Remaining

Last week my good friend Chris Goree was fired from the BSU. We (the ministry team I am on and the rest of the students within the BSU) don't know why, and he says he doesn't know either. Only the people who were in that meeting with him last Wednesday seem to really know. So, I have been in a confused state of mind from that, among other things. We do know that he was not fired for anything immoral, illegal, or anything like that. We just know that he is fired, and I have to be content in that.

I have talked to Chris several times since this took place. And he is doing as well as he possibly could. He is obviously hurting because he really doesn't know why he is being fired. But God has been very faithful to he and his family by sending several messages of love to them, and people coming by and encouraging them and giving them gifts. So things seem to be fine there.

I love Chris, he is an amazing man and has encouraged me a lot over the course of the year. He was our ministry team leader. Almost like our dad on campus, especially for those who don't have any family here. So I love Chris Goree.

I also love the BSU ministry and those in leadership there. John Kelsey is our director, and I believe he is an incredibly godly man also. I talked to him yesterday, just wanting to know how I can pray for him and the staff. And this is emotionally taking a toll on him and the staff. So I am praying for them to have strength, and to continue following God's guidance in leading the BSU.

Trusting both of these men and one of the other men who was in that meeting makes things very difficult because I want to believe both of them. And, so that is kind of where I am at. I believe what Chris has told me, and I believe what Kels has told me. They both have different points of view on the situation, and I can see why they would say what they have. But there is still confusion because we still don't know why Chris was fired.

So, why is this titled "Remaining?" Because of the Scripture God has given me amongst all of this. John 15: 1-8 talks about remaining in Christ. It also talks about pruning people who are producing fruit and cutting off people who are not fruitful.

I step back and look at this situation, and I see pruning taking place. The ministry of the BSU is very fruitful. But so is Chris Goree's ministry. Both have touched several if not hundreds of students lives over the years. But for some reason, God has decided to take Chris and plant him somewhere else so that he can become more fruitful (vs. 2). I really do believe that is what is happening. And I believe the BSU is only going to become more fruitful out of all of this.

For me, this all stinks. I want Chris to be here and continue to invest in my life and the lives of the people in the BSU and OU. But I don't know if that is going to happen. Chris isn't exactly going to go away from Norman. He doesn't know where God is going to place him. But he is trusting God in that.

I am doing better than most people are with this. I am not mad anymore. I am not depressed any more. And I am not looking for any more answers. Some people are, and that is fine. They need them more than I do. But I have a huge advantage in that I have been through something like this before at church. In fact the situation at church was much worse than this. But I can look at that, and see an end result. And the result is that First Southern is now exploding, and the ministry of the church is absolutely taking off. But so has the ministry of the man who was fired. I heard from a friend that the people at his church are really being ministered to through him. And I am happy that that is happening.

I know that if that can come true from that situation, than it can become true of this situation even more.

I told my MT friends on Tuesday when we were together that I am praying that we all become more fruitful out of this. I told the same thing to Chris, and he was in complete agreement with me. I had to remember that I am not supposed to rely on Chris for ministry opportunities. I am supposed to rely and remain in Christ. I don't think people were necessarily relying on Chris, but I could see how that could be true. But I have learned to remain in Christ through this, and I still am.

I am also ready to move on. I won't forget what has happened, but there is nothing I can do about it. But it is still hard. I imagine the rest of the semester will be a little more difficult as a result of this. But if I can remain in Christ, and see what He has in store for me and my friends, God will continue to work.

God is so good. He is sovereign, faithful, and loving. And I can't help but praise him for that.

John 15:8- "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples."