Our last week of Perspectives was this week and it was all about what we can practically do with this huge wealth of info we've learned over the past 15 weeks. The speaker threw out an interesting (and really sad) comparison about college kids leaving for the mission field...
He said that he was at a campus where the optional chapel service was completely packed (like 3000 attendees), and where the majority of the kids there were intent on what the speaker said, laptops or notebooks open for notes, etc. He said that the president of the campus said that 60% of the students there will leave for overseas missions (2+ yrs) after graduation. Where was this incredible campus??? BYU...
Our speaker talked about how kids who go to BYU grow up with an understanding that leaving for a mission isn't an option. It's just part of life - you go to school, you graduate and go on mission, you return for the family, etc. He said that these kids would break their parents' hearts if they refused to go. Whole families have gone on mission for generations.
In comparison, the average Christian parent begs their kids not to go when the few kids who get inspired in college come home to say "I'm going to...somewhere far away." Not secular parents, these are the christian ones who say their hearts will break if their kid takes off to China or India or wherever. So, many kids who would've gone stay home.
How sad! I'm not a parent, so I can't imagine what it's like to say "see ya later" to your kid who is heading into unknown waters, but come on! The great commission is for everyone. Some will send others, some will be a strong prayer force at home, etc. - not everyone is to go out to the world, but how can we stop those who would go? God is in control! There is potential for death or pain or scary situations abroad, but there is potential for all that at home too. If Mormon parents have the faith to send their kids off, why don't Christian parents have this faith as well? Especially in light of the fact that they (and their christian kids) have the truth!
1 comment:
wow...that is powerful!
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