Tweet

Campus Ministers

TueTuesdaySepSeptember27th2011

Darkness Abounds

Posted Tuesday, September 27 2011 @ 10 AM byAaron Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

A few days ago I was reading our local university newspaper when I was struck by a full page advertisement for an event the university was hosting. The ad read, 'How to ask for Sex, and get Consent.' As I read on I was amazed by the tag lines that went along with the ad, encouraging students to attend so they could learn how to ask in a way that would ensure they would be successful in getting their partner or date to agree to have sex with them. Is this really what our public institutions of higher learning have been reduced too? Even though we seem to be numbed by barely dressed women in advertisements on billboards, TV, online, or even in the mail, I was struck by the absolute open shamelessness of this ad. I hope that the workshop actually talked about proper ways to communicate to someone that you are not interested or how to tell someone no rather than just going along with it. But I fear that my hopes are quite naive.
I know that we should not be surprised by advertisements like this or others of the same nature. God's word tells us that people will love to live in the darkness. That they fear living in or being exposed by the light. Romans 13 tells us to 'cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.' (12-14). Similarly we are encouraged in Philippians 2 to 'become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.' (15).
Even though darkness abounds all around us, I pray that we may walk in the light of Christ Jesus and live according to his will that we may shine like a lamp put on a hill to shine in the darkness. Be blessed as you seek to live in the light.
-Aaron

FriFridaySepSeptember23rd2011 Final Judgment or Open Door?

Posted Friday, September 23 2011 @ 5 PM byAaron Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Over the past few days UW-O's campus has had a new experience as a pair of fire and brimstone preachers has found a new hangout just outside of the library, proclaiming their message to students that pass by and stop to listen for a while. They continuously claim that they are not there to judge anyone, rather to warn them of pending judgment. When in fact the Bible does continually warn us of a coming judgment, the method these men have chosen to proclaim this has only brought more and more judgment, or at least feelings of judgment, to both non-christian and believing students on campus.
As I stood and listened for a few minutes, it became clear to me that these self-proclaimed preachers were not actually preaching from God's word, but rather antagonizing students into theological and philosophical debates that rarely came back to a foundation of God's word. Meanwhile numerous Christian students began to sicken as they watched the nonchristian students around them display greater aspects of love towards each other than the men proclaiming to speak for Christ. While these men boasted signs of "God hates Sinners" and "Turn or Burn", nonchristian students rallied together giving out 'free hugs' and uniting together with fierce emotion and boiling passion against the Bible and these men claiming to represent Christ.
I was appalled by the scene as I watched. Yet I was encouraged as I began to observe the Christian students in the crowd (after realizing that these men had no interest in actually opening up and looking towards God's word for Truth in discussion) beginning to pray for the situation, and even venturing to start conversations with students standing on the edge of the crowd. We began to apologize for the things the men were vulgarly suggesting, and ask bystanders what they thought about what the men where saying.
As followers of Christ we have full confidence that Christ can use any situation we find ourselves in for the glory of His name. In a situation that seemed to take all the wind out of the Christians sails on campus, an important question remains for us, 'How does God want to use me to give him glory here?'. While these men preach final judgment, we as much as ever have an open door to ask our roommates, classmates, and co-workers if they had heard the men preaching, what they thought about them, and even share our views on what they had to say. What a great conversation starter these men have given us with the nonchristians around us! Praise God that there are more open doors to students hearts and minds who we may not have been able to talk to otherwise. God has called us to answer the questions that the world around us has, and now there are more questions than maybe ever before, if we are willing to ask first.
These preachers wanted students to feel guilty about the life they are currently living. My prayer is not that students would feel guilty as much as they would feel dissatisfied and unfulfilled with their current life and long for a fulfillment in life that can only come from God. Guilt can come from anywhere and any religion. Fulfillment, peace, and joy can only come from God.
-Aaron

WedWednesdaySepSeptember7th2011 A fresh start

Posted Wednesday, September 07 2011 @ 1 PM byAaron Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

As I have recently walked across the UW-O campus I have been refreshed and excited by the return of the masses of students and all the energy they bring. It has been a lot of fun to meet new students at activities like RecFest and the Taste of Oshkosh and to hear a little bit about their lives. As I have heard many different stories I have started to think about the literally thousands of different life stories these new students bring. I have started to see students and just wonder what their story is.
As much as I wonder what their story has been, I think about the year ahead of us and wonder what their story will be. As His House starts a whole new chapter with a new name and identity we have an opportunity to make our ministries story whatever we want it to be. Even more true, is that every student walking our campus has a new opportunity to write whatever story for their life they want. Whether you are a freshmen or a returning super-senior adding a few more chapters on to your college story, now, at the beginning of this school year you have the opportunity to be whoever you want. What an exciting thing! We as a ministry and as individuals have an entire book before us and the pages are blank, waiting to be masterfully scripted into our life story. With this fresh start you can be, more than any other time, whoever you want to be.
In the Old Testament, the leader Joshua, had a similar opportunity to what we face right now. He was the leader of a nation that had come out of captivity and had just conquered their own nation. At the end of the book of Joshua he was speaking to the entire nation and encouraging them to think about the new start in front of them. In verse 15 of chapter 24 Joshua instructs the people to "chose you this day whom you will serve...". What he is saying is that at this pivitol point in their lives they could chose who they want to serve and determine the kind of people they want to be, and what their story would be for generations to follow. At the end of the verse Joshua makes a bold and unwavering statement that has been a solid foundation for families and individuals for all of history to recall, "As for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!".
I look forward to embarking together on this journey, with stories and books waiting to be written. Today I profess this for me and my house, and I encourage and urge you to "chose this day whom you will serve."

MonMondaySepSeptember5th2011 New Name, New Look, Same Heart

Posted Monday, September 05 2011 @ 12 AM byAaron Tagged No tags 1 comments Add comment

Welcome back for the start of another exciting school year hear at UW-O! We can feel the anticipation and expectations building as students start to return to campus. This year brings many changes to our ministry and how we are known on campus. As our ministry has grown to other campuses in the state we have realized a need to have one consistent and common name that we can be recognized by no matter where we go. This has led us on the journey of finding a new name for our ministry, and we have finally arrived.
Throughout the Bible different leaders, prophets, and even Christ himself talk about God making his dwelling place, or his home on earth among his people. From the tabernacle, to the temple, to the New Testament church God has always had a home among his people. The New Testament makes it clear that our bodies are the new temple and that God no longer is looking for a specific building to dwell in, but instead desires to dwell among us, in our hearts. The apostle Paul helps us understand that this means we are the house of God! So this year as we come on campus Titan Christian Fellowship has a new name and a new look. Just as the Bible describes and Paul writes in Hebrews 3:6 we are ‘His House Christian Fellowship’.
Even though the name Titan Christian Fellowship is no longer on campus, the heart of who we are and what we stand for has not changed. We are still a ministry that teaches the Gospel of Christ and that salvation comes through Christ crucified. We are still a ministry that seeks to Learn about God, Build healthy Christian relationships, Grow spiritually in our walk with Christ, and Serve our community around us. At our heart, we are a ministry that walks with God and with each other and can best be described as one Family! In fact we think it is quite fitting that our family has become His House.
As you adventure into another, or your first year on campus, I pray you will be blessed as you start this year; and that you will feel welcomed with us and can make His House your home.
See you on Campus!

-Aaron

Get Connected

Contact/Location

Lead Campus Minister Aaron Preston
546 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
prestoaa@gmail.com
Phone: 517-462-8312

Why We Exist

His House Christian Fellowship exists to develop non-believers into believers and believers into disciples that will live for Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.

Powered by iMinistries Church Website CMS.