In Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria…

The last few weeks I have been learning another lesson… One of being involved in your community as well as being aware of the dynamics and needs of your community. We so easily get wrapped up in our own lives and our perceived ministry that we forget to look at the bigger picture of community in which we live.

In the first week of August,  myself and fellow campus workers took lunch break at CUT Campus as an opportunity to randomly mingle with students (this is becoming a regular event now!). On Wednesdays we have prayer time at lunch time. In the heart of the Campus, in the middle of class, in the midst of hundreds of future leaders.

We spent the first week just praying for the students around us as we sat in the Amphitheatre surrounded by these future leaders watching contestants in a Carnival Culture Bash. Poetry, singing, stand-up comedy and fashion design were all on display. Every contestant being a student at CUT.

I was gripped by the passion with which the audience listened and responded to the poems, songs and jokes delivered. It was obvious that many of them stirred their hearts and there was a longing in them for acceptance, love, affirmation. This longing is so prevalent in our society, yet how often do we take time to be still enough to perceive and recognise it?

God has given me renewed fervour in my prayer time on CUT Campus. Timidity and feeling out of place has been replaced with boldness and security in knowing that this is where I have been placed to represent the Kingdom of God. Cluelessness in what to pray for has been replaced with purposeful prayer focussing on specific needs.

This last point was greatly improved on Monday when I spent half of lunchtime talking to a candidate of one of the two political parties running for office in the SRC elections which will be happening on CUT next week Wednesday. The SRC is dealing with issues such as insufficient staffing at the clinic, allegations of favouritism and denial of opportunities based on race at two of the faculties and insufficient availability of computers in the library for some students whose courses are time-intensive, allowing them little time to visit the library for research and projects.

These are all things pressing on the hearts of this young man standing for office and it was such an encouragement to me to know that there are leaders being raised up who believe in creating a better environment for study, facilitating academic excellence, in the interests of the students and ultimately the community. This is the same thing that we as Campus Ministers want to see. We will attack these problems on the front of prayer and changing people’s hearts with the gospel of Christ. Young leaders like my candidate friend will change it by taking the responsibility of being in office in a governing body. With authority comes responsibility and it was so refreshing to see that combination in this young man so full of passion and wisdom.

Please pray for the elections on Wednesday 24 August 2011, that God’s will shall prevail and that those who come into office will recognise the need for a change of hearts before there can be a change of circumstances. Please pray that the change of heart will begin with the leaders elected. May we see leaders like the Apostle Paul rise up in our Campuses and communities.

Shalom! ;o)