STUDENT MISSIONS INTERVIEW
R on H afer : One of the most im portant aspects of Biola life is the Student Missionary Union. We’ve asked Dave Beckwish, this year’s president of the organization, to tell us something about the work which is carried on. D ave B eckwith : This is totally a student program which has been in existence at Biola for many years. As with many programs, Student Missionary Union has sought to meet the needs of today’s world, offering a practical involvement for all of our young people. It would be well to stress the fact that in such a develop ment, foreign missions has received an even greater emphasis than in the past, although Student Missionary Union seeks to use fields of spiritual needs about us as training grounds in outreach. It’s a case of Biolans learning to share Jesus Christ right now. Each year our missionary con ference brings ambassadors of the cross from around the world to our Campus for a distinctive ministry and challenge. H afer : Dave, as you’ve talked with student leaders across the coun try, have you found that other Chris tian campuses have similar emphases as we have designed our program? B eckwith : No, unfortunately, this isn’t the general pattern in most so- called Christian colleges. In many cases, missions seem to be forgotten, or else relegated to a minimal posi tion. Generally one will find only a small group really concerned about the spiritual needs of the. world. There just doesn’t seem to be any interest generated. Here at Biola, about 400 of our students are active ly involved with the Student Mission ary Union. There are many types of thrusts being carried on. H afer : Yes those who have been
familiar with Biola distinctives will realize that each student, every se mester, has an active and practical opportunity and involvement in shar ing his faith through a local Chris tian work assignment. A few of these areas include youth pastors, Sunday school teachers, musicians, junior church leaders, gospel teams, and many others. Approximately half of our program is directed toward as sisting the local church. Then there are other splendid programs such as Child Evangelism, Youth for Christ, Campus Crusade and the like. There need be no question as to whether missions is really relevant to the Biola student. B eckwith : It’s my firm conviction that most students today are looking for the application of their Chris tianity to daily living. Missions can’t be projected into an unknown future. Dr. Paul E. Little of Inter-Varsity has stated, “I’m convinced that un less each individual, committed to foreign missions, gets a grasp of per sonal evangelism on his campus, the total impact of missions is going to be relatively slight. The mission field is not a geographical location. It’s simply any place where there are peo ple without Jesus Christ.” In Ephe sians 2:1, Paul gives us a very posi tive note that says, in essence, “Mis sions are possible now.” He declares, “And you hath he quickened (made alive.” The very core of missions is in the miracle of salvation. For ex ample, every week throughout the year, about 200 of our Biola students go into the Los Angeles Watts area where they have the opportunity to see people being made alive in Christ Jesus. The Greek uses very powerful lan guage in the second part of Ephe sians 2:1: “Who were dead in tres
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