Pastors and missionaries aren’t allowed on university campuses in Mexico. That’s why Resonate Global Mission missionary James Lee works with COMPA Campus Ministry to equip students to share the gospel at their schools—and that work is having ripple effects.
David* first connected with Lee after seeing a flyer with a Christian fish symbol in the halls of his university. David, who had been raised Roman Catholic, was immediately intrigued. He hadn’t met any other Christians at his university of more than 10,000 students, but he had been looking for them. Within a week, David was meeting Lee and a small group of other students at an off-campus coffee shop to study the Bible.
“Connecting with other people who are also followers of Christ makes me feel very good,” David said. “It makes me feel like I belong to something. … I have a family I didn’t even know was my family.”
Now David is working on providing that same connection to a faith community that he found through Lee and COMPA. As a member of the school’s student council, David posts regularly in a WhatsApp group about opportunities for students, such as free doughnuts during exam week. One day he posted about the weekly Bible study he started on campus. He was nervous to message so many people about it, but he wanted to take that step.
“Sharing my faith with other students is important to me because (God’s Word) has provided me with a clear sense of purpose in life. I believe that other students may also experience the joy and peace of God in their lives through the weekly Bible study,” David said.
When Victoria read the message David had sent about the Bible study, her “heart leaped.” Like David, she had also been raised in a Christian family, but she was struggling with uncertainty.
“My heart and soul were restless and weary from searching for the meaning of life,” she said. “While I had knowledge of who Jesus was and what he accomplished, I had never developed a personal relationship with him. … I thought that participating in the Bible study would be a meaningful way to come to know God and my existence in life.”
That Thursday, Victoria hung around after one of her classes and headed over to a small group gathered on the lawn outside one of the university’s departments. There, sitting in the grass with David and five other students, Victoria took a bold step in her walk with Jesus.
Week after week, Victoria looked forward to the Bible study. As she read Scripture and prayed with this small faith community, she was able to voice her doubts and ask questions. It wasn’t long before Jesus was no longer an idea she was uncertain about, but her Lord and Savior.
All around the world, Resonate is equipping believers like David to live out their faith and share the gospel. While Lee isn’t allowed to lead a Bible study on his university campus, he is discipling and equipping students like David to take that step.
“This story has encouraged me by demonstrating how the Holy Spirit works marvelously in each student’s life, bringing about transformation through the gospel and the COMPA community,” Lee said. “I appreciate David for his passion for sharing the gospel and his willingness to take a risk.”
Victoria now says she has a new purpose in life: “I am convinced that (God) created me to live a life that glorifies his name.”
*Last names have been withheld for privacy.
About the Author
Cassie Marcionetti, Resonate Global Mission
