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And we’re off! I love college ministry, and there’s nothing like the beginning of the fall semester. I can sense the potential in the air; it’s almost palpable!
One of the most important things I can do as a college ministry leader is to identify and raise up other leaders. God’s plan is multiplicative not additive. Further, the reality is that the best people to reach students are other students.
A practical component of this is seeing and identifying potential in those around us, identifying the call of God on someone’s life, and encouraging them to grow in and to exercise their gifts. Sometimes it takes faith to see the potential in those around us (and even in ourselves). But just like a seed has the potential to become a fully grown plant, each one of us regardless of who we are, who our parents are, or what our past looks like, each one of us has the potential to be used mightily by God.
Barnabas is a great example of this for us. We first meet Barnabas in Acts 4, he was a generous believer whom the apostles called, “Son of Encouragement”.
Boldly Encouraging
Along comes another guy, Saul of Tarsus. He was an intense man who actively persecuted the church. Long story short, in Acts 9, Jesus encounters Saul in a dramatic fashion, and Saul repents and follows Him.
Afterward, Saul goes to Jerusalem to find the disciples there, but (understandably) the Christians in Jerusalem are afraid to meet this man who’s reputation is that of a powerful persecuter of the church. But Barnabas stands up for Saul.
By the grace of God, Barnabas sees something in Saul. I don’t know on what exact basis Barnabas stood up for him. Had Barnabas seen Saul at Damascus? Had he had a conversion with Saul in Jerusalem? Did God speak to Barnabas about Saul? I don’t know, but I do know that Barnabas saw Saul’s faith and boldly encouraged him by representing him to the other Christians in Jerusalem and helping Saul find his place in the church.
[su_quote cite=”Acts 9″]26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.[/su_quote]
Eyes to See Beyond a Past
Later on in Acts 11, Barnabas finds himself ministering in Antioch. The church is growing and things are going really, really well, but Barnabas didn’t stop there, he saw an opportunity for Saul to minister with him.
At this point, Saul is back in Tarsus. This is before text, email, phones, or even a reliable postal service, so Barnabas himself traveled to Tarsus and told Saul about what God was doing at Antioch. He saw a calling upon Saul’s life and wanted to encourage him to use his gifts to serve the Lord.
By this time other believers had accepted Saul’s conversion, but I wonder if it was still difficult for some to see beyond his past. Well, Barnabas did. When Barnabas looked at Saul, he didn’t just see a repentant sinner, he saw a man of God with a call upon his life!
[su_quote cite=”Acts 11″]22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.[/su_quote]
Grace for a Second Chance
In Acts 13, Saul and Barnabas are sent out from Antioch by the Holy Spirit on a missionary journey to plant new churches, and they bring along a young man named John Mark (Acts 13:5). Unfortunately, for some reason John Mark left the trip early, and we don’t know exactly why. Early believers experienced a lot of pushback and persecution, so maybe he was afraid and ditched the group? Maybe he was homesick? Whatever it was, he bailed on Barnabas and Saul.
Eventually, in Acts 15, Saul (now Paul) and Barnabas return to Antioch. After ministering there a while, Paul approached Barnabas and suggested going out on another missionary journey. Barnabas agreed but wanted to bring John Mark. Paul wouldn’t have it! This might sound strange, but these two men of God found themselves in a sharp disagreement and ended up splitting up and not traveling together. Paul traveled with Silas and Barnabas with Mark.
I’m not going to try to say who was right, maybe they both had a good case, but I’m impressed by the consistent encouragement Barnabas demonstrates. Not only does he look beyond Paul’s past to encourage him, but he extends grace to Mark who’d dropped the ball on the first journey and gives him a second chance.
[su_quote cite=”Acts 15″]36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.[/su_quote]
Encouraging Student Leaders
When Barnabas looked at those around him, he saw beyond their past, he saw beyond the where they’d dropped the ball; he saw through eyes of faith, and he saw the call of God on those around him.
I am personally challenged to look at those around me through eyes of faith. We all have room to grow in every area of life, and sometimes this is especially apparent with young adults. Certainly we need to exercise wisdom when entrusting great responsibility to our student leaders, but I also want to challenge each of us to find ways to encourage and empower those around us as Barnabas did.
p.s. Cool news: one of the last letters Paul wrote was 2 Timothy. And in 4:11 he said, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” Apparently he and Mark reconciled and he came to see that the call of God was on Mark. Second chances are beautiful!
Photo by IRRI Photos.
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