Conversations of Consequence
Fred Wagner, InterVarsity staff working with International Student Ministries at Portland State University-OR, met Susan at InterVarsity’s coffeehouse event. He was struck by her aliveness to spiritual reality as they discussed their differing views on Truth. Susan’s strong beliefs came from the series of books, Conversations With God, she had avidly read over the past few weeks. She excitedly shared her views and opinions with Fred. She insisted on being included as Fred recruited students to attend a Gospel Conference in California.
At the conference, she went to every 7:00 a.m.
Fred Wagner, InterVarsity staff working with International Student Ministries at Portland State University-OR, met Susan at InterVarsity’s coffeehouse event. He was struck by her aliveness to spiritual reality as they discussed their differing views on Truth. Susan’s strong beliefs came from the series of books, Conversations With God, she had avidly read over the past few weeks. She excitedly shared her views and opinions with Fred. She insisted on being included as Fred recruited students to attend a Gospel Conference in California.
At the conference, she went to every 7:00 a.m. devotional meeting. When one of the retreat speakers extended an invitation to receive Jesus, Susan raised her hand. On the way back to Portland, she periodically hummed “Amazing Grace.” At a restaurant, she opened her wallet and pulled out a picture of Jesus, telling the other Chinese students there, “This is my best friend.”
But a few days later, when Fred set up a meeting with her he thought he would begin studying the Bible with her. Susan arrived expecting Fred to read the two Conversations With God books she brought. They talked for over an hour, and Fred left puzzled wondering, “For someone who had a passion for reading spiritual books she has little familiarity with the Bible.”
Reluctantly, Fred picked up Conversations With God and began to read. By the end of the first chapter, it was obvious that this was pure New Age spirituality. “God is beyond rationality. Traditional western thought of good and evil, right and wrong is dissolved.” Fred wondered how to respond, as Susan was the coordinator for New Age spirituality for all of Malaysia. Susan understood her mission to be bringing people back to their godselves, which means that the truth about God comes from you, not ministers, priests, or the Bible. Whenever your feelings about God contradict what you’ve read, forget the words.
Throughout September, Fred met with Susan for Bible study. Fred expected Susan to deny the truth of the Bible, given her status as a Buddhist teacher and New Age evangelist. The denial never came. From the beginning, Susan wanted to learn as much about Jesus and Christianity as she could. She had simply never known God’s Word.
Since she cried out for a Creator, Fred thought it was best to start studying God’s creation of the world in the Book of Genesis. Everything was brand new to her. They also studied the New Testament Gospels. She held a tissue in one hand as tears poured down her face as they studied Jesus’ free gift of salvation.
During one meeting, they studied the many verses proclaiming Jesus as the Lamb of God and discussed the meaning of his death. The following Sunday, Susan attended a Chinese Church meeting on the campus of Portland State University. On Monday when Susan met with Fred, she excitedly reported, “The sermon picked up right where we left off. What the pastor shared enlightened me. He cleared my doubts. He said that Jesus chose to lay down his life in total surrender, absolute trust, unconditional love, and the death of the ego. Today, I received Jesus as my Savior to redeem my soul.”
At their next meeting, Fred introduced Susan to the Gospel of John. He suggested she read chapter four, and she was so excited that he also recommended other chapters, too. Susan called Fred the next day to tell him that she had read the entire Gospel of John. A week later, she had finished reading John’s Gospel for the fourth time.
During another meeting, she told Fred she was troubled because she hadn’t had a meaningful conversation with her brother in more than six weeks. Fred prayed with her and that very night Susan talked with her brother for over an hour.
Through study and prayer, Susan is growing in her relationship with Jesus Christ. She was not familiar with the Bible, but once introduced to God’s Word she wanted to know and learn everything she could. There are many students on college campuses that are curious about spiritual issues but simply don’t know where to turn for answers. InterVarsity seeks to help guide these students in their search for truth.