Ant-on-line

Prayer of Thanksgiving October 23, 2009

Hmmm,

Where to start?  Amidst all the “things to do” and the many responsibilities, I’m taking the time to reflect on a few things to be thankful for.

I am indeed thankful for the opportunity to be work on campus, to meet students and be part of their lives as they discover Jesus Christ for the first time, or further get to know Jesus Christ.  I am so privileged to journey with students as they experience the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  It is wonderful to dialogue with God the Father and experience his faithfulness.

I know I can’t generalize all students, but students are busy – not always busy with studies, but busy with stuff.  There is so much “stuff” out there and the accessibility is hardly restricted.  I regularly meet with a graduate student from China and I often hear about how busy he is doing lab work, field work, and course work.  Yet I was encouraged that he really enjoys writing and reflecting on life.  I get a chance to meet him for lunch and talk about the everyday life, but the direction of life as well.  It’s great to be able to point him to parts of the Bible that might be relevant to his life.  I recently pointed him to Ecclesiastes and I wonder what types of discussion we’ll have as he reads and considers  the expression of meaningless in labour and toil.

I’m also thankful to work with Roslyn.  It is such a unique opportunity to work alongside Roslyn and share the joys and challenges of reaching university students with the gospel.  The conversations we have and hearing about student engaging other students is so encouraging.

And talking about all this just leaves me thankful for the ultimate, a relationship in which I come to know God.  A relationship that changes me, from the inside out.  Having been married for just over a year now, I am able to see how a committed relationship changes me.  I am thankful for redemption, the redemption of all of me: my purpose, my relationships, my spirit, my destiny, my attitude, my hope, and so much more.  I look back at this past year, and I indeed confess that God has been doing a lot of construction work in my life and know it is part of his plan to involve me in other peoples’ lives.

Thank-you God for all that YOU are.  To know you is life, full life!

Anton

Frosh Week @ UoA: Day 4 (Sep 3, 2009) September 3, 2009

Yes, another busy day – you can’t have a frosh week without being busy!

Last night’s Bible Study was great as we talk about salvation and our assurance of it! It was just impacting, personally speaking. I’ve heard it before, but one can never “out-hear” the gospel and the impact of our assurance. One of the application questions (homework for next week) was to think and reflect on how the assurance of salvation through Christ impacts me on a daily level. As I was reflecting on these things this morning, I was just uplifted in my spirit by the freedom that the assurance of salvation offers. My assurance that Christ saved me not by my works, by his grace through faith, I am so free, free indeed. Free to live life, not in fear, not in the constraints of tradition or laws – not that I live hazardously. But my living is not a matter of doing things to try to earn God’s favour or get to heaven. It’s simply living out a relationship of love that was first bestowed upon me by God, and now I to Him!

I was talking to a student who has a Buddhist grandmother who did a lot of things, religious acts and ceremonies, etc. He once asked him grandmother whether she knew if she was going to get to “heaven”, she said she was unsure, and that is why she need to continue to do those things, those good things. As I thought about that this morning, I was just so thankful and excited! Her behaviours are in many ways dictated by her being unsure of what happens after she dies. But my life, my change in my life is dictated by the love of Jesus Christ, through my personal relationship with him!!! Having been married only a little over a year, it very clear that change can happen from love. The change in my life because of Jesus Christ is lasting and continuing! Wow – the assurance of salvation because Christ died on the cross for my sins, that I might know forgiveness and powerful love.

Today, we continued to do classroom SIQ’s. We didn’t see as much interest today, which was slightly discouraging, but then again, I need to also remind myself that this is a huge step for the ministry at UoA. So I need to celebrate that (that we did them and saw a few student interested in knowing God personally).

We had a large BBQ infront of the big mural of the education building. I’m sure it drew in some people that weren’t originally planning to come, but saw free food! Well, hey, that’s great – I wanna talk with them too! I met a first year student from Taiwan who is trying to figure out what group to get involved in and if he can be involved during the week. He faces a lot of challenges as he is on his own here. He’s only been in Canada for less than 2 weeks. He’s the oldest of all children and the first in his family to ever go to university. His family is back home in Taiwan and has no relatives. The pressure is high/heavy!

I also met a guy from Ontario who is doing grad work here (a recurring theme in my life). His family is Christian, but he’s “not a Christian anymore.” He respects the Christian community, though. But I’m not satisfied – I plan to connect with him and I’m excited to help him discover the Jesus Christ I know (ie. first two paragraphs above)!!!!

Tired and heading to bed – one more day tomorrow and long weekend (ie. rest)

Anton

Frosh Week @ UoA: Day 3 (Sep 2, 2009) September 2, 2009

Another busy day. Today was fun and long.

We did the classrooms SIQ’s. They went so smoothly.  We stood outside the classroom and handed out the survey’s to students.  The first year students are so eager, they much more willing to take the survey at this point in the year.  A funny thing happened.  We surveyed a biology class and as I stood at the side of the classroom, the professor saw me and handed me a classroom syllabus!!!  I guess I look like a first year, even though I didn’t have a bag with me at all.  Most of the first year students are probably 17/18 years old.  I guess at 25, I still look like a first year!

At the “end of the day” we had our large Bible study.  We prepared a nice pasta dinner for everyone and caesar salad. There were about 40-50 students who came out!!!!  Many came out because of the chalking they saw on the ground, the booth, and personal phone calls.

As I sat at my table with a few guys, I realized how exciting it was to be there. There were four students at my table:
1) first year, undergraduate, engineering student from Edmonton
2) master’s student in soil sciences from China
3) another master’s student from the Philippines
4) a Ph.D student in computer science from Brazil
The variety of students in the different levels and from different parts of the world really excited me about reaching today’s university campus.  The student from China was not a Christian and recognized that, but was very interested to find out more!  What an opportunity.  Another day where I count it an honour and privilege to be serving students full-time.  I am so thankful to those who are support Roslyn and I for the work we are doing!

Praise God!

Frosh Week @ UoA: Day Two (Sep 1, 2009) September 1, 2009

Another busy day on campus with hundreds, of students coming through to register and check out the clubs on campus.  Again we handed out Real Life Kits to people!

Tonight, I called a few people who wanted to find out more about our Bible Studies on campus.  I was met with interest.  I am excited about tomorrow because I am meeting a student who wants to know more about “knowing God personally!!!”  He filled out one of our surveys yesterday!  Second day on campus and I get the opportunity to share the beauty of Jesus Christ!  What a privilege and honour to represent Christ.

Tomorrow is going to be different day.  Tomorrow, we are going to be outside on campus in “The Quad” where we will be able to set up our booth and continue to hand out Real Life Kits and the surveys.  Additionally, we are going to do Classroom SIQ.  We are hitting up major first year classes are are in the size of the hundreds.  We’ll hand out survey before classes, make an announcment, collect the surveys and be out of the class before the professor starts.  We respect the students and the prof and don’t use any of their class time.  Doing these SIQ’s, we are aiming to reach every first year student.  We want to survey the first year class to find out among them who, at this time would be interested to join Bible studies, or find out more about knowing God personally.  This strategy allows us survey hundreds of students in a matter of 5 minutes.  I can’t think of a better time and place to be extending the invitation to discover Jesus Christ!!!!

Also tomorrow (Wednesday), we are launching for first Bible study of the year.  For the month of September we are gathering as a large group to do Bible studies (we break off into smaller groups).  We’ll be going from 5:00-7:00 (Mountain time, that’s 7-9, EST).  Pray that students will remember to come out, those who expressed interest these past few days.

In His Glory,

Anton

Frosh Week @ UoA: Day One (Aug 31, 2009) August 31, 2009

A busy first day happened.  Lots of clubs filled the Butterdome (actual name of the big yellow physical education building).  We were placed along all the other religious groups, particularly many different Christian groups.

We were handing out surveys to students to fill out. We call them Spiritual Interest Questionairres and they mainly find out more about the student’s beliefs and religious background.  We also ask them if they are interested being contacted by someone to find out more about:

• Evidence for the existence of God
• How they can know God personally
• Bible studies on campus

We also used the survey as a draw for a tv.  Most students are eager to fill out a survey for a free tv!

Additionally, we also handed out Real Life Kits.  These are packages that contain the New Testament of the Bible, “The Case for a Creator” or “The Case for the Real Jesus” (by Lee Strobel), and a pen-highlighter.  We hand them out in a laundry bag. The laundry bags are great as they advertise our evangelistic website: Iamnext.com. Students love this because part of university life is doing your own laundry (especially if you live on your own).  It also helps them keep all the stuff they are collecting throughout the day.

I know recently that Power to Change might have sent out some news regarding this upcoming September.  There was an opportunity for people to make a donation to fund the purchase and production of these Real Life Kits.  I want to thank-you so much if you have participated in funding this venture.  I thank-you because through you, I had the opportunity to talk to students, get the New Testament into their hands, and engage them to consider spiritual things.  Thank-you for your step of faith, as it does not necessarily bring about immediate results that you get to witness.  But I can attest to the fact that there are people who are impacted by these Real Life Kits.

I recently heard of a colleague who was invited by a girl who invited my colleague to share more about Jesus and the Bible with her and her roommates.  When my colleague arrived, all the girls walked out with a New Testament Bible, the very ones that we hand out during Frosh Week and throughout the year!!!

I am excited and nervous at the same time.  We are having a large group Bible study this coming Wednesday at 5:00 PM (7:00 for people in Ontario).  Please join us in praying for students to come out, as we have advertised today and continually tomorrow.

Anton

Original Welcome August 30, 2009

This is my first Weblog.

The main purpose of me starting this and maintaining this is to provide individuals who want to keep up to date on what I am doing, particularly in regards to my ministry with Campus for Christ at McMaster University.

Though I send out monthly newsletters to supporters, this medium allows for a more “self-serve approach”, where people can have more control as to what they want to read about.

The content of posts will vary from ministry activities, random thoughts, to reflection upon God’s word.  The purpose again is to keep you up to date and encouraged with what God is doing in my life, through my life, and on campus of McMaster University.

It is my ambition and goal that Christ may be glorified in all things by word and in deed and in the deepest parts of my heart.  It is my purpose to know Christ, him alone, and enjoy him forever.  It is my prayer that you too may come to know him and more will hear of God’s love and forgiveness through my Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowing and In Christ,

anton

“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” [Paul in Philippians 3:8]

Welcome to my Weblog August 5, 2007

Welcome,

Here’s my first post.  It isn’t fancy, but it’s the first one.  I hope subsequent posts will be more interesting, informing, and encouraging.

 anton