Popping the Christian Bubble
by Erin Delcarson Fonner
But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest universities in the country and many parts of Austin are blanketed with a cloud of spiritual darkness. However, after over twelve years of prayer for the campus, a movement of God has begun.
The campus ministers at UT have united to mobilize students to impact their campus for Christ. Their vision is that there would be an expression of the Church within reach of every student in every walk of life. To realize this vision, this group of pastors and leaders has gone to great lengths to spiritually map the campus. They have discovered that there are over 500 student groups, and that only a small percentage of them have a Christian presence.
It’s time to get out of the Christian bubble. One by one, students are being sent out as missionaries into specific subcultures, or ministry focus groups, to be lights in the dark places. With God’s grace, they are starting authentic faith communities (AFCs) which naturally grow out of the harvest. AFCs are Christ-centered communities on mission with Him. In other words, they are gatherings of believers and non-believers who explore Christian spirituality together, organic expressions of the church. Each AFC looks different, and leaders are trained to tailor their AFCs to the needs of their ministry focus groups. The goal of each AFC is to grow out of its ministry focus group, rather than by recruiting other believers from the outside.
Students are thirsty to know and serve God to the fullest, yet many of them are not exactly sure how to live out that desire. In an effort to channel this passion into purpose, Justin Christopher of Campus Renewal Ministries invited New Church Initiatives to create a training class for missional Christians on the university campus. Retrospect: Reviving Grassroots Christianity was the result.
In eight sessions Retrospect teaches students how to saturate their campus with the gospel by starting AFCs. Reflecting back on the first century church, students explore what evangelism, prayer, and discipleship should look like in their emerging generation and discuss practical methods for reaching their ministry focus groups. Many campus ministries at UT are choosing to abandon the typical small group focus and are now transitioning their ministries to raise up missional students to start AFCs. Over 75 students have committed to going through the Retrospect training course this year. Here are some of their stories.
Jordan and Courtney are a brother and sister team who began picking up trash on their respective floors in their dorm, Jester. This simple act of service drew lots of attention, and some students, both believers and non-believers, began helping. This led to friendships and social gatherings, and now they lead a weekly AFC gathering in the dorm comprised of both believers and seekers.
Peter has gathered a group of believers within the music school to pray for the school regularly. They are each intentionally building relationships with music students as they work towards starting an AFC in the music school. Rosanne is doing the same thing in the theatre department, whose wild reputation is well-known across campus.
Robbie, Matt, John, Kathryn, and Natalie live in two apartment complexes near each other and have gone door to door inviting their neighbors to dinner parties. These acquaintances have opened up opportunities to dialogue about spiritual issues. Robbie and John have also started a soccer group where they are building intentional relationships with people far from God.
Cody’s ministry focus group is the philosophical pot-smokers. He has enjoyed many spiritual dialogues and debates with these free thinkers and is praying for God to raise up an AFC as his friends come to Christ.
Mason intentionally pledged a fraternity and has won the respect of its members. He is now in a leadership role and is planting the seeds to develop an AFC within the fraternity.
Raul and Kevin run track and have been leading a Bible study for the track team for a while. They are now starting to transition their group of believers into a missional AFC. Judy and Abby are Asian women in the business school who find themselves in a similar position. As leaders of a well-developed Christian gathering of business students, they are now casting vision for their group to turn into a hub of missional Christians who each go out and start AFCs within the dozens of clubs of the business school.
The missional movement at UT is a beautiful picture of how the Church was intended to operate. The church does not exist for itself; it exists for the kingdom! As more and more students catch the vision, are equipped, and are sent out, God’s kingdom and His renown continue to grow. We can no longer expect the community to come to church; we must take the church out into the community! It is only when the Christian bubble is burst that the true Living Water begins to flow.
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
John 7:38 NIV
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