Summer 2006 - Evangelism: Loving God and Loving Your Neighbor

For many, the word "evangelism" embodies the antithesis of contemporary thought. American society prides itself on hard-earned tolerance and respect for diverse opinions, wrought in the forge of the civil rights movement. In some circles, the idea of imposing one's philosophy and religion on another is simply taboo. Evangelism can evoke images of historical extremes - the crusades, the Spanish inquisition, European colonization of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, or even the more innocuous but nonetheless potentially coercive fire-and-brimstone sermons of Jonathan Edwards. This summer, we will discuss how evangelism doesn't mean bigotry or shoving your religion down somebody's throat, but is a natural outcome of Jesus' greatest commandments: loving God and loving your neighbor.

SoCal GCF Retreat (June 23-25, 2006) - A bunch of us went to Big Bear where we had discussions on the topic of outreach and evangelism. Besides food-for-thought, there were fast meals, fellowship, exercise-related activities, prayer and worship. Canoeing on the lake was a highlight! And we got to hang out with GCFers from other SoCal campuses too! Photos are available here.

July 6 Next Steps: An Introduction to GCF's New Vision (Ryan Shenvi, Graduate Student in Chemistry, TSRI) - Where is GCF going? What will large group look like next year? Ryan shares the vision of the GCF leadership team. Check out his outline.

July 20 Forming a Christian Perspective on Foreign Policy (Kyle Beardsley, Professor in Political Science, E*m*o*r*y University) - How does loving your neighbor apply to international relations? Is it possible for nations to practice humilty, justice, and mercy in dealing with one another? Kyle, a recent UCSD alumnus, laid out a foundation for further discourse on the matter. It was followed by a lively discussion. Check out his powerpoint slides. Also see a quicktime movie of the first 60 minutes (86 MB).

August 3 Developing a Heart for Graduate School Evangelism (John Bracht, Graduate Student in Biology, UCSD) - "Have you ever wondered what outreach among graduate students looks like? How many Christians are in your graduate program? How many have become Christians while in graduate school? If you are like me, the answer is disappointingly small (or zero!). God's heart is broken for these people who are not being reached, and Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. God is stirring a passion for outreach to the lost, including graduate students and faculty. I will share what God has placed on my heart for outreaching to the academic community I work in, focusing on the greatest commandment and how that leads to the great commission. We cannot effectively love others until we have experienced the depth of God's love, and have let it fill our lives to such an extent that it overflows into the world we work in. I want to invite us to dialogue about what that looks like, how we get God's heart for academic students and faculty, and how we can begin practically seeking God's leading in outreach." Check out the powerpoint slides.

August 17 Evangelism Through Apologetics (Elisha Injeti, Graduate Student at Loma Linda University) - "No civilization can endure with its mind as confused and disordered as ours is today. All our ills stem proximately from the false philosophies that have been let loose in the world and that are now being taught in the universities." - Charles Malik

In light of the above statement, this Thursday, let us explore the possibility of using apologetics as our means to present the gospel to the present generation and be a part of God's redemptive process.

August 31 Lift Up Your Eyes - The World is White for Harvest! (Rob Gaebler, Gospel for Asia Missionary and Returning UCSD Graduate Student in Mathematics) - In our busy lives, it is easy to be so preoccupied with our own dreams and pursuits that we lose our eternal perspective. Both the joys of heaven and the crying needs of a lost world can seem unreal and far away. But the harsh reality is that every second another person in Asia dies without Christ. What answers are we prepared to give to the living God when He asks what we did to help reach them? Today, we have the great privilege of helping them come to know Jesus. If we will commit to live for what is eternal, this generation can be reached with the Gospel. God is calling us to walk away from our own preoccupations, to look to the vast harvest fields of this world, and to reach them with the Gospel while there is still time. I will speak about the passion of Jesus for the lost and dying of this world, how God is using Gospel for Asia, and my experiences as an intern with them this last year.

Check out his powerpoint slides.

September 14 No formal meeting/planning for New Student Outreach