Denton: Hard times, hard hearts

[Harry]

Some days serving at the University of North Texas are just plain hard.

It’s not the kind of morally conservative Christian campus I knew at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

It seems most students do not care about God or want to engage in spiritual conversations—not because they don’t see the reason for believing in God, but because they really just don’t care. However, I am learning when you make the conversation about meeting their needs and hearing about their lives, the Holy Spirit moves.

The Baptist Student Ministry serves free lunch on Wednesdays. Each week, a different church provides the food and helps serve hundreds of students on campus. Each week, new faces come in for the first time.

I greet students at the door. So, I am the first person students see when they walk into the BSM. Truthfully, I love that I get to be the first smiling face. My goal is to make them feel welcomed, but that isn’t always an easy task. Most students at UNT are always looking for the hidden agenda. They want to know: “Why they feeding us?” or “What’s the catch?”

It never fails that I have to convince a student it’s OK—it’s just a hot dog or just a taco salad. It’s funny to think they are so scared to accept food because they might be told something they do not want to hear.

I did not understand at first, but then I remembered my life before Christ. I thought what I was being taught was crazy. I thought it was foolishness. I thought that it was not a life for me, but then I met Jesus.

Read more: http://www.baptiststandard.com/opinion/missions/15697-denton-hard-times-hard-hearts

[FirefightnRick]

Thanks for posting Harry.

Rick

[GTWT]

"It’s not the kind of morally conservative Christian campus I knew at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor."

Thank God. Oh, that doesn't sound right....

[JesseMartin]

That's pretty cool. A couple of my friends asked me why I didn't go to the BSM for help when I was too broke to eat, thinking that maybe I didn't want to hear the right message. But I just always felt like I should be the one giving and not receiving, so I always had a hard time accepting anybody's help. It might seem like pride, but really it's just that I felt guilty that I wasn't able to do more for others, so why should I deserve help myself?

The fact is that I should have spent more time with the friends that frequented the BSM and other such groups, because those were healthier friendships than most others I've had.

Just thought I'd throw that in there for anyone thinking about stopping by there. You don't have to talk to everybody about God's role in your life, but you may find yourself in pretty good company with some great people.

[BeanCounterGrad'03]

That's pretty cool. A couple of my friends asked me why I didn't go to the BSM for help when I was too broke to eat, thinking that maybe I didn't want to hear the right message. But I just always felt like I should be the one giving and not receiving, so I always had a hard time accepting anybody's help. It might seem like pride, but really it's just that I felt guilty that I wasn't able to do more for others, so why should I deserve help myself?

The fact is that I should have spent more time with the friends that frequented the BSM and other such groups, because those were healthier friendships than most others I've had.

Just thought I'd throw that in there for anyone thinking about stopping by there. You don't have to talk to everybody about God's role in your life, but you may find yourself in pretty good company with some great people.

Good post...I was very involved with United Methodist Students (now named Denton Wesley Foundation) throughout my college career, met my wife and my future brother-in-law there, and met lots of great people many of who are my closest friends to this day. Lots of great memories and probably kept me out of trouble I might have gotten into otherwise.

[UNTLifer]

Good post.