Students catch on to Starbucks conversation starters

FBC photo by Jessica Tuggle

Rahul Agarwal shows James Brannan how to use Soularium, a new evangelism tool created by Campus Crusade for Christ designed to help spark conversations and build relationships with unbelievers.

LESSBURG (FBC)—College students from around the state put aside friendly school rivalries for a weekend of discipleship, leadership training and worship at the 2008 State Baptist Collegiate Conference Feb. 15-17, at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg.

The theme of the conference, "RE: Connect with your Creator," was more than just a catchy name, said Lee Howell, director of Baptist Campus Ministries at Florida State University, but emphasized that reconnecting with Christ involves a greater commitment to doing His work.

"If they are not in love with Jesus as they first were and if they don't have a love for their campus, we hope they will reconnect that way," he said.

Loy Reed, state director of the Collegiate Ministries Department, said the goal of the weekend was "to help students reengage with Christ and with others in a way that those people come to Christ as well."

CANER

Keynote speaker Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., shared with students his testimony and conversion to Christianity from Islam.

As a devout Muslim, "I hated you," Caner said. His salvation resulted from the persistence of a high school student that "wouldn't shut up."

In a small church revival service, Caner at the age of 18 accepted Christ into his life and has since helped lead two brothers, his mother, his grandmother and many others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Speaking with an impassioned fervor, Caner encouraged students to continue sharing Christ with friends and family members and to consider people in their lives who still need Christ.

"Jesus strapped a cross to his back so I wouldn't have to strap a bomb on myself," Caner said. "You and I are to reconnect people to the God who created them."

Chelsea Gustafson was among dozens of students who went to the altar and prayed on their hands and knees for their lost friends while worship leaders, the Chris Kuti Band, played an invitation.

"I've been thinking about two people," said the Seminole Community College sophomore. "Immediately they popped in my head. It made me think more about how I'm going to get involved in their lives."

Rahul Agarwal, Tampa-area BCM director, expressed his excitement about the students' response. "On the very first night, God was convicting them of people they need to continue talking to about a relationship with Jesus Christ."

Their response was inspiring and encouraging, he said. "I want students on their faces reconnecting with God, I want students to grow."

With the help of grains of rice, Florida State University senior Monica Waters created a visual demonstration of how many people in the world are spiritually lost and dying without a savior

Crowding around a large black mat painted with the outlines of continents, students stood on chairs, craning to see as Waters and other volunteers poured gallon after gallon of rice onto the landmasses outlined around the map.

With each grain representing two hundred persons and each cup containing 12,000 grains, 700 cups—or 38 gallons—of rice covered the drawings of the countries, in some places 5 inches deep. The enormous visual of the 1.68 billion people who need to know the name of Jesus was made shockingly clear how spiritually lost the world is, said Waters.

Throughout the weekend retreat, students attended seminars from an extensive list of 22 topics, all revolving around reconnecting with Christ.

"Aside from breakfast, lunch and dinner, I was most excited about the curriculum," said Chris Bella, a junior at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County. "I got to pick what I learned."

Florida Community College in Jacksonville sophomore Heather Pate agreed, "I think it's awesome that there are a lot of seminars catering to our needs."

Leading a seminar about evangelism called "Soularium: a window to the soul," Agarwal demonstrated a new evangelism tool created by Campus Crusade, which showed how pictures of everyday objects and scenes could be used to engage people in conversations that eventually turn to discussions about God.

"We're all image driven," Agarwal said, "so why not reach our friends with that medium?"

James Brannan, the "Elevate" ministry leader at Church on the Rock in Plant City, purchased the package of 50 pictures and plans to use them at Starbucks to start conversations.

"I think one of the most challenging things (in witnessing) is starting the conversation," Brannan said. "The medium, the pictures, prevents any barriers they might throw up. The only thing simpler I've seen is the E-cube."

Ed Scott, associate professor of Christian studies at The Baptist College of Florida, led a seminar to help students learn how to get more out of their personal bible study. He recommended reading for detail and checking the history around the passage to enrich Bible study.

"Read it like a love letter, hang on every word," Scott suggested.

Students elected as 2008 State Officers were Mark Smith, University of North Florida, president; and Alex Melton of the University of Central Florida, vice president.