Photo cred: Taylor Sidwell

team - a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport; two or more people working together.

At our first night of worship this semester, we heard teaching on the importance of teams in our lives, a lesson I have struggled to learn these past three years at IUPUI. No Christian is meant to serve God in isolation. As I reflected on my own journey, I considered why it was so hard for me to identify my team. I realized that, until recently, I didn’t know what a team was meant to look like. Fortunately, the founding Christians had to learn this valuable lesson, too.

“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Acts 1:14

After Jesus ascended, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem to pray. They had no idea what lay in store for them, so they did what preparation they could: intense prayer.

When I identify the teams in my life, they are most certainly the groups of people I pray with: my husband, my close friends, and my mentors. I have been blessed to be part of a tight-knit group of Christians for the last three years, and they have prayed me through some of the most challenging moments of college. We frequently message one another offering to pray, and for a semester we met weekly in the halls between classes to pray for our classmates.

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” Acts 2:1

At the very moment of the coming of the Spirit of God, all of the apostles were together.

To me, this is the most obvious mark of a team. I have a few close friends left from high school, and I still get a lot of joy from keeping up with them. But as much as I enjoy their company, they are not my team. Why?

My team is the group of believers I meet with regularly. I have prioritized my life groups in my weeks. As much as I can, I try and meet with them every week. They have been with me, and I with them, in the most profound moments of God working in our lives. They have seen me laugh, and cry, and fall asleep during conversations. They have been able to tell, without my saying a word, those moments I am struggling inside. These relationships did not appear out of thin air.

By God’s grace, my team has grown together through regular, intentional gathering.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42, 46-47

The end of Acts 2 gives a beautiful model of a church community - eating together, gathering in homes, worshiping, teaching, learning. What happened when this community gathered? They had favor with non-believers around them, and the Lord increased the number of those saved daily.

In my life, I have seen my team grow and shrink. Some of my friends have graduated, moved away, or transitioned to a new phase in life. Others have brought new Christians into our life group, and they have quickly become as much a team member as those before. Don’t be afraid to let go of those who are leaving. They will soon get the chance to form new teams of Christians and build the body of believers wherever they end up! Don’t be afraid to welcome new people into your team. They may soon become your most trusted friend.

The church as God intended it is a collection of believers who “stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). How can you be stirred up if you are alone? More importantly, how can you stir others if you have not chosen to gather, pray, and grow?

A team will not happen by chance. If you look at any sports team with any amount of success you will find at least two common characteristics: first, that they all have the same goal in mind; second, that they all meet regularly to plan and perfect the methods needed to reach this goal. Our goal is laid out by the gospels: to reach everyone in the world with the good news of salvation. We must intentionally devote our time to the lives of those around us to pray, meet, and grow. I pray that you will find a team as you seek God and his goal during your college career.

Why are you here? What brought you to IUPUI? The chance to get an education? To take a leap in your career? To make friends and memories? You’ve come here for a reason, but it may not be what you expected.

See, I came to this school because I had a scholarship. It was close to home. It had all the majors I liked. But as I’ve sought God in this city and on this campus, I’ve realized that he has brought me here for his purposes, too. The same is true for you. God has brought you into this city to tell of his salvation to unbelievers and to spread his glory through the city of Indianapolis.

Sounds pretty intimidating, huh?

Look at it this way: God has uniquely picked you to do Kingdom work in a very strategic location. The Lausanne Movement writes this in their Cape Town Commitment: “Cities are where four major kinds of people are most to be found: 1. the next generation of young people; 2. the most unreached peoples who have migrated; 3. the culture shapers; 4. the poorest of the poor.” Why does God want us to reach these four people groups?

1) THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

That’s us. We are the future leaders, movers, and shakers of our globalizing world. And not just us, but also our peers of other faiths, creeds, and cultures. Reach the young adults, and you will make a huge impact on the future of nations and societies.

A missionary from Cambodia testifies to this. He and his family are serving in a country that was devastated by genocide, and now nearly all of the existing population is under 30 years old. (Look up the Khmer Rouge if you want to learn more.) After witnessing such devastation, the young are desperate for truth, and God is providing. Before the Gospel has even left the lips of pastors, young people are running to tell their friends and neighbors, which has led to dramatic growth in Christianity, and to powerful social change. Praise the Lord.

2) THE MOST UNREACHED PEOPLES WHO HAVE MIGRATED

Cities are a desirable place to live. There are sights to see, people to meet, jobs to work, and opportunities to be grasped. Those with a hope for a better life will move into the cities to find it. As Christians, we know that a better life comes from salvation alone, and it is our task to share that with travellers from all corners of the earth.

