Case for Christ God Moment

One of the biggest blessings when working in ministry is when God gives us even the smallest glimpse of His hand at work in the redemption of His children. Despite the visibility of the Sovereign hand at work, we labor and toil, proclaiming Him, teaching His truth, trusting that He is not only faithful, but will utilize those efforts for His glory.

Recently, God blessed us with a massive "God moment."

The student made it clear from the beginning: she wanted scientific proof to either give up the need for evidence or find some through the Confirmation process on the biggest questions she will ever grapple with: Does God really exist? Was Jesus just a historical figure?

The moment I read the faith story, I smiled. Clearly, God was at work. I began to get excited about what God had in store for this student.

Some would take such questions and comments as a lack of faith and detrimental mindset. For a youth worker, these are good signs in a teen. It means the student is not only grappling with and thinking about God's truth, but they are so serious about finding the truth that they are willing to be real with others and search for the truth. You can't ask for better soil to plant seeds and see God cultivate them!

Knowing I couldn't let this incredible opportunity pass, through prayer and a brainstorm with God, I sent an email to JohnShaw who would serve as an Elder for one of the Confirmands.

"A neat opportunity has come up and I wanted to see if you would be willing to go “above and beyond” to try to connect with this Confirmation student. I’m not exactly sure what that might look like, but I was even thinking something as simple as both of you reading a book or chapters from a book (like “More than a Carpenter” or “One heartbeat away” or "Evidence that demands a Verdict" or one of Strobel’s student versions) and just connecting and processing what is being read."

And he replied nine minutes later:

"Sounds like fun -- I'm game. OK if I pick the book? What do you think about Lee Strobel "Case for Christ"? I'm pretty sure I have the student version in the WALK library (or could easily get it)."

Did we know where God would lead? No.

I just knew that God was orchestrating a Holy moment and that we had to be obedient to God's calling on our lives as believers to proclaim and teach.

I went to the student that Sunday to ask if she would be willing to read the book alongside JohnShaw and potentially use the discussion as her Confirmation project.

Her reply? "Sure! That works well since I'm already reading the book!"

I was floored. Undeniable evidence that God was at work. But He didn't stop there.

The student finished the book and was trying to arrange a meeting with JohnShaw. I randomly stopped her one Sunday just to ask how it was going. Though I don't remember the full content of the conversation, it ended with her excited to share what she learned from the book with the Confirmation class in the from of a presentation.

The next Sunday after my lesson on the Holy Spirit (a favorite for students since it involves Neapolitan ice cream and chocolate milk), I turned things over to the student.

She stood up, note cards in one hand and the book in the other. One could tell there was a sense of nervousness, but she smiled and started talking.

She began by describing the premise of the book. It is all about scientific evidence surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus, but never makes a claim. It leaves it up to the reader to interpret what the evidence proves.

The student read an except from the book which had impacted her the most. The part where the author describes the flogging of Jesus that led up to the Crucifixion. After reading from the book, she stopped.

She looked at her classmates and said this: "After reading this book and thinking about the scientific evidence, there is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is the Son of God."

I never saw that coming. I was again floored by the Majesty and Splendor of our God.

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:24-27