What are you attempting to do in your life right now that unless God steps in you will fail?
I heard this Henry Blackaby quote back when I was a teen-ager and my response to it changed my life. 
So…how would you answer this question?
A friend of mine, Jeremy Clay, recently joined God in a big step of faith. Here is my interview with him:
- How did you get from there to here?
Growing up, I would classify my family as a church going family – we didn’t talk about faith or Jesus outside of church. In middle school, I became an atheist after hearing convincing arguments from my younger brother, who, despite being so young, was and still is brilliant and now attends Cornell University. Anyways, I didn’t pray to receive Christ into my life until I went to a summer weeklong camp after I graduated high school. It was there that I heard the Gospel in its entirety for the first time. However, I really didn’t know what it meant to be a Christian, so I continued living in all my sin patterns but claimed to be a Christian.
After my 1st semester of freshman year at college, I got into a fraternity where I met a senior brother who led our house’s Bible study. We became close friends after pledging and continued hanging out throughout my sophomore year (he came back for grad school). It was sophomore year that he suggested I spend my summer on a mission trip with Campus Crusade for Christ (a college Christian organization). Despite my reluctance, I agreed to give it a try. I met people who knew what it meant to live out the Christian life. It was there that I dedicated my life to the Lord on my 21st birthday, June 19.
- What’s one recent decision you’ve made where it required huge faith?
I’m actually giving a year of my life to the Lord, putting my finance degree on hold, and interning with Campus Crusade where I will be meeting with 8-10 college Greek men on a weekly basis for mentorship/discipleship and leading them in a weekly Bible study. I will also have the opportunity to share my faith, both, with the brothers of the men I meet with and other college students on the campus. I will also have the privilege to help these men grow closer to Christ.
- What’s next in your immediate future?
As of right now, I’m in the process of finding people who want to partner with me prayerfully and financially. I’m extending invitations to people to join my team in reaching students on Miami’s campus for Christ, especially the Greek system, which can be a really dark place.
- What would like to tell other 20/30 somethings who are stuck?
My favorite verse and the one I continually refer back to over and over again any time I find myself in a position where I’m looking to take a step of faith but am too afraid is Joshua 1:9. God is speaking to Joshua (and I imagine that He is speaking to me when I read this) saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.”
My senior year at Miami consisted of living in a fraternity house, leading a Christian movement for Greek students wanting to learn more about having a relationship with Christ, and trying to continue to live a life pleasing to the Lord without losing touch with my fraternity brothers (basically living in the world but not living for the world), I really had to recite this verse over and over to myself to persevere and stand against all the distractions and lies that come with this kind of living and environment. This verse always gave me the courage and strength I needed to do just that.
My recommendation to anyone who feels stuck is to get plugged into a church if you’re not already. Get involved in a small group. Commit to it, and ask questions. Surround yourself with brothers and sisters in Christ who will encourage you and pray for you.
If you’re at this point but still feel stuck, then I would definitely spend some time in prayer. There are opportunities all around us to take steps of faith, but we need to ask God in which ones can He most effectively use our gifts, talents and resources. There are several ways to give with our money, but not everyone has the money available to them to give liberally, especially in times like these (however, this could be the exact time to give just a little more than you’re comfortable giving and trust that God won’t let you fail. Despite my position, I continue to write checks to support students to participate in summer mission trips with Campus Crusade). But we can still offer our time and ourselves.
Choosing to love others who appear to be unlovable (i.e. the homeless, those with special needs, the old, orphans, etc.) can be a really great way to step out in faith and sacrifice ourselves as Christ has commanded us when He says “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Inviting these people to come have a meal with you, to spend a night or two with you every week, or leaving your home and visiting these people are all great ways in which you can take steps that you would otherwise fail in if God were not in it with you giving you the patience and love necessary to show love toward these people.
If you’re feeling led, I know of people who have even adopted children from foreign countries who wouldn’t have lasted long in this world because their situations and chances for survival were so horrible. Adopting a child who didn’t have a shot in life would definitely require action from God.
If you’re reading this and want to contact me:
My facebook profile can be found at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=7725555. If you want to add me as a friend, include a message saying you saw me on Kary Oberbrunner’s blog.
If you share my vision for reaching college students and would like to learn more about my ministry, I would really love to talk to you personally. You can e-mail me (Jeremy.Clay “at” uscm.org) Just say you heard about me on Kary Oberbrunner’s blog. Please include an address and phone number I can reach you at so we can get in touch.
If you’re feeling led by the Lord, you can also visit my gift page at https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0628440.
