One night, one of our campus ministry student leaders invited a friend to my all-time favorite fellowship activity: laser tag. That friend brought another friend, Rishin Patra.
When Rishin eventually came to one of our Wednesday Bible studies, his interest was piqued. He asked questions, and I suggested that we meet for coffee. There, he told me he considered himself an atheist. I had never really sat down with a self-professed atheist before. But as we talked, it became clear that his questions were the same ones I’ve heard lifelong Christians ask. “Why does God let people suffer? Where did we come from and why are we here? If God is really out there, why doesn’t he just tell us?” He wasn’t trying to win an argument. He genuinely wanted to know if anyone could answer those existential questions.
But after several meetings, the Word did its quiet work on Rishin. He saw not a book of regulations, but a Savior who suffered, died, and rose for him. The Word had sparked faith in his heart. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I will always remember one conversation. We talked about how prayer is a unique gift for Christians because it’s an act of faith. He paused for a moment, then said, “Well, I guess I can pray now because I think I am a Christian.” I assured him that he was. The Spirit had created faith in his heart through the promises of Jesus, who had died and risen for him.
On paper, it sounds dramatic—a former atheist becomes a Christian. But the Spirit did what he always does. Through the simple Word of Christ, he created faith.
We know the Spirit doesn’t work through laser tag, but we’ll keep playing at least once a semester because sometimes