Rob Moore loves Jesus and people. In 1996, he arrived in Lubbock, Texas, to begin his freshman year at Texas Tech. He was anxious to begin his college experience and soon became involved in the InterVarsity chapter on campus. Almost immediately, he began inviting others to do the same.
The chapter leadership moved quickly to harness Rob’s enthusiasm, inviting him to join the leadership team. During his years in the InterVarsity chapter, Rob served on the worship team, a position that included planning large group meetings as well as leading the chapter in worship. Rob also served on the executive team during his senior year.
Rob’s service on leadership teams gave him more than just training in the management of people and events. As he interacted with InterVarsity students and staff, Rob received unconditional love that allowed time for the answers to his questions.
As he says, “Inevitably the most important things I learned in Intervarsity were not due to speakers or programs or retreats, but rather to individuals who listened to me and did not try to rush me. I had good friends and staff workers who, when I confided in them, didn’t try to tell me what to do, and didn’t just quote a Bible verse to me. They expressed interest in what I said and thought, which, given my chaotic mind, was no small act of love.”
After graduation, Rob visited the Far East. One day, standing in the crowd of a major city, Rob asked himself if he had a heart for the salvation of the people around him. The answer was not immediately evident. But Rob had learned that, as InterVarsity members had been patient with his questions during college, so he could be patient with the answer to the question of his love for the people of the Far East.
“I didn’t know them well enough to answer the question,” he said. “How can you say you truly love a culture when you can’t read their literature, understand their songs, or catch their jokes?” He decided to build on his existing interest in their literature. He is currently serving as an English teacher for graduate students in this country. He is also learning their language and taking classes in modern and classical literature of the country with plans to get a PhD in Comparative Literature.
Rob continues to learn that God’s purposes are not rushed. As he says, “I’m learning these days how to take a longer view with regards to my faith. Whereas I once expected things to happen quickly—people believing, institutions changing, the poor being cared for—I’m being taught how to wait, to listen first rather than speak, to dedicate time to studying and discussing, and waiting to see what opportunities for service arise.”
The groundwork for this developing man of God was laid in the InterVarsity chapter at Texas Tech. As he comments, “In the final calculation a community’s strength is based entirely on whether or not its members take a genuine interest in each other’s needs. I was fortunate to have a community in InterVarsity where my friends did just that and I’ve tried to apply that here in the Far East.”
