“I came to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.”
Light was created to alleviate darkness. Sometimes going to where the darkness is reminds us how powerful the light really is. Jesus often hung out with the “kinds of people” who had been bound by the darkness.
Campus Church interns this summer are hanging out with some of “those kinds of people” and are seeing the light of Jesus shine in some dark places.
Every day, they spend time in prayer, word, and worship. Then they hit the campus and take to the streets encountering people who don’t yet know Jesus. They come back with their stories, we talk about them, pray, then they go out again to build off what they’re learning.
A couple snapshots from the last week.
“I Want My Money Back From the Psychic Shop”
Scene from Downtown Lawrence:
Brad (Intern Program Leader): “Hey there’s a couple coming out of a psychic shop. Let’s go talk to them. They must be spiritually hungry.”
Ken (Intern working at ASU): “OK.”
Brad: “Hi, did you just get a spiritual reading in the psychic shop? How was it?”
Couple: It was pretty good.
Brad: How much did it cost?
Couple: $20
Brad: Would you like another kind of “spiritual reading” for free?
Couple: Uh…ok
Brad: I should tell you we speak from a different power source though – Jesus. We pray for people and sometimes He gives us words to say for people. You want to try it?
Couple: OK
Brad and Ken laid hands on the couple and began to pray for them in the name of Jesus.
They told the couple thoughts they had about them while they prayed.
They shared Jesus’ love and power with them. They spoke of God’s encouragement and healing to areas of woundedness.
The couple nodded their head in amazement at the accuracy of the prayers, affirming that the prayers spoke to what they were going through.
After they were done, the couple said,
“I want my money back from the Psychic Shop. This was better.”
Jesus’ power is always better than the cheap counterfeits the world offers.
Sometimes it just takes a follower of Jesus to step out in faith and reach someone who seems far away.
Later that night…
Interns Head to The Bars
Interns head to the bar scene in downtown Lawrence. Here you can find about every subculture you could think of seeking sex, drugs, and anything else that can fill the spiritual void in their hearts. The interns hit the streets until well after midnight, ministering to people who may have never seen the love and truth of Jesus demonstrated to them before.
They talked with homosexuals.
They hung out with musicians.
They prayed for people seeking drugs and the party scene.
They loved on those who had never felt love from a follower of Jesus before.
Jesse, a strong young intern from Western Pennsylvania walked up to a man with a limp and asked if she could pray for him. While standing there, a young homosexual guy who was there with his boyfriend said, “I’ve never been prayed over before. Could you pray for me?” The group of interns surrounded him, told him about Jesus, and prayed for him. This prompted a conversation with the young man that went on til after 1am.
Sometimes the greatest grace is found in the places of greatest darkness. Jesus loved sinners and hung out with them.
Pray for these interns to bring the transforming power of the gospel into many people’s lives this summer — and go back to their campuses ready to bring more fruit of God’s kingdom!
Love the unloveable this week and bring the power of Jesus into people’s lives around you. 
Erik Fish
CCN/Student Church Movements
Campus Church Interns