3) THE CULTURE SHAPERS

While young adults are the future of our country, culture shapers are already influencing it. I see this all the time in the nonprofit community. The city is full of people who have identified problems in our society, and have decided to do something about it. (On the flip-side, those who don’t desire rapid societal and cultural change tend to stay away from the cities). If we reach these people for Christ, we go a long way in bringing the Kingdom to Indianapolis.

4) THE POOREST OF THE POOR

Anyone who has studied urban development can attest to this: cities are full of poverty. Whether by situation or by lifestyle, those in material, interpersonal, or spiritual poverty are right around the corner. Jesus ministered to the poor more than any other group. God has always desired to meet their needs through faithful givers. Just as much, he has called us to extend “water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4, ESV)

Maybe you are intimidated by God’s mission for Indianapolis. I promise, though, that if you start to follow his will in serving this city, he will do more through you than you can imagine.

This year we are partnering with a local church near IUPUI’s campus. As we approach the school year, pray about opportunities to work in the community. Pray also for opportunities to share the Gospel with you classmates and teachers. And I will pray with you “to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38, ESV)"

Kaitlin Silvey, Student in Impact at IUPUI (former student president)

If you think we have nothing to learn from the Old Testament, you are missing some really important stuff.

Lately, my church has been studying the kings of Israel, and there are some sinful, self-centered people on that throne. God never wanted Israel to have a king, though. The people begged for one, even though God warned them that a king would oppress the people (1 Samuel 8).

It isn’t until much later that the people realize their mistake. They faithfully follow their first king Saul into battles and create monuments to him. Samuel, their former judge, recognizes Saul’s secret wickedness and tries one last time to show the people their mistake. In the middle of the driest time of the year, he calls on God to bring thunder and rain (1 Samuel 12).

Finally, the people repent, and Samuel has an amazing response:

“Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1 Samuel 12:20-25)

What a powerful warning! This is an important reminder for anyone who claims to follow God. There are two really important facts we need to understand before we can apply this, though:

1. It’s not about us, it’s about him.

2. He makes much of us, but only for him.

Samuel says that God will not leave his people, because it would go against the promises he made to his people, the people whom he chose because they pleased him. They exist “for his great name’s sake.” We, by extension as Christians, exist for him, not him for us.

Samuel also isn’t afraid to tell the people they’ve done wrong. There is no “it’s okay, we all make mistakes.” He warns that wickedness will lead to destruction. More than that, he gives them the formula for avoiding wickedness: turn away from evil and serve God with all your being. Easy to say, very hard to do. 

How do we avoid evil and stay focused on God? Samuel warns to stay away from the “empty things that cannot profit or deliver,” and instead focus on what God has done for us. He created us to be in community with him. He saved us when our human natures condemned us to death. He gives us the wisdom and power to do the work he calls us to. What is there that could draw us away from him?

Unfortunately, I know how easy it is to get distracted. So, like Samuel, I will do my best to pray ceaselessly for you, and I hope you will do the same. As Jesus, our righteous and eternal kind, said,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Kaitlin Silvey, Impact at IUPUI Student President

My agenda for today includes: two classes, three assignments, four readings, two group project meetings, and a lot of coffee.

This is the third year I’ve been in college, and I still struggle with motivation. Will my literature homework help me in my career 10 years from now? I doubt it. Is this reading on Old English going to make or break my chances at graduation? Probably not. But I’m still going to do it. Why?

As a full time student, I think of college as my job. This is the means to reaching my personal and career goals. It’s also a chance to glorify God by taking the opportunities He has blessed me with.

It’s not really a normal job. Rarely do I work from 9 to 5. Often I’m hitting the books all weekend and spending sleepless nights pouring over notes before an exam. In the moment, it can feel like the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced! That’s when temptation kicks in.

You know that feeling. Your eyes are drooping or your phone is buzzing and you think I’ll just take a short break. Two days and 14 Lost episodes later, you remember the project is due soon - in an hour.

Ah, procrastination. The ultimate lack of motivation.

Where do we lose our motivation? Many of the wise men in the Bible suggest it comes from short-sightedness:

"The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.” Proverbs 20:4 (NET)

When you look at your assignments at the beginning of a semester, do you take the time to “plow”? Do you plan ahead or come up with a way to break down the task? Or are you like me, avoiding it altogether until the very last minute?

If we put off what needs to be done, we will not get the results we are expecting. We cannot harvest success in an area where we do not plant and cultivate hard work. Every time we put off work in favor of distractions, we end up hurting ourselves. 

The writers of the proverbs also say "The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied” (13:4). When we keep our end goal in mind, our current struggles become less important. By putting in the effort needed now, we allow our satisfaction to come from something beyond the immediate. Our hard work glorifies the God who created us.

I pray that your hard work will bring abundant satisfaction! Even more, I pray that your diligence will point to God’s eternal glory. Hang in there!

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31)

Kaitlin Silvey, Impact at IUPUI Student President