Our new Vision Statement says: Our vision is to see students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed, and world changers developed. In successive articles over the next three months, I will attempt to unpack these tightly crafted phrases.
Transforming human beings is central to the Lord’s purpose on earth. As the apostle Paul notes, God yearns for each of us to be “transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory (2 Cor. 3:18 NIV).” Aligning ourselves with this purpose, InterVarsity exists to see students and faculty transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such re-formation is foundational to all that we do. As Robert Coleman reflects in his classic book, The Master Plan of Evangelism: “One cannot transform the world except as individuals in the world are transformed.
The above graphic illustrates the centrality of transformation to our vision. Transformation occurs on at least three levels.
From Unbeliever to Believer
The first and foremost transformation is that of conversion. We marvel at how God’s Spirit moves (John 3:8) when we witness a student with a non-Christian upbringing come to faith in Jesus at North Carolina State or when we see a party-sotted Greek student at Purdue meet the Lord via a fraternity Bible Study. We sing with the angels (Mat. 18:13) when we observe the Hound of Heaven pursue an international student at California State Davis and can only praise His persistence and grace (Rom. 5:8).
Recently, I had the joy of being in the home of a Chicago area staff member, and during our visit he introduced me to a faculty member with whom he has been regularly reading Scripture. It was so exciting to experience the exuberance of this man’s faith— nominal at best the year before—but now coming to life.
Let’s never lose sight of the fact that proclaiming the good news is our “core within the core”—the seed out of which all other transformation grows.
From Believer to Disciple
From the seed of conversion sprouts roots of discipleship. The RSV translation of 2 Corinthians 3:18 catches this notion well: “We all…are being changed into this likeness from one degree of glory to another…” The apostle Peter comes to mind as someone who was transformed from one degree to the next over a long period of time. The Holy Spirit just kept working on him.
Likewise, InterVarsity’s vision for students and faculty is that they might move along the sanctification continuum as they become more obedient disciples. Such a process leads through submission to the lordship of Christ, spiritual formation (e.g. quiet times, prayer and Scripture) and active participation in Christian community.
As the central light of the gospel message passes through the prism of individuals’ lives, the various colors that emerge create a beautiful picture of God’s people engaging society—fulfilling God’s purposes for the world and expressing His love for people of every ethnicity and culture.
From Disciple to Leader
Finally, we yearn for our students and faculty to become risk-taking leaders. I recall a specific moment, years ago, when I was on Young Life volunteer staff. A light went on in a new believer’s eyes when he realized that he now had responsibility for others. He framed his epiphany in a simple illustration: “So far, I have been just cargo on the train. Now it’s time for me to become a car and carry others.” This transforming moment led him to become an active leader in the group.
These days I regularly meet InterVarsity alumni who laud our campus staff for challenging them to step into leadership roles as students long before they felt ready. These stretching experiences helped them to mature, take risks and discover their gifts on behalf of the Kingdom.
As God’s men and women called to campus witness, we are His agents of transformation in evangelism, spiritual formation and leadership development. It is a high calling, one that the Lord himself will equip us to do.
Next month: campuses renewed.
