Saturday was filled with excitement as students prepared for a day of ministry to conclude their week at Momentum. David Nasser, campus pastor at Liberty University, spoke during the morning session, reminding students that effective ministry for the Gospel starts with humility and service:
“We’re going to get really honest to today, really practical,” Nasser said. “We don’t want this week to give you simply a ceiling of emotional boldness but to go above that by cultivating a spiritual boldness.”
Nasser spoke about the miracle of the loaves and fishes and when Jesus told his disciples that he was the Bread of Life in John 6.
“Boldness in Christianity isn’t going out of here with bats in our hands – it is with brooms. It’s not about winning the point – it is about winning the person. [In the Bible,] Jesus begins with service and a posture of humility. He finds fifteen thousand hungry people and he wraps the gospel in a sandwich.
“You’re going to serve today. You’re going to get dirty fingernails so people will hear you out.
“Being bold is more than being loud. Look at the way Jesus did it – he was a servant.”
After the conclusion of the morning session, students enjoyed a boxed lunch and then were sent off for a day ON MISSION to various cities including Warsaw, Winona Lake, Marion, Noblesville, and Indianapolis — volunteering at homeless shelters and infiltrating parks, neighborhoods, and malls to serve, start conversations, and spread the love of Jesus. They returned for an evening session to hear from Jeff Bogue, pastor of Grace Church in Greater Akron.
“The disciples never called themselves Christians — they called themselves disciples,” Bogue stressed. “A disciple is one who loves, follows, obeys and is completely devoted to the master. A disciple is one who is relentless: someone who will pursue Christ without hesitation or apology.”
Bogue reminded the audience that whether they like it or not, a threshold has been crossed in our time: “Our culture has purposefully, publicly and intentionally forsaken our God. The day of the unapologetic disciple has dawned and it is the relentless one who Christ calls.
“A disciple is not committed to a subculture, belief system, or set of traditions — a disciple is fully devoted to the master. You are going to be the leading edge in a culture who hates who you are and what you believe. But the darkest hours of history are always the brightest hours for Jesus Christ.”
Bogue had an even stronger message for youth leaders: “The days of pizza and ping pong are done,” he warned. “You’ve got to quit entertaining kids and start equipping warriors.”
With a week of solid messages and practical ministry behind them, Momentum students and staff took a few minutes to pray for relentless futures as they prepared to leave. The Jordan Howerton Band returned one last time for a last hour of celebration, complete with balloons and glowsticks.