By William Westfall
Tell me again, how did this happen?
That seems to be the question I ask myself over and over at different points in my life. How did I””how did we””get to this place?
I have one of those familiar (some would say “boring”) stories. I was raised in a Christian””Christian church””home. My father was an elder. He baptized me at the age of 9. My mom was a “deaconess.” She served in many ways, but I most clearly remember all the meals she provided to families in need. I can”t remember a time when I did not love the Lord.
I ended up going to seminary. How did that happen? I often ask myself. Then I was off to the mission field (Kenya), where there were many nights of hearing nothing but the various sounds goats make when penned together in a small enclosure. Back then I frequently asked that question, Lord, tell me again how did I get here?
After four grueling years “on the field,” I found myself feeling burnt out and entered a new mission field: campus ministry in Boise, Idaho. Lord, I”ve never even been involved in a campus ministry . . . please remind me again how was it that I came to this place?
It would take quite a bit of space to fill in all the gaps, so let me simply say I have felt God”s guiding presence through all of these twists and turns (even though I”ve needed the reminders repeated to me over and over again). And for that, I am deeply thankful””thankful because without his strength I would have given up long ago, forgetting the Source, and Author, of my journey.
My Situation Today
I find myself in a unique situation today and asking that same old question more than ever before. But this time, it”s not a question about me. It”s a question about us””us Restoration folks. Lord, tell me again, how did we get here?
You see, I”ve been in ministry at Boise State University for two years now, and something very special is happening. Called to this ministry by a Disciples congregation, financially supported by several Christian church congregations, and now working alongside the church of Christ (a cappella), I am deeply awed at the working of the Holy Spirit in this place.
Nothing surprising, right? After all, this is what our churches are all about. Can we recall? Unity began, afresh, with us.
But I”m curious, and maybe you can help me. How often do we see “our churches” (the Restoration heritage) working together, side by side? In my short lifetime, I can”t recall it happening very often. I know that it has, and it is happening even now (I just read Pat Magness”s article, “Celebrating a Celebration,” Christian Standard, May 13). But my memories are largely dotted with scenes where the words “them . . . those,” “liberals,” “conservatives,” are whispered with one eye gazing back over the shoulder.
Why? Lord, how did we get to this place?
I have a feeling it has a great deal to do with humility and grace””two characteristics I strive for, but rarely seem to grasp.
As I grew up, my father told me about our heritage and the importance of things like humility and grace. And he also talked with me about unity and fellowship and communion and love. This is a far different set of words than those that dot my memory so negatively. These are good words””words that look you squarely in the eye. They are peaceful, godly words.
Imitators of Him
But what has happened within our churches here in Boise is only a small part of what is now happening at the BSU campus. God has given me the position of leading a group of campus ministers to work, in unity, to reach the BSU student body with the good news of Jesus. In this cooperative group there are (brace yourself) Disciples, Christian church folks, church of Christ folks, (now firmly brace yourself) Methodists, charismatics, individuals who call themselves “reformed,” Catholics, Calvinists, and probably a few others I”m forgetting. More than 25 of us in all! Honestly, I”ve lost count because the group seems to be growing weekly.
What do we do together? Well, mostly we pray. Yes, just pray. Sometimes for an hour or more we sit together and pray. And what we have discovered is quite interesting: When we “fix our eyes” on becoming like Jesus, there is not much interest in focusing on differences. We seem to simply be Christ followers. We seem to be what I believe Jesus desires us to be: imitators of him.
A bit ironic, but this group of campus ministers at BSU is a living example of what my Restoration heritage has so often struggled to be: simply Christians.
So today, I speak as one of us: a Restorationist. I am proud one of our loudest cries has been the importance of Christ”s words on unity recorded in his prayer in John 17. I”ve heard these words preached from our pulpits for four decades now.
They are beautiful words. But let us allow these words to be our life. Let them control our thoughts, motives, and actions. Let them be a reminder, not only of how we got to this place, but how we will conduct ourselves with humility and grace for one another as we journey with Jesus, fixing our eyes on him, and learning to be imitators of him.
Lord, remind us. And may it start, once again, day by day, over and over again, with us.
Bill Westfall is campus minister at Boise State University with Impact Ministries International.
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