Are You a Real Survivor? ("The Joint " outreach)

Last year I recruited a team of students who were gifted in evangelism, and we partnered together to hold the Joint on our campus. Some of the students planned logistics for the event, others wrote drama, played music or followed up seeking students who responded. Each of these students played a key role, and their efforts opened the door for seekers to catch a glimpse of Jesus and his love for them.

Our theme was based on the TV show, Survivor. We used the vehicle of reality TV to talk about being real and taking risks to be real with each other, with ourselves and with Jesus Christ.

I gave an illustration from Mark’s Gospel on someone who was real with Jesus: the woman who came to Jesus because she had been hemorrhaging for years and was desperate for healing. She was a good example of someone who was real, because she told the whole truth about who she was, in all her ugliness and embarrassment. Yet Jesus called her “daughter” and received her in front of people who rejected her, showing his love for her. She risked being real with Jesus and soon found healing.

The myth is that Jesus wants only together, nice, morally right people. The truth is that Jesus doesn’t want people who aren’t real—who aren’t aware of their messiness and ugliness. He doesn’t expect people to be completely together; rather, he wants and loves people who are real.

One of the students who responded at the Joint met with a team member a few days later. He said he ­wasn’t ready to make a “yes”decision for Jesus, but he asked for prayer that he would become a Christian soon. We hope he’ll become a real survivor for all eternity in Jesus.

—Stephanie Rosic served as InterVarsity campus staff for Cal Poly State U.,San Luis Obispo, and Allan Hancock College from 1995-2001. She is now pursuing a writing career.