Evangelism By Fire (Aug 07)
It was 10:15 PM, and DM Staff Peter and Erin Krol, along with 5 summer interns and DM Staff Jeff Cottone, had been standing outside for about 30 minutes. There was no sign of a fire anywhere in the building, but a trickle of water began running out of the roof. The trickle had become a stream, and the stream had become a deluge.
Apparently, something in the attic over the section of the building where Peter and Erin were staying had set off the sprinkler system up there, and before they knew it, they were reminiscing upon the days of Noah and his blessed sons and their wives. All they wanted was a quiet night’s sleep!
The Krols, Jeff, and the interns had been in State College for two weeks already, and the DM Summer Internship program was up and running. The 5 students who gave up their summer to experience full-time campus ministry were fervently meeting new people on campus, beginning their research projects, and delving deeply into the Scriptures. The kick-off retreat earlier in the week had lasted 3 days, and the students were begging the Staff for more time in the Scripture and more time to strategize for ministry. Yet the Staff had sent them off into the big, wide campus of Penn State anyway, inexperienced as they were, encouraging them to expect great things from their great and mighty God.
So, while the Krols were frantically running around to make sure they didn’t lose any property to the flood and wondering if they would have to relocate to a new apartment, the interns were quietly about their work building the kingdom of God. Just after talking to a fireman about the extent of the current damage, the Krols turned around and saw all 5 interns (whose apartments had not been affected by the flood) engaging in various conversations with other residents of the building who were idling outside, also waiting to see the outcome of the evening’s events.
Not only were the interns standing with Peter and Erin and helping them through a difficult night, but they were making the most of the opportunity to meet every student living in the apartment building! That night, friendships were initiated and invitations to study the Bible were extended. The very next morning, one of those new contacts came to church with the interns. Two nights after that, another new contact came to an outreach Bible study for the first time. No-one ever asks God to flood their residence. However, if it means an opportunity to see the Lord at work in the lives of these precious interns, Peter and Erin might be willing to consider it!
