How Do I Help

Jeanne Beam

2/3/01

How do I Help?

I stand in the open air forum of one of the many campuses I visit across the country. To my left there is a cage that held a beautiful golden eagle. She is no longer there. To my right there is a building that has four sections that are three stories each and a middle section that is 9 stories. In front of me there are the lower quad dorms.

I visit the campuses to reach the students, so that they don’t all go to hell. All I ever get is the finger or people walking by faster. I am obviously not getting through to the students with the responses that I get. I can't think of anything that I am doing wrong, but I don't seem to be getting to them.

Here comes someone who might be able to help me out. She is wearing a mini shirt, it is a shame. “Excuse me young lady could you tell me why I can’t get across to college kids.”

What in the world does this guy what? Oh no, not another one of those damn preachers. Although he is sort of cute for an old guy. He looks really good in all black. Quite handsome. Well I guess I will tell him the truth.

The girl looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Sir, if you would stop calling us names and telling us that we are all going to hell maybe we would listen to you,” my face crinkled a little as she talked. I sense that I am being slapped in the face. I never called the students name.

“Thank you for you honesty.” I watch as the girl hurries off to class. She is a beautiful girl, it is a shame that she is not saved. I can’t help but imagine her in the depths of hell. Why won’t these students listen to me? Why?

I see another student that doesn’t look like he is going anywhere. He is wearing a tank top and had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. “Excuse me young man but could you tell me why you students don’t listen to us when we try to save you?”

Not another preacher. Doesn’t he know that most of us are Christians already. Why can’t they just leave us alone? Well he seems really interested in what I will say, so I will tell him what I think.

“Man! Don’t you know that most of the students here are Christians already and that all you people do is put us down? You tell us that we are all going to hell. Don’t you realize that trying to scare people into Christianity doesn’t work?”

“Thank you!” What in the world could that kid mean? Scare people into Christianity? Bah, he doesn’t know a thing. He is just a kid.

Here comes another preacher like me I will ask him. I wonder what he will say. “Excuse me sir, could you tell me why I can’t get through to any of the students here.” I wait patiently for him to answer.

Oh my gosh! A campus preacher who actually cares. What the heck? I have never met one that actually cared before. What should I tell him? I know I’ll tell him the truth he seems so nice.

“Why do you care if you don’t get through? I don’t. I just like to yell at people. You know I am not even an ordained preacher.” All I could do was stare at this man. He didn’t care about saving people. How could this be?

I stood back and watched him “preach”. As I listen to what he says I hear the girls words again. If you would stop calling us names... I hear his words, “whores and whore-mongers,” and thought about my own words. Oh my Goodness! I do call them names and accuse them of things.

I go to the nearest church and pray for forgiveness. I pray for a way to get through to the students. As I pray a man approaches me. When I finish praying he is there. The man asks, “Is there something you are bothered by?”

“I am trying to figure out how to reach college students. I am a campus preacher and I want to reach the students. I really want to help them.”

“I would suggest that you preach the love of Christ instead of the wrath of hell,” the man replied.

“Thank you! Thank you very much!” I cried.