Countdown to Change

On August 29 it begins. The students arrive for their first first big event at Boston University, SPLASH. All the freshmen are marched into a football field to meet all the campus clubs and organizations, and we will there.

This will begin our first three-week fall blitz. In the first three weeks we hope to make personal contact with at least 500 new students. We hope to introduce them to both the gospel and to Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. Over the coming days, I will share with you what we will be doing for those first weeks and let you know how you can pray for us.

Our New Intern Robert Barrett

Robert Barrett was the first freshman guy to join Boston University Chi Alpha when Lynn and I first began our work here. He was a bit of a wallflower at the time. He would hover in the corners of the group, befriended by several of the returning guys. His role in the group changed dramatically over time. From the guy in the corner, he has grown into a recognized leader in the group.

As a senior, he served as Chi Alpha's student president and created several new outreach events. The Back Court Cafe, a night of music, art, and the gospel, was inspired by Robert and has become one of our most successful outreaches.

He showed early gifting in ministry and has been encouraged several times to test those gifts as an intern. Those encouragements seemed to have little effect until our winter retreat this year. At that retreat, the Holy Spirit began to speak through the students. The Spirit communicated his vision for the campus, the lost, and the future of Chi Alpha here. Our students had never experienced a time quite like this before.

The Spirit spoke specifically to Robert during this time, and he made his decision to respond to the call of the internship. This year he will be given a chance to grow in ministry skills, theology, and given a chance to test his calling.

Robert was an education major at Boston University, and he brings a lot to the team. He has developing leadership skills and the students look up to him. He has a growing concern for the lost that has been coupled with his own brand of creativity that has lead to meaningful events that allow for personal contact and ministry. He is very likable. He has come a long way from a freshman wallflower. He is now an effective facilitator of meaningful community. It will be great working with him this coming year.

New Staff: Thomas Van Der Laan

Thomas Van Der Laan is the newest member of the Boston University Chi Alpha team. He is a graduate from Northeastern University here in Boston. After graduation, he did a two-year internship with us, received a call to campus ministry, and was approved as a campus missionary.

During his college years, he studied business and was a member of Northeastern's rowing team. Along with a small group of fellow students and friends, he helped establish Chi Alpha at Northeastern. It was through Chi Alpha that his own faith was established and strengthened, leading him to fully give his life to Christ and to be baptized.

He began to show some pastoral gifting and was approached to become Boston University Chi Alpha's first intern.

Thomas brings a great deal to the mission team here. He has a great heart for the lost and has been taking the guys in the ministry out to do evangelism. He has great social skills and invests considerable time in the students. He is part of the glue that holds the fellowship together.

This year he will be building his support team so that he can come on campus full-time, but that doesn't mean he won't be investing in students now. He will continue to be a part of our weekly meetings, help lead a Bible study, and continue to grow in his own Biblical studies, but the majority of his time will be spent building his support team so that he will be able to minister on Boston campuses on a long-term basis.