From the October-January 2010 Issue
Encouragement in the student work
Leonidas and Irene Kollaros
What is it that makes Christians want to go on with their work of sowing the good seed? I know, I know, it is not always as idealistic as that! There are times when we feel so run down and disheartened that we think: “Wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to say that all the work has been done and all that is left is our rest in heaven!” But soon this kind of moroseness (or surliness?) collects all her belongings and takes her leave, perhaps much to our surprise. There are forces inside us working beyond our recognition of their incipient motions, but real enough by the results of their promptings. This inward influence working in us is that of the Spirit of God, for how else can we explain the fresh momentum we gain in the effort to cause others to see the glories of God in the truth of the gospel.
Student outreach
Our city has been blessed with a university consisting of several departments (including a physics department, my favourite subject throughout my school years). While the citizens of this city see the students as a source of income for the strengthening of the local economy, we see them as a mission field for the strengthening of the kingdom of God through helping them to see something very different from, and much higher than, any knowledge they may acquire at the university. The students of course stay in Ioannina mostly during the winter time and that is the time to be involved in evangelistic work among this section of our local society. It is a blessing during the cold winter months to have our attention focused on these students and to try to see what ways and means we can use to approach them with the good tidings. The ways we have used to reach these students have been mostly two: the bookstall and roaming around the university campus.
Students’ meetings
The students’ meeting we had last winter was the largest we have had so far in this town (I can assure you it wasn’t my fault!!!). Of course larger numbers always mean greater encouragement (it does to me anyway). On top of that, this group is fantastic. They have blended together extremely well and so the fellowship is warm and loving, with a real concern for one another. Generally the girls find moving away from home for their studies at the university a trying experience. So we do our best to make them feel welcome and provide every psychological support, at least during their first year away from home.
The exciting thing is that this last academic year they participated in outreach among their fellow students. This is a sign that they feel that we are a body distinct from other people and that we have something to share which others lack. It is also a sign that they have a sense of unity among them and that manifests itself in a common front towards the world. There is of course plenty of room for improvement. And this is the challenge for the future. We have good reason to believe that God willing we’ll have an even greater number of students for the year starting from October 2009. We need your prayers. We greet you all in the Lord.