“Does God captivate you? Does God captivate your every breath?”
It was a challenge issued by David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, Ala., and main session speaker at the annual South Carolina collegiate conference Converge, Jan. 25-27 in Myrtle Beach.
Based on Acts 4:20, this year’s conference theme was “Captivated: For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” More than 800 college and university students in church and campus ministries around South Carolina were challenged to center their lives around a “captivating” relationship with Jesus.
In a Friday evening gathering, Platt urged students to worship in spirit and in truth.
“The one great need of the church is to glimpse the greatness of God,” he said.
“Are we going to be a generation captivated by God or captivated by stuff?” Platt asked the students. Platt continued to reference Malachi 1, where the prophet is addressing the priest responsible for leading worship.
David Platt“They created a system of worship that asks the question, ‘What is the least amount I can give God, the least sacrifice possible. – Isn’t that the most dangerous position to be in religion today?” Platt asked.
Students also attended breakout sessions covering areas such as developing a passion for God’s word, missions, and experiencing grace and forgiveness, among others. Students also heard testimonies throughout the weekend from their peers who have served overseas or are using unique ways to reach their campuses.
David Platt continued to challenge students on Saturday with God’s heart for the nations.
“Can we just debunk the idea that the center of God’s will is the safest place to be? The center of God’s will is a dangerous place to be,” he said.
Platt told the students stories of missionaries such as David Livingston, C.T. Studd and John Patton.
“I want to urge you, based on the history of God’s people, to consider your life nothing. – We have a Great Commission in front of us,” said Platt.
Platt told the students that mission is “not an optional program.”
“Because you own Christ, you owe Christ to everyone,” he continued.
Tony MeridaTony Merida, New Orleans Seminary dean of chapel and professor of preaching and main session speaker, also urged students to have compassion for people around the world.
“I think the reason we are not fulfilling the Great Commission around the world is that we don’t give a rip about people. We don’t have the type of compassion Jesus had,” said Merida.
“I wonder if this generation will be one that cares about the poor and orphans. … Will the love of Christ control us?” Merida asked.
Merida also encouraged students to pursue holiness in their lives.
“The happiest moments in your life will be when you are pursuing holiness,” he said. “You don’t consume sin. You kill sin,” he continued.
Students attending Converge collected an offering which will be sent in full to the New England Baptist Convention to assist in collegiate ministry in the area. The offering totaled $2,760.
For more information about collegiate ministry in South Carolina, log on to www.scbcm.org or call (800) 723-7242, ext. 4400.