From April 2nd to 13th, students from some universities in Rio de Janeiro State made an evangelistic mobilization in their campuses. Our goal was to take advantage of the EASTER season to strategically expose students to Christ’s history and his Salvation plan. It was great to hear what our schoolmates really think about this holiday. Many Brazilian people celebrate it – or, at least, they remember about it – however so few people understand what is it really about. This season is very significant for Christians, since it leads us to the memory of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross so that mankind could delight of a perfect relationship with God – and that’s why we were made for – and of the abounding life that’s offered to us. We made some fliers and posters using the picture aside.
I’ve heard some people – including a professor – saying that they had seen the poster and loved the Idea. So… Why not making students think about it? Easter isn’t just a holiday to be together with the family in a delicious Sunday lunch or to get stuck of chocolate. Surely, you can even do both these things but there’s so much more than this. And it’s essential to keep it in mind.
One day I was with one of my friends and we went for a walk, seeking for students just to talk to them about God. We found two girls. We had introduced ourselves and showed them a flier. We asked them what they think about that image. One of them said that she had already been exposed to that picture. The other girl held the picture in her hands and started to analyze it. As she was beholding the picture, the other girl asked us something: “would it be okay if I decided to give chocolate to a Christian friend of mine?”. I said: “well, if I was this friend, I would love to receive the chocolate!”. During our conversation I tried to make it clear that, there is no problem on eating chocolate and the rabbit from the picture isn’t to blame – by the way, what’s wrong in the picture is the rabbit on the cross; SomeOne else should be there instead of it. So many times we try to change the focus of things, and, unfortunately, our society’s been putting other things but Jesus as the essence of Easter time and of everything as well. Easter means Jesus’ resurrection; the empty tomb, the new life He gave us when He had died on the cross. So, if you know the real meaning of it all and believe it, besides living this truth, just relax. There is nothing better than eating chocolate once you really comprehend the complete meaning of it all. When we finished the conversation, the other girl who was beholding the flier told us she was Christian and she also helped us to explain better to her friend what we should really celebrate on this holiday. It’s a symbolic date, but it should serve as a mean to make every person of our generation to know the history and love of Jesus Christ, the author of the most important deed ever.
It makes me so glad to see new students of our group so excited and happy to share His good news in the campus. It’s a big challenge we know, since they have been with us for so short period of time and it’s usual to see many people afraid our feeling insecure about doing it so soon. Nevertheless, I can feel their passion for God and their desire to see the university as a place where God is welcome, where people can be influenced by our lifestyle and love.
PRAY for every student to have a vision for the campus; may our hearts be aflame with the vision of a changed reality, of a new season, where each one can be impacted and thus feel themselves invited to live a different lifestyle as they are inspired and influenced by the way we act, talk and live with them at the campus.
Sam
