“Being in the Truth

is to participate in the eternal wisdom that sustains all things. It is to be conformed to the image of the eternal God as seen in Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God incarnate. Being in the truth is to be grounded in the living God.

                 Truth is God acting in history, the Word becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Because human reason cannot conceive of the eternal entering time, of the divine becoming human, or myth becoming fact, it endeavors to reinterpret the truth of the gospel in order to bring it into accord with universal human understanding. But in the process it surrenders the mystery and paradox of the gospel. Truth in the gospel perspective is the revelationally paradoxical –that which can be grasped not by reflective reasoning but only by the passion of faith.”

                                            ~Donald G. Bloesch

Have a Blessed Christmas!

“For the biblical theologian truth is not a universal idea or principle but neither is it an ecstatic experience  or creative insight. It is first of all not a proposition but a relationship. To be in the truth means to stand in a right relationship with God.

          ~ Donald G. Bloesch

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

December 2004

Gary and Marlene Cameron

Our calling is to challenge and equip Christian graduate students to be a redeeming influence among the people, ideas, and structures of the university and professions and to come alongside faculty to encourage them in their vocation with prayer and resources. Thank you for having the vision to join us in such a calling.

Asian Scholars

The Asian Scholars Fellowship in the Engineering Department at FIU continues to explore the book of Exodus and the theme of the deliverance of God’s people as a paradigm for salvation. It is always a joy to share with this group and hear their stories and their probing questions about the Bible.

The Lord has opened new doors through a new faculty member with a burden to minister to Chinese

scholars. A new group of Asian scholars will begin next semester that will explore the Truth in the gospel of John. We have met a number of these students already at the Thanksgiving dinner hosted in the professor’s home.

Many of these scholars are not believers, but they are open to explore the claims of Christ. They constitute some of the sharpest people in their country, who have been allowed the opportunity to study abroad. Many are going back to China probably to take places of influence. We hope that these serious, accomplished students receive Christ and return committed to further the gospel in China.

   Many committed Chinese Christians are also able to enter Muslim countries where entrance is denied to Westerners. As professionals they carry a very effective witness for Christ. It is very refreshing to hear their testimonies of faith in Jesus and their desire to strengthen themselves in Christ before they return.

     You may be encouraged to hear some of the individual stories from the Asian fellowships:

• Daniel,* a PhD candidate at FIU, received Christ in June after being connected for a year to GFM at University of Illinois. He was baptized in August and three days later came to FIU and contacted us. Since then he has continued to eagerly seek Christian fellowship and to study the scriptures. In a memorable time with our family, after watching a recently released documentary about the enduring witness of the church in China, Daniel was excited about his return. He expressed a desire to strengthen himself in Christ while he was here, so that he could return and be active in ministry.
  

•  Sarah is a PhD candidate at UM medical school. Sarah’s husband has participated in the Asian scholars Bible study at FIU, but neither Sarah nor her husband has come to faith in Christ. They are drawn to the Christian fellowship because of the love that is present and they continue to ask questions. In a recent conversation with Marlene, Sarah disclosed her concerns about believing the Bible as a scientist; she also wanted to know about how Christians approach raising children since she has a desire to begin a family. She was moved by the answers she heard and asked to continue the conversation. Next time we saw her was in church, where a scientist, a Chinese born professor from University of Florida in Gainesville, was bringing an evangelistic message.
  

• Richard is a researcher in engineering at FIU; his wife is a student at the University of Massachusetts; he sees his wife on     holiday breaks. Richard is not yet a believer. He comes quietly, but faithfully, to our study in Exodus. He is drawn to our    conversations about Christianity. Recently, he was impressed with the relationship between the meaning of the Tabernacle in Exodus, where the relational God dwells among people, and points to Christ in the New Testament, where God takes on flesh to dwell among us. 

*Names are changed to preserve the privacy of the students.

 Law Student Ministries. The law students met this semester for Bible study and fellowship. Though they are swamped with studies, during December they are involved in The Angel Tree Project to minister to children of prison inmates.

Prayer. We continue to pursue prayer as a serious discipline having frequent family times in which we observe silence, enjoy short meditations, and offer intercessory prayers. We have extended these times to include other students providing alongside a simple soup meal for convenience (and as a reward for traveling many miles to our home!).

Please Pray for:

• The formation of new groups of Asian Scholars next semester and for the new faculty involved to begin these new groups.

• The formation of a law student group at the new FIU law department and for new leadership at the more established UM group. Pray for the new students called to lead and join these developing groups.

• Those in the Asian Scholars Fellowship in the Engineering Department at FIU, who are investigating the claims of Christ while engaging with a Christian community to study the Bible at the university. Pray also for the committed faculty members supporting these students.

• For the planning and preparation of the Colloquium on Faith and Scholarship at the University of Florida in Gainesville in February.

• For InterVarsity’s National Staff Conference. January 5-9 in St. Louis.

• All Christian faculty in our universities. We need to be reminded of their strategic place of witness. They need our constant prayer.

• The growing interest in prayer as a spiritual discipline and for the new group that is beginning to form.

• For Marlene, who is now an official volunteer staff.

• Provision for this ministry. We’re only at 73% of our budget at this time.