International Student Track Reports
How Do You Stand In For A Legend?
Ron Riesinger
Dr. John Stott could not come to Urbana. A mild stroke a few days before Christmas
kept him in England wishing he could be in one of the places of his most cherished
memories with students, the Urbana Convention.
The Convention staff scrambled to find an appropriate replacement for him for the opening session in the University of Illinois Assembly Hall. But the International Student Track had also scheduled Dr. Stott for its first General Session on December 28th. So who do you find at the last minute to speak to 750 international students, volunteers and staff? Dr. Stott has written nearly 30 books, spoken on every continent and has a legendary following among students in the two-thirds world.
Gratefully, International Student Track Director, Lisa Chinn, did not have to go very far to find the right person. Imbedded within the Convention and scheduled for a seminar already, was Dr. Peter Kuzmic, a fellow Wheaton alum and currently a professor at Gordon-Conwell Seminary. As a Croatian citizen, he is personally acquainted with the suffering and oppression of that former Communist country and the recent wars in the Balkans. And his mentor is ... John Stott!
On the afternoon of the 28th, the Kranert-Tryon Festival Theater was crowded with curious, enthusiastic students, enjoying the multi-ethnic sounds of the worship band. African style drums throbbed, guitars played the tune and ethnically garbed singers swayed to Christian music. Could this be a taste of heaven?
After a too short round of singing and a Ghanaian student's testimony, Dr. Kuzmic was warmly welcomed by the crowd. His address centered on the choices we make. He wisely pointed out that the most important choices have already been made for us, particularly the fact that Jesus made the ultimate choice by choosing death in order to reconcile men and women to God. In light of that our choice is whether or not we will live for him. Our choice is obedience or disobedience. We are to "live by the values of the Kingdom". And we are to be stewards of what we have been given. We are to "glorify God and do good to others", said Dr. Kuzmic.
A few questions were answered, mainly dealing with how to know God's will and how to get God's direction. Then, too quickly, it was over. Students streamed out of the theater with new insights and more questions filling their heads as they try to process the flood of knowledge coming their way. Lisa Chinn and the IST Assistant Director Leah Jones were relieved and pleased. And God was glorified.
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