Movin' On

During my junior year of college, I “caught on fire for Jesus,” so I joined the gospel choir. Now, three years later, I’ve graduated and am on InterVarsity staff. It seems as if I have somewhat “outgrown” the gospel choir in my spiritual journey. At times I have felt out of place and frustrated by the lack of spiritual discipline I saw in others. I was reluctantly attending rehearsals, mostly to spend time with students in the InterVarsity chapter. I cared about the choir, but I wondered if my prayers would be more effective from a distance.

During the Black Staff Fellowship Conference this past year, Stan Parker preached about gospel choir outreach. Stan is on I-V staff with Black Campus Ministries at Michigan State University. He taught us to appreciate the testimony and the message that each student brings to the choir, whatever their spiritual history. He reminded me that God’s method of growth for these young Christians could well be different from the method that God has used with me. I must trust his work, then get in where I fit in.

I realized that my frustration with the gospel choir comes from my own unwillingness to meet the students where they are. The gospel choir for many students is a symbol of their commitment to transition, from worldliness to spirituality. Like me in my junior year, many students are just now catching on fire for Jesus. They’re not all “cold,” nor are they all “hot.” These lukewarm hearts are crying out for direction and assistance that only confirms that I’m in the right place. Each song they sing rings a hope of how they desire to grow closer to Christ. I don’t think college choirs were meant to be full of spiritual superstars. I think gospel choirs are a model of the church, the body of Christ, people in all stages of growth.

My perspective had to change before I could hear from God about my involvement in the gospel choir. I used to come to the gospel choir to “draw from the well.” Now, I come to serve at the well, as Jesus demonstrated in John 4. Now, at choir rehearsals, I am an on-site intercessor. My prayer is that God would help me hear the message that each heart is singing and hear his message of how he wants to develop his sons and daughters. He shows me how I can be a servant at the eternal well that will provide living water for thirsty people.