Today I found myself listening to David Crowder on Pandora Radio. As one of his songs played, a snippet from his life story appeared (as is usual with Pandora, Spotify, etc.). He attended Baylor University in the past. When in college, he learned that though a Christian university, over 1/2 of the students did not go to church anywhere. There was a major disconnect. At that point, he began to gather students, schedule worship nights, and use some of the songs he had written to lead these disconnected Christians into an authentic worship.
Is it not encouraging when you read about someone like Crowder who, as “big” as he and his band became, had such an organic, grass roots beginning. He passionately loved Jesus and let God put a burden on his heart. In some respects, his story is not all that different from Nehemiah in the Bible. When people from Jerusalem informed Nehemiah that the walls to the great city were nonexistent, he sat down and wept. From there, Nehemiah took the journey to rebuild the walls of God’s great city. Once he and he friends started working, it only took them 52 days. When David Crowder learned that so many Christians were not in communal worship and community, there was a “weeping” in his heart. This void moved him. Just like Nehemiah, he stepped out. He did something.
Maybe you are in the workplace or in a college dorm and you notice that nothing intentional exists for Christians. Why not start a Bible study that meets one day a week during lunch (workplace) or late at night (dorm)? My point is that when you notice the presence of Jesus is missing somewhere, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. God will bless you. If for some reason He tells you not to, then don’t. However, more times than not, I believe He is waiting for Christians who really are disciples/followers of His Son. Just try it. Risk it. If you have not failed at something over the last year or so, you have not tried anything.
B.J. Condrey, Ph.D. 