International Student Track Reports
Challenge to Missions
Greg Steward
When Lisa Chinn talked
about mission statements on the morning of December 28th, Amm thought about her
own developing mission statement. Amm had come from Thailand to study business
at Portland State University. In a class discussion about mission statements the
instructor also talked about personal mission statements. "This made me think
about my purpose. What do I really want? I had met some Christians and I was sharing
about this, that I felt my life had purpose, but I didn't really know what it
was."
Amm came from a Buddhist family, but through discussions with Christians and her own study she began to learn about the God of the Bible. In January 2003 she was baptized as a follower of Jesus. This past fall she has joined other internationals in discussing Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life."
"As Lisa talked, I thought about how my mission statement has changed from personal happiness. Now I see that personal happiness is not the most important and that it is not about me but about God. I need to reach out to others even though I may be uncomfortable doing that. But like Lisa said, it is even more terrifying to not do what God wants me to do. Even though there may be fear involved, I need to do what God asks me to do. I am learning to not focus on what I feel but what is the truth. The truth is, he loves me, but sometimes I don't feel his love. So I remind myself of what is true."
Last spring, Amm heard Yuko talk about her experience at Urbana 2000. Yuko said that Urbana had been a life changing experience. Amm also saw a video that gave her a taste of Urbana and she decided that she wanted to experience Urbana first hand. "Being at Urbana has opened me up to consider and ask what I might need to sacrifice to achieve God's purpose for me and whether I have the courage to pursue his purpose."
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