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ZoomProsa - Jesus Junk

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Our coffeehouse discussion groups, Café com Prosa, have been online for over a year now, under the name ZoomProsa. Last Saturday, I took the helm and gave the introduction for our last catalytic event of the semester.

We have been using a series of introductions that seek to stimulate students to do some inner searching, to ask the questions of what drives what they do and believe. We have used some of the classic existential questions to hopefully spark a cord: How did I get here? Who am I? What is my purpose? Why is there evil in the world? What comes after death?

This week we asked the question about what they think of Jesus as a possible way to answer these questions. In fact, Jesus pointed to himself as the answer to these questions! If truth is what these students are seeking, then Jesus’ words should come as a relief: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

However, we know that there are LOTS of ideas floating around about Jesus, some true and some not-so-true. "Jesus Junk” is a term we have used for years - cultural concepts about Jesus that are deterrents to really getting down the historical and true understanding of Jesus. Brazil is full of these constructs, as are many Western cultures. Sometimes we need to sift through these prejudices in order to help focus on Jesus.

"Jesus is an interesting figure, but what ruins him for me is his fan club.” This is a common reaction for many college students here in Belo Horizonte. While they are not without due cause for such an opinion, we try to offer a way to sift through their Jesus Junk and focus on the Biblical and historical Jesus. We focus on three concepts:

One of the slides used, using the doctrine of Imago Dei - man made in the image of God.

  1. What did Jesus say about himself?

  2. What did others say about him? - including prophecies, his friends and his enemies

  3. What did he do? - mainly his miracles and his resurrection from the dead!

This is part of our approach to wade through the sea of "noise” and focus on the simple truth of who Jesus was.

Pray with us for students who continue to ask these honest questions, and for us to be able to clearly communicate what the Bible reveals about Jesus.

Leader's Training & Gazillions of Zooms

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1º Encontro Apresentação - Treinamento de Líderes - 09-2020.jpg

Leader's Training

On Saturday, September 26th, I had the privilege of leading the first of a series of video meetings via Zoom with our Campus Staff team and a group of student leaders to dig into a demanding subject - LEADERSHIP. I loved seeing these students excited to meet and talk about leadership on a Saturday morning. Remember, I work with college students, Saturday mornings are rarely the best option, but they themselves picked this time because they wanted to be sure there was no competition.

One student made it all worth it when she said, "I often think of a leader only as those who have a huge impact or someone far beyond my ability to influence, so I had all but given up on the idea of being a leader. But, seeing and hearing that God uses people differently, for larger or smaller impacts, and that a Christian's calling to follow Jesus is synonymous with influencing and leading others toward God has given me new hope in being a leader."

Zoom Prosa screen 09-2020.jpg

Gazillions of Zooms

Just like so many others in the world, COVID-19 has not stopped life from marching on, but it has increased video meetings a gazillion-fold. We are no different!

  • In August, our team had a 10-session Training Course with our church pastor about a Christian Worldview.

  • Each throughout the month, I have meetings with our Campus team, Leadership team, entire COBH team, bible-studies, workshops and church Elder Session.

  • In September, our team met for a 4-session Evangelism Training workshop.

  • Our team has begun a type of group discussion for students who are really asking great questions about Jesus and how He is relevant to their spiritual reality via Zoom.

  • There is, also, the home dynamic of Isaac having school via Zoom 5 days a week!

  • And, not necessarily Zoom, but part of our team is taking an online course at the School of Biblical Counseling of CCEF, "Dynamics of Biblical Change." It involved several hours of lecture and reading per week.

Our personal connections have begun to increase as the situation normalizes here in Belo Horizonte, therefore, please continue to pray for us as we venture out, face Zoom fatigue and walk by faith and share the hope and the good news of Jesus.