They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3b
The words of Isaiah 61 have echoed in my head and in my heart since January 2008 when I heard them clearly during a time of prayer at InterVarsity's National Staff Conference. As I think about the twists and turns of my life and my ministry over the past three years I can see evidence of the way that the images and themes present in this passage have begun to take shape in me and around me. As I've spent time this summer preparing for a significant relaunch of the ministry at Wash U I can't get away from this passage. That's not a complaint, just an observation!
At the beginning of July I had the incredible opportunity to receive training as a guest in IV's Chapter Planting Cohort. While I've been at the work of "re-planting" the One Voice fellowship since joining the staff team in St. Louis, some key factors have me feeling that this fall is a game changer. One of those factors is having the right training!
I am so grateful for the wealth of information I received as I learned about what InterVarsity has been learning about planting new chapters across the country for the past several years. One of our assignments during the training was to write a 7-minute vision talk that we could use on campus to invite students to become fellow co-laborers in the mission field. As I worked on my talk the themes of Isaiah 61 continued to swirl around my mind.
Luke sets the stage for Jesus's earthly ministry in chapter 4 of his Gospel. Jesus shows up on his home turf in Nazareth, rolls into the synagogue and reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners
And recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
As I pray for this new witnessing community that I will work to plant this fall I am convinced that we are to be a community that joins Jesus in proclaiming freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. I long to call students to experience the freedom that Jesus is offering to them and that he continues to invite you and me to experience, too!
Even before the students arrive on campus at the end of August will you join me now in praying that God would direct us to students at Wash U who are desperate to be free?
