Andrew and I were able to have one last conversation with Colin. He is a boy, about 16 years old, whom we’ve taken him under our wing. Colin is a troublesome, non-Christian student who was about to be kicked out of the school. Andrew and I asked if we could mentor him and guide him, so he wouldn’t be expelled. Colin needs Christ. He has a distorted view of Christianity. From what he has seen and heard, Christianity is about a bunch of rules, looking nice, and not having any fun.
We sat down with his parents and the principal to talk about Colin. We offered to counsel him and teaching him about Christ if they wouldn’t kick him out. The parents and principal agreed.
We met with him two or three times a week, whenever we all were free. We shared with him the truth of the gospel—how Christianity is not about rules, because works can’t save us. We went though Galatians 1, where Paul emphasizes the fact there is one gospel. We went through Ephesians, and showed him how we have been saved by grace through faith, not works. We talked about our lives and how the Christian life is a lot like Peter’s life. We shared the radical nature of Christ’s love and forgiveness. We told him about how Christianity is about a relationship. We explained how sin separated human beings from their Creator. In order to restore the relationship, God had to clothe himself as man, give his life as a sacrifice and be raised from the dead, defeating sin and death, thus restoring our relationship with him for those who believe.
We had many conversations about God, life, creation, love, girls, religion, works, Christianity, relationships… and the list could go on. I loved spending time with this kid.
In our first meeting, Colin told us his parents weren’t saved, and that was one thing that kept him from accepting Christ. He said they would take him out to clubs and drink. He said if he accepted Christ, how could he tell his parents he can’t go with them.
In our meeting with his parents, they had told us they were Christians. Whether they are or not, it’s not for me to judge. But their son doesn’t think so, and they are not reflecting Christ to him. Colin needs godly guidance.
Colin hasn’t given his life to Jesus yet. But I know he will.
As for his family, I pray their lives will be truly changed by Christ. Maybe God’s plan is to uses Colin to set example to his parents and all those around him. All I know is that God is in control and I rejoice in that. I know greater things are still to come, and God will be glorified in a mighty way in all this.
Al Johnson from the University of Texas at San Antonio is a student missionary correspondent with Go Now Missions.
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