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In Awe of a Loving and Holy God

A small group of CSF students ventured to the University of Southern Indiana to the National Student Conference Aug 4-8.  Here the students (and staff) interacted with ACM campus ministries from all over and were offered workshops and a main session by Matt Proctor and times of worship.  It was a refining time for the students as they came out changed and in
awe of God and ready to start the school year.  Below are their personal testimonies of what God revealed to them at NSC 2012!

"National Student Conference provided me with additional skills in reaching out to international students.  The workshops provided me with a background on Islam and gave me ideas on how to reveal Christ to a group of people with a deep concern for His love, salvation, and His security.  Other workshops provided me with ideas on how to reach out to at-large international students.  Whether it be through offering American cooking classes with prayer at the end, driving international students to Wal-Mart with a Christian sermon on the radio, or teaching international students the aspects of America's historically Judeo-Christian society, the methods of reaching out do not necessarily have to have a completely obvious religious aspect.  But the important thing is to reveal Christ to these usually privileged students and help shape the future of the world's future leaders at campus in the United States.  National Student Conference also personally helped me in realizing how easy it is to become habituated to Christ in our lives.  I need to deliberately absorb Christian teachings, workshops, worship, etc. to break habituation and prevent it from deepening and/or returning."
--Steven Stransky (Sophomore at UIS)

"I took away a lot of great messages from NSC.  I learned that if you want to share God's message you have to tell your story (or testimony) about God.  Because the logical/empirical way of thinking (that our culture is so engrossed in) is not the way you touch people's hearts and make them have hope for Jesus. 

I also learned that we can glorify God in fasting and reading scripture in context.  Overall I am so glad I was convicted to go to NSC.  I believe that my heart was changed through the music, Word, fellowship and worship time with Matt Proctor  I am left "Awestruck" by the power of glory, holiness and joy God has for us.  I am very excited to see how I can apply what I learned on campus this fall!"

--Abby Gulso (sophomore at UIS)

"The one thing that I want to take away from NSC is that our God is an awesome God and we should show more fear of Him instead of "declawing the lion of Judeah".  We can't wrap our minds around how big He is and how He is capable of bringing people back to Him.  Even when we think its impossible."

--Sarah Keeney (student at LLCC)

"My biggest takeaway from NSC definitely came from the workshop put on by Fledge Fiamingo.  He talked about how ministry (and more specifically, campus ministry) is a constant battlefield.  One quote he used was that "Walking into ministry shouldn't be like walking into a playground, it's supposed to be a battle.  Satan has been deceiving longer than you've been alive, so he's pretty good at what he does."  In the second portion of the workshop, he drew parallels between warriors for God and a Sea Rescue team.  Essentially, he made it clear that you don't just go out into the sea without having communicated with your commanding officer and having a plan.  The same is true of us.  Through God's word and through prayer, we communicate with our commanding officer and we are able to take part in the plan that God has for us.  In regards to the "team" aspect of the discussion, Fledge pointed out that nobody is ever alone in the spiritual battlefield.  You are part of the greatest team there is, so don't be discouraged.  While the workshop covered things that I have heard many times before, listening to Fledge speak really proved to be convicting.  He got me pretty psyched to jump into this coming semester and hit the trenches running."
-Scott Lasley (Junior at UIS)

"I am so thankful that God really pushed me to go to NSC this summer.  Never before after a trip have I felt like I just need to sit down for a long time and comprehend everything that was said.  I thought I understood God.  I thought I knew everything He was trying to tell me and that my daily devo was the best thing I could be doing for my relationship with God.
But then I came to NSC and the theme was "Awestruck".  Awestruck by a powerful, humble, holy, loving and joyful God.  Diving into the very character of God has given me such a renewal of my eagerness to genuinely know Him! 
Through the workshops I also learned how to celebrate and be disciplined: fasting, praying and reading God's Word.  I feel like my morning devotionals will never be the same  I am seriously awestruck by how awesome God is!  There is new passion in my heart for Him, this world He created for us and the hope we have!  I can honestly say that this trip has changed the way I look at outreach to other students, Christian hope, community, discipline and the Holy Holy Holy God we have!"
--Allison Duncan (Junior at UIS)

For audio of the main sessions by Matt Proctor's "Awestruck" visit the ACM website here!