John is a Global Scholars professor in Eastern Europe. In his recent literature course, class discussions naturally brought up themes like the problem of evil and salvation.
The students included both Christians and non-Christians, and their discussions often became personal. During one conversation about suffering and the existence of God, a soft-spoken student from a war-torn country shared that he had attended church in the past but could not bring himself to believe in a loving God.
“I wish God would show himself to me,” he told John.
The student has not yet come to faith, but he continues to think and ask questions.
Another student in the literature course was open about her atheism. But in her final paper, she wrote:
I [am now] more understanding about Christianity. Before, I would never even grasp the idea of how someone would believe in this. But now I kind of do. I still don’t believe in God and can’t wrap my head around him. But I get how this religion would be appealing to others.
She told John that she was beginning to doubt her atheism and ask herself, “What if God is real?”
John has seen other students take even greater steps toward faith. A student in another one of his courses had walked away from Christianity because she saw it as too restrictive. But through classroom discussions and personal conversations, she began to reconsider what she believed. At the end of the semester, she wrote:
I started the course doubting Christianity. This class helped me see the rationale for Christianity and gave me all the information I needed to make a choice and adopt Christianity. I realized that I was picking whatever was more comfortable and found it appealing that I could be my own authority. But discussing the flaws in secularism in providing meaning, identity, and satisfaction pushed me to go back to my doubts about Christianity and re-evaluate them.
This Thanksgiving, I’m thanking God for professors like John. I’m thanking God for his work in the lives of students. I’m also thanking God for you. Your partnership with Global Scholars equips professors like John to be salt and light in universities around the world.
Thank you, and may God bless you this Thanksgiving!
For Christ and the university,
Stan
The italicized name has been changed to protect privacy.
Image Credit: Pexels/Jessica Olivella
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Our November prayer calendar is now posted on our website. Download the prayer calendar to pray for professors, students, and current needs in higher education.
