Response to audio clip of Tony Campolo

* I am posting this as a request from someone. It is one of my papers from the class I am taking this interterm (Science and Christianity)
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I am over half way done with my undergrad education. With graduation coming closer and closer, I am in the process of figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life. My passion is learning about and working with the environment. I had the opportunity to work for the US Fish and Wildlife service during the summer of 2009. Since that job, I have had a drive to excel in my studies, to attend graduate school after undergrad, and then to possibly work for the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Last spring/summer I became very sick and because of that, I spent many hours thinking about my life and what I had accomplished and what I wanted to accomplish. I realized how caught up I had become in my career goals and how my faith had been pushed aside when it was not convenient. After returning to Greenville College for the fall semester, I took the class New Testament Survey taught by Ruth Huston. During this class, I was reminded of who Jesus was in the New Testament. Jesus was a radical individual. Tony Campolo said that Jesus is counter-cultural. Jesus called those around him to live differently than what was expected of them. As a Christian, I am called to be like Jesus. Unfortunately, in this society, Christianity isn’t very radical.

Tony Campolo talked about how we can make a difference, how we can change the world, and how we should be radical agents for the transformation of the world. What does that look like though? How does it apply to someone who wants to be a wildlife biologist? Can I make a difference in the world for Christ using the occupation I am pursuing? What does it look like to “Live the impossible dream for Jesus Christ”? Right now, I am pursuing the American dream. I am working towards getting a good education so I can get a good job, so I can make money. How do I break out of this cycle?

During global impact week during the fall, I talked with a couple who works for Interserve. Interserve is a mission’s organization that works in places where typical missionaries are not allowed to go. They use people’s occupations to place them in closed locations. The couple informed me that there is a need for people with environmental backgrounds. There are many underdeveloped nations that need help learning about clean water, raising crops for food, and education in taking care of the environment around them. Am I willing to give up my comfortable life to go serve others? I am being educated in areas that could help. The expectation for me is to excel in what I do and to be successful in whatever job I may someday have. Is it a waste of my education to go into missions? It is easier to talk about missions and support missionaries then to commit to giving up what you have here and trusting God to take care of you wherever you may go. William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” What will happen if I attempt great things for God and expect great things for him? Does it mean that I may end up living in another country someday?

The thought that Tony Campolo closed his talk on was the idea of working toward gaining titles or testimonies. No matter where I am and what I am doing. I want my faith to be a part of my daily life. I want to be a radical Christian, but I do not know what that looks like. I think that we as Christians need to stop being apathetic because we feel like we cannot change everything in the world. We need to start doing small things and see what happens. As Tony Campolo mentioned, “Christianity has come of age.” We have well educated people in the world and we have the ability to train the next generation. I think part of that is Christians taking time to have a mentor and be a mentor. Maybe it is just something simple like investing time in someone else. If we don’t share our faith, who will? If Christians do not talk about the topics that are avoided, how will the next generations know both sides of the topics? Christian colleges have an opportunity to make a big impact. I made the decision to come here and I know for a fact that my experience here has changed me for the better.