The Best Investment of My Time

A few minutes later, I found myself in the front of the room, committing my life to God’s global mission. I expected that God would ship me out to a remote village somewhere on a different continent.

Five years later, I am still a professor.

God Opened My Eyes

However, some things have changed. Through my involvement with Faculty Commons at the University of Florida, I read A Grander Story.  The book both inspired and instructed me about how I can live missionally as a professor. When God opened my eyes to see all the international graduate students at my university, it dawned on me that they are my mission field.

One day I casually asked my graduate students what we could do to encourage one another. Surprisingly, M, a strong believer, said: “There are so many Christians in our department; let’s start a Bible study.” Soon after that, the Cru ministry at the University of Florida invited me to help lead and be the faculty adviser for the new grad ministry that was starting. That was four years ago.

Raising Multiplying Disciples

As a grad ministry, we have seen God do some amazing things. What stands out to me is Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to entrust the gospel to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

Today, I am convinced that helping to raise multiplying disciples of Christian graduate students may be the best investment of my time as a Christian professor. 

Utilizing Ashley and Heather Holleman’s book, Sent, and their “Prayer-Care-Share Initiative Training” on evangelism has enabled us to see a number of grad students come to faith, be discipled, and sent to reach their peers in their labs as well as others globally.

Here are some stories

•   One of the first grad students to come to faith was the lab mate of L in Animal Science. Four other grad students from various departments came to faith with different students.

•   Over the last four years, S had been praying and caring for his Mexican classmate, Z. This past year, Z accepted Christ and now he’s zealously sharing his faith.

•   Last year, C went on a Faculty Commons mission trip with Filter of Hope. Right after the trip, she visited Chile where she shared the gospel and led her friend’s mom to Christ.

•   In her 2 mission trips to Guatemala, A (the only team member with a medical background) helped to open doors for the local team to reach medical students.

Little did I know when I said “Yes” to God’s global mission that His plan was to resource and to use me right here on my campus. It has been my joy and my honor to come alongside these grad students for a season to help equip them for a lifetime.