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A Pastors Confession…

by | Oct 8, 2014 | Missions Articles, Uncategorized

50 years ago from this past weekend was the beginnings of the Free Speech Movement on the Cal-Berkeley campus. While I’m not a historian of the event, I do understand that the movement brought great “freedom” to that campus as well as others. It was a major win for freedom and rights. College students took a stand, got the nations attention and as a result, changes were made and culture started moving into a brave new world. That culture of the sixties and seventies stood up for and witnessed major breakthrough with regards to their freedoms. Their passion, commitment and fortitude should be admired, remembered and encouraged. In the end, while it might have won them earthly freedom, we now see in hindsight that many were left in spiritual/relational/emotional/sexual bondage. It really is a shame. What must be known is that unless any movement is directed with the intent to honor God and bring Him honor, in the end what was won might seem small to all that was actually lost. It is tragic, but I wonder sometimes if there are still those types of people out there today who will stand up for what they believe in at all cost? Do you? Do I?

Due to those actions and that movement 50 years ago. On the same campus at the same spot TheCall held an open air all day worship and prayer event. Around two thousand people came out to Sproul Plaza to lift up the name of Jesus, pray for our country and reach out to the hurting on the campus. It was a wonderful scene and a great experience. Sproul Plaza is an outdoor venue on the Cal-Berkeley campus. It’s a great location because people almost have to pass by this plaza to get from shops/restaurants/town to get into the main part of the campus. During this 12 hour event no one could have counted the thousands of people who walked by the crowd, heard the worship music, saw people worshiping and heard the Gospel as it was shared.

At the event I was given a lanyard that held a badge at the bottom that showed that I was part of the event and marked me as “one of them” if you will. Being “one of them” in this case would mean a person who believes in TheCall ministry. A person who is a believer in Christ. A person who is passionate about prayer, worship and revival. Yep, thats me. I love all those things and was glad to be marked as “one of them” even in the midst of thousands walking by who lets just say were not overly excited about the event on many different levels. In the midst of my times of worship,prayer and flood of passion for Jesus, I would often glance out at those walking by and think about them. Wonder about them. Pray for them. I had no judgement in my heart but I did wonder what it would be like to separate myself from the thousands gathered in Jesus name and just become one person in the midst of many others on this beautiful campus.

So I did. I left the event with the lanyard and badge still in tact. I separated from those who “were like me” and ventured out into the unknown. Literally, I did not know the campus layout nor a soul on the campus, but I wanted to feel the feelings of living my passion and faith by myself in the midst of those who presumably were not “like me”.

I did not have to walk 50 yards from the event and it hit me. It hit me hard. Here is my confession… Before I even got far enough away where I could not hear the music, I already wanted to take off my lanyard. I felt my flesh wanting to disassociate with the event. I did not want to be identified as “one of them” anymore. The music, crowd and energy was gone and it left just me and my faith or maybe a huge lack there of. I began asking myself how so much could change inside of me in just 50 yards? What in the heck happened? Who the heck am I? As I got further into the campus I settled down and began to recall my own story. My foundations in the faith and my confidence in the love and supremacy of Christ. Christ loved me out of where I was in life and He wants to do it for everyone on that campus to. As I walked I gained more confidence and I gained more love. I began to walk proudly that God calls me his own, but I also walked with more compassion for those around me. My half hour or so of walking did not lead to any conversations even though I was open and looking for it. It did however lead to overcoming. Overcoming fear of man. Overcoming doubt of self and God. Overcoming the enemy.

In the grand scope of things it was a small personal stand and victory. It probably won’t spark a movement or get any national attention or local for that matter. I’m sure I won’t get a Wikipedia page out of it. But I do understand this… The path to major victory and breakthrough in life and our faith is chalked full of smaller,daily victories along the way. Here is to taking life and faith one day at a time. If millions of us can do that, what a movement it will be!!!!

Marvin Slaton
Modern Day Director

If you would like to make a financial contribution to Marvin, CLICK HERE.

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