God. With more workers in the harvest field (in the crowds), people will have direction and can be helped. There was a lot of work to be done and the Lord of the harvest needed workers.
Continue reading Workers for the Harvest! By Chris Van Staden…

Remembering and Dreaming by Chris Van Staden

“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God . But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Acts19:8-10
 
Campus ministry can be such an effective hub for the Kingdom of God that with a few committed disciples on a campus the word of the Lord can spread to whole cities and provinces within a few years as in the day of Paul. People from different backgrounds, age, talents and nationality comes together for a few years to gain knowledge and then goes out to different parts of the city, province or even the world.

Continue reading Remembering and Dreaming by Chris Van Staden…