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This influential student has a unique story in our Bridges community
May, 2024
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
ESV
Last year, during one of our regular Bridges International Dinners, I was introduced to a kind and genuine French student who I'll call "E". E quickly became an integral part of our community, consistently attending our dinners and often bringing friends along. His magnetic and charismatic personality, combined with his thoughtful and kind nature, made him a beloved member of our group.
A few months into his time with us, we announced the start of our Bible studies. E expressed that, while he loved the community and the dinners, he was not religious and did not want to participate in the Bible studies. We assured him that this was perfectly fine and that he was welcome to join us for dinner without any pressure to stay for the Bible study.
To our surprise, E not only stayed for the Bible study but also engaged more actively than anyone else. He asked insightful questions and showed a genuine interest in understanding the material. This continued week after week, with E often bringing friends along and contributing meaningfully to our discussions.
Right before the seventh and final Bible study, E shared with one of our student leaders that he had decided the Bible study wasn't for him and that he might not come back to Bridges. Concerned, I reached out to ensure we hadn't done anything wrong. E reassured me that he loved the community and enjoyed our events, but he felt he had given the Bible a fair shot and concluded it wasn't for him.
A couple of weeks later, we announced our spring break trip to Big Bear. This trip involves skiing, visiting the mountain town, and significant time spent in Bible study. We made it clear to all participants, including E, that there would be daily Bible study sessions and discussions about Jesus. To my surprise, E signed up for the trip. I had a conversation with him to reiterate the nature of the trip, and he assured me that he was aware and still wanted to join.
During the trip, E's engagement with the Bible study sessions was remarkable. He watched "The Chosen" episodes intently and participated in our discussions with great enthusiasm. His questions were insightful, and he showed a genuine interest in the material, much like he had during our regular Bible studies. This continued throughout the entire trip, and I was both surprised and encouraged by his involvement.
As the school year drew to a close and I went on paternity leave, E continued to attend our events and remained connected with our student leaders. Though he missed the last couple of dinners, we stayed in touch. After graduation, we had a farewell lunch where E gifted me with photos of our time together and a heartfelt card for my daughter, Riel. The card, written in both French and English, contained a beautiful poem expressing his confidence that my daughter was in good hands. He mentioned how he had seen my love and care for others and knew that I would love my daughter just as well. His words brought me to tears and were a testament to the impact our community had on him.
E's journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes our role is to plant seeds rather than witness the harvest. While he did not choose to embrace Christianity, he saw the authenticity of our faith and respected it deeply. This story highlights that our impact is often in the planting of seeds, trusting God to nurture them in His perfect timing. Though it may not be the ending we hoped for, we can rest assured that God loves E more than we ever could and will continue to pursue him. We have faith that God’s plans are unfolding, even if we cannot see the full picture now.
Please join us in praying for E and his continued growth. Pray for God to continue to pursue him and that E may one day call Jesus Lord and Savior.
Pray for all the international students we have the privilege of serving, that they may encounter the love of Christ in profound and personal ways.
Sam Davis has focused on international student ministry since 2010 and is on staff with Cru and Bridges International in San Diego, CA. His passion for leading others into a close relationship with Jesus is shown in his general love for people and focus on discipleship.
Sam and his wife, Gloria, love to travel, meet people, eat great food, and hike.
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