Veteran missionary stateswoman Marilyn Laszlo (pictured) spoke at the Grace College (Winona Lake, IN) annual missions conference this past week. She posts some of her reflections on being with the students on her blog. Here is a short excerpt–the entire blog may be accessed at http://marilynlaszlo.blogspot.com/2007/10/poetry.html
I just returned recently from Grace College, Warsaw, Indiana…just 1 ½ hours from home (Valparaiso, Indiana) with 1,300 students. Before Grace College I was in Santa Barbara, CA, at Westmont College, with 800 students (you can hear my talk online). Two colleges in a row and two totally different cultures, but it is so rich to be around these very dedicated students who want to serve the Lord and make a difference and a positive impact on people’s lives. I love being on the college campuses around all that energy and passion.
All of these students want to serve the Lord in some capacity, whether it is in teaching, engineering, medicine, or whatever. My job is to uplift them, encourage them, and make them feel special, because they are. We are ALL special to God, and the mission field is wherever God puts you. People need the Lord.
There are often students who attend these Christian Colleges and Universities that are not Christians, but because these schools have such high standards, morals, and integrity, and cost less money than most universities, they are compelled to go there. I can tell you, their lives become more meaningful, self-assured, and purposeful as they are impacted by the staff and students whose focus is God.