Campus Connection: Imagine What’s NEXT

Imagine What’s NEXT served as a new United Methodist event that challenged and inspired college students to consider and plan the next faithful steps for their vocations, their communities, the church, and the world. NEXT took place on November 9-11, 2012 in St. Louis, Mo.

“Imagine What’s NEXT” was my first young adult conference I’ve ever attended here in the United States while serving as peer minister for Moscow First United Methodist near the University of Idaho. I am really glad to have attended this long weekend gathering of over 500 participants from all over the country and outside the States. During this time, I facilitated an affiliate group for discipleship and spiritual formation.

We discussed what discipleship meant to us as a church and as individuals. We also talked about how we were committed to this commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the strategies to make it work. Cutting down some expenses and inviting a friend(s) to dinner is one way to create an environment or room to share the gospel. We also realized that, we could share the gospel by sharing our own salvation story to friends and praying for people who have not yet been born again. We concluded with the words of this hymn “if you cannot sing like the angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus and say he died for all” (chorus from Balm in Gilead). We have a Facebook group page and we are still keeping this discussion going and “Imagining What’s NEXT” at www.facebook.com/ImagineWhatsNEXT.

Inspired by NEXT, Student Takes Charge of Pluralism Week Anam Virani, a first-generation Muslim American, talks about the interfaith work she is doing at Wofford College during Imagine What’s NEXT. (MORE).

Next Church, Now. (D5078) The primary evangelistic strategy for the 21st century is the creating of disciple-making faith communities. Using the experience of the New Testament church at Ephesus as a guide, Miller challenges new and existing churches to rekindle a passion for ministry in the midst of a rapidly changing world. E-mail ejohanson@pnwumc.org for the availability of this resource. To reserve this video now, e-mail The Regional Media Center.

Faith Out Loud (D1058) “Share my faith? Me? What do I say? My story isn’t exceptional. I don’t know what to say. My life is my witness…” We all have different experiences of faith; some may be more comfortable sharing their faith verbally than others. This DVD encourages all of us to realize that we have a faith story and we can share our experience of God with others through our words as well as our actions. If you feel tongue-tied about witnessing, this video may well be a step towards become better at witnessing. With an emphasis on supporting our church through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness, this video can open your heart, mind and spirit to talk about your faith out loud. To reserve this video now, e-mail The Regional Media Center.