Cru's MOTTley Heritage

This past Friday we held our weekly meeting in Barnes Hall. Barnes Hall is commonly used for concerts these days, but it was actually constructed in the early 1900's specifically to host large Jesus-centered gatherings like our Real Life meeting. Along with a few other alumni, John R. Mott helped spearhead and raise funds to build Cornell's first "student Union" with a vision for student worship gatherings.  

Jabez and one of our Cru bands in Barnes at Real Life

I love John R. Mott and consider him the definitive great grandfather of modern campus ministry. As a student and then as an alumnus, Mott was a huge part of the YMCA. (Yes, back in the day, the YMCA was more interested in Bible studies than exercise equipment!) Functioning as a co-ed ministry, they were referred to as  “The Association” or "the Christian Association."

John R. Mott came to Cornell as a transfer student in 1865. He grew up in a Christian home, but he wasn’t remarkably fired up about Jesus or planning on being a Christian minister when he showed up on campus.
Two big things came together to instigate a radical turning point in John's life.

#1 Mott's Jesus Loving Room mate.  During his sophomore year, John lived with a friend named Arthur Grant. Grant was the president of the Cornell Christian Association and was a devoted follower of Christ. Grant's passion for God spurred John Mott powerfully and together in prayer and with time in the scriptures Mott felt the call of God upon his life. Throughout his life he would reflect with tremendous gratitude on his time with Grant. Looking back on all that God did through John Mott during his life-time, I would say, we should all be thankful for Arthur Grant!

#2 The Night he heard J.K. Studd speak. Also during that sophomore year, John attended a Christian chapel type ministry meeting where the brother of the famed English cricketer turned global missionary C.T. Studd was speaking. Mott showed up late, but just in time to hear Studd's powerful and challenging exhortation:

Studd said : "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not. Seek ye first the kingdom of God."  

Whenever you hear Mott's story, this tale will be included. Taken out of Shakespearean English, Studd asked a provocative question that comes from Jeremiah 45:5

Are you seeking great things for yourself?  

He continued "NO!  No, don’t seek that."  

And he followed it up with an exhortation straight from the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God”  

Mott was blown away by the Holy Spirit! He heard the gospel and understood the implications in a whole new way. That night marked a true turning point in his life; Mott basically changed his major, and began to involve himself more fully in student ministry.  

Mott spent lots of time leading Bible studies and telling others about Jesus.   That next summer he ended up going to a Christian conference up in Massachusetts where he met a guy named Robert Wilder. Along with his sister Grace, the Wilder's were passionate about what we would call “overseas missions.”  They were tremendously burdened to help spread the saving message of Jesus to the Nations.  On the last night of the conference, Robert Wilder hosted this special session -it was a momentous occasion, 100 People -including Mott banded together and committed themselves to task of taking the gospel to the World.  This was the birthplace of what was known as the “Student Volunteer Movement” if you’ve ever heard of that.  

There’s lots to say, but here’s what I want to highlight.  John Mott was hardcore and he actually believed that everyone needed to know the good news of Jesus.  He also understood that God’s method and means of delivering that good news was through his disciples. 
 

John 3:16 teaches us that God loves the world

Matthew 28:18-20 has the explicit commission from Jesus to all who follow him to “GO” and make disciples of all Nations.  

John Mott believed that in light of God’s expressed will, Christians should strive for nothing less than telling everyone in the whole world about Jesus.  

I LOVE HIS VISION!  

John said, Let's labor to make“knowledge of the gospel accessible to all men.”  

He wanted to “...give all men an adequate opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their savior..."

Mott went on to give his life to the mobilization of missionaries; most of them students.  And in the end, he actually won the Nobel Peace Price for the work he did in uniting various churches and denominations in that endeavor.  (Perhaps the most appropriate Nobel Peace Prize ever given!!)

Cru and every other Christian campus ministry owe a lot to Mott for all that he pioneered on the campus’. It is no secret that Bill Bright stood on the shoulder's of John Mott in founding Cru back in 1951.  

John was clear, powerful, straightforward -he wrote numerous books, and in all of them he was trying to help the Church to truly embrace her mission. -To help everyone in the whole world hear/understand the gospel!  

Below are just a few of my favorite quotes:

"It is possible for the most obscure person in a church, with a heart right toward God, to exercise as much power for the evangelization of the world, as it is for those who stand in the most prominent positions."

"Prayer alone will overcome the gigantic difficulties which confront the workers in every field."

"If the gospel is to be preached to all men it obviously must be done while they are living.  The evangelization of the world in this generation, therefore, means the preaching of the Gospel to those who are now living. To us who are responsible for preaching the Gospel it means in our life-time; to those to whom it is to be preached it means in their life-time."

I am grateful for Mott's example and leadership, and it is my prayer that as a ministry we will continue in the same legacy. Would we be "Mottley"......a MOTTley Cru.

Tenacious Spirituality

 

This Ivy League Rookie of the year is intense –not just about wrestling, and academics but about Jesus.   Nahshon Garrett has been making news all season long -including this past weekend at the NCAA finals, but I want to talk about his faith.  If you run into Nahshon on campus, you will be blessed, you’ll probably have some sort of spiritual conversation, and you’ll typically end up praying together! 

I’ll be honest; I’ve seen countless athletes living luke-warm lives,  sort of ‘naming the name’ and only talking about being a Christian when they come to church on Sundays.  So I wasn’t too sure when I met Nahshon this past fall if his passion was gonna last.   He had recently given his life to Jesus, and although I was certainly hopeful that he would remain gung-ho,  I wouldn’t have been too surprised if he faded out once the season got going.  

But by God’s grace he’s even more pumped up right now!  It has been unbelievably encouraging to me and to everyone in our ministry to see the ways that God is working in and thru Nahshon!  This guy is berserk!  So many Cornellians (and others!) can be  driven, diligent and intentional in almost every area of their lives except their spiritual lives –but not so with Nahshon.   His faith is authentic and his zeal is contagious.   This guy is sold out thru and thru; there isn’t that disconnect that you see so often.   

  

Cornell’s wrestling program is absolutely top notch.  Hometown sensation and Cornell senior Kyle Dake just won his 4^th NCAA championship –each of them in a different weight class –without even taking a redshirt year.  What he’s accomplished is unprecedented in every way! 

Like Dake, Nahshon is triumphant on the mat. But like Epaphras in Colossians 4:12, he is also one who wrestles in prayer.  He cleaned out a small basement boiler room to make a quiet time space for himself in “The Wrestling House” –the home he shares with over 30 of the guys.  Every day he’s spending time down there reading his Bible and praying for his team mates and friends.  

Nahshon is constantly talking about the Bible and repenting of pride, dying to self and yielding our lives to the Holy Spirit.  Only then can we experience God fully and be used by him powerfully.  He’s always on the lookout for an opportunity to share the good news of Christ, encourage others and speak blessing into people’s lives.  

Nahshon at the Cru Fall Retreat

More than once, I’ve been talking to a student in our ministry and when I mention Nahshon, they immediately recount to me some incredible and unusual story.   The other day the Cornell baseball team was practicing indoors because of the weather.  While running laps, a junior player named Zach who’s involved in Cru saw Nahshon walk into the gym.  (Zach is also a passionate Christ follower on campus) They waved at each other.  When Zach came around again, it appeared Nahshon was kind of gesturing for him to come over.  Even though, they were practicing, Zach jogged over to see what was up.  Nahshon greeted him and said –“hey man, you want to pray together real quick?”  Not sure exactly how the coaches would feel about him skipping a couple of laps, Zach somewhat uncertainly said “Yeah, let’s do it!”  And so the two of them proceeded to pray for each other right there in the gym. 

Right when they were done, Zach got back to jogging, and he told me he was thinking:  “What just happened?.....That was awesome!!!”  His spirit was tremendously encouraged and his mind was focused on the Lord! 

Nahshon has a real way of doing that for people! 

A couple of weeks ago he was talking to a guy on campus.  Friendly and engaging as always, he was just getting to know him a bit.  The guys wife came along to meet him for lunch and so they said “goodbye, nice to meet you” etc.   But, the Holy Spirit had more in mind, and Nahshon was struck with a burden to pray for the guy.  So, while the couple walks away, he jogs back over to them and asks him if he can pray over them.  They guy’s wife is kind of thinking “uh….did I miss something?”   But they bow their heads together and Nahshon just prays for their lives in Jesus’ name.   Such a blessing! 

When they finish, they part ways, and as Nahshon is walking away, he sees a couple of Asian students –who he has never met before-sitting there praying together at a table.  Fired up and always ready to pray, Nahshon walks right over to them, puts his arm around one of the guys and joins them in prayer right there.  One of the guy’s kind of opens his eyes and is no doubt thinking “uh…did I miss something here?”  They wrap up their prayer time and afterwards they spent some time talking about life and the Lord on campus.  I can pretty much guarantee as Nahshon walked away the guys were encouraged and even more focused on the Lord. 

I have other stories, that I don’t want to write because they involve many different people.  But, I just love Nahshon’s tenacious spirituality.  God has already and is now redeeming him from a life spent striving after satisfaction in alcohol, promiscuity or even fame and success.   Nahshon’s compassion for those separated from Jesus compels him to engage others lovingly.  He’s always trying to find ways to help others know the incomparable love of our savior.  

Radical Summary

"We need HIM!"
"We come to Jesus to get Jesus!"  

A few months back, I talked about David Platt's book Radical.  It's a worthy read -but you can get the gyst of it all by watching this 30 minute message.


Platt spoke at the Urbana mission's conference in December. 

Provoking and inciteful, Platt asks: "Have we twisted Jesus into a God we are more comfortable with?  A Jesus who is o.k. with nominal devotion?  Are we molding Jesus into our image?"

1.  Jesus is worthy of all our trust. 
Speaking of some worshipers gathered overseas, Platt proclaims "Jesus is enough for them!  Is he enough for us?"  

"What happens when followers of Christ begin to say that 'he is enough for us'?

2.  Jesus is worthy of all our plans and dreams.  
"when you follow him you have an obligation, a responsibility, a plan, a dream, an ambition that supercedes every other obligation, responsibility, plan, dream, or ambition in this world...go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Speaking mostly to students Platt reminded them that the reason you are going to be a teacher, engineer, doctor isn't so you can make it big and be rich, but so that you can proclaim the kingdom of God and declare the glory of God to the ends of the earth!!

"What happens when every single student in this room makes it their primary ambition, their primary plan and dream the proclamation of the gospel to the nations?  What plan or dream can you give your life to that is more worthy?"

3. Jesus is infinitely worthy of all our affections.  

"Does Jesus have your heart?
Is he the center of your affections?"

"We preach the gospel on college campuses because Jesus is worthy of the worship of every single college student on this continent!"

"This is why we go to the toughest places on earth."

Read RADICAL

I wanted to take a moment to endorse and recommend David Platt’s Radical.  

I started reading it a couple of weeks ago, and took it fairly slow in order to really digest and meditate on the Christ exalting truths that Platt unpacked. 

Platt’s books (and sermons, I hear) are loeaded with scripture and quite convicting as well as inspiring.   The book moves quickly as he addresses the call of discipleship in a direct, convincing and applicable way.  At the end of the book, he lays out a one year “Radical Experiment” with 5 ways to really pursue God and live for him.  

I guess in some ways, you could read the back cover of the book and get the main point!  I could summarize it in less than a sentence: 

God is amazing, His mission is glorious, Jesus our savior is worth your whole life!!

It's similar to most good Christian books in that way -including other best sellers like Crazy Love by Francis Chan.   But don’t settle with synopsis.  It’s worthy to read thru this whole book and really internalize the things that he’s talking about. 

He also has another one that I think is made for small groups called Radical Together, but, I haven't read that one....

A friend of mine,  Mike Morgan once asked me: "is there any book you've read that you didn't think was "great?"   I like to imagine that I pick my books pretty carefully  -and I don't subscribe to the idea that you have to finish everything you start.  (because some things should have never been started in the first place!)   Thus, I would say,  I haven't read too many books all the way thru that I didn't at least appreciate.  If a book is lame, I just stop reading it once I get the main point.   But, for insight and credibility sake, here are 

some that I don't think are great!  

Velvet Elvis  by Rob Bell.  Creatively written of course, and not boring, just not actually as illuminating as the author supposes it to be.  A book full of great questions, but lacking on clarifying answers.   This book rants and raises some great issues throughout, but in the end I felt like I was standing on sand instead of a solid rock. 

Servolution  by Dino Rizzo  A great concept; Basically, it's about serving like Christ.  Amen!  And I think Dino’s church must be doing some awesome ministry! There's nothing heretical in this book that I saw, but it was just not engaging!  I'm not sure why!  So, I didn't finish it.   I am sure some people find it inspiring;  that was the author's point, but I thought it was poorly written. 

Irresistible Revolution: living as an ordinary radical by Shane Claiborne  I actually enjoyed reading most of this book.  (i didn't finish it.)  I think I'd enjoy hanging out with Shane if I got to meet him, and I support the things he does in Philly and beyond.  But, his theology is kind of weak, and he uncritically weaves too many worldly political ideas (mostly liberal ones) into his books.  Tim Keller's Generous Justice is a way more worthy read.  And Keller allows the Gospel to critique both liberal and conservative ideals that aren't biblical.