I'm off to Scotland in three weeks! Not for Scottish country dancing, or fiddle playing (though I hope to get some of that in) . I'm going with Campus for Christ to the Universtiy of Edinburgh where we'll be talking to students there about God and putting on a few outreaches with their christian ministry team. I'm super excited!!!
It's called prject Prodigal Son....
Do you remember the bible story about the prodigal son? He left home with his inheritance and spent it all on the plan to live just for his own pleasures. Then the money ran out, and he was left to eat food worse than what pigs eat. There is a happy ending, as he decides to go back home- knowing he doesn't even deserve to live there- hopeing his father will forgive him. Well, not only does his father forgive him, but he runs out to meet him (something not done in that culture) and puts on a big celebration in honor of his son who returned.
This story is akin to what has happened in Scotland. Generations of God's children who have run from Him to seek satisfaction and pleasure in the world, whose physical wealth belies a deep spiritual need, a separation from their loving Father. Our vision is to help call Scotland back to the loving arms of a Father whose heart breaks over his children. My heart breaks for these people, especially when I think of their rich spiritual heritage. Pioneers like John Knox, George MacDonald, and Eric Liddell have influenced the world from this small but mighty country.
Currently, most students believe that the Church is a thing of the past, that tolerance and pluralism are the paths of the future, and that Jesus is ultimately irrelevant. We may be facing such a scenario in North America in a few generations. In a post-Christian culture, evangelism is not always easy. We will be laying the groundwork for movements of evangelism and discipleship that will transform this nation. If we don’t tell them about Jesus, who will?
