Keels Blog!

Two students named Zach and Tony wanted to make an impact on their high school campus.  Both of them were popular because of their involvement in sports and other activities.  After discussing ideas and praying about their options, they made up T-shirts that said, “I agree with Zach and Tony.”  They then gave the shirts to their Christian friends, who wore them at school.  When students would see the shirts and ask, “Why do you agree with Zach and Tony?” they would hear the answer, “Come to a meeting Thursday night and find out.”

 

As you can imagine, the level of curiosity on campus was intense.  That Thursday evening more than one hundred students attended.  This gave Zach, Tony, and their friends the opportunity to share the gospel.  What an incredible experience, but notice they didn’t work independently.  It was two friends, with a larger community, who together “promote[d] love and good works” (Heb. 10:24)

 

This is an example of a movement verses a method.  A movement is something that starts with individuals moved by the Holy Spirit, sometimes without a plan, but with a definite passion and they just start.  They’re still under church authority, yet there is freedom to see needs, include others, study God’s word and conversions always seem to follow.

 

Just this last week, I was holding a Bible study in Starbucks that was initiated by students who just wanted to have many of their questions answered.  The next thing I know, more students are showing up the next week.  I also noticed several other Bible studies taking place, all of which started because of the passion to know God’s word.  These were not designed, orchestrated or planned.  They were driven by a personal thirst to know God that is contagious.

 

Most movements seem to start out seemingly without design—but it’s God’s design.  Strategies are critical but they always follow the movement, rather than lead the movement.  Methods are necessarily bad and ideas from others as to how they develop processes is not bad either, but I believe one of the greatest signs of spiritual health is students taking initiative to start their own movements within their own little worlds because of a passion for Christ.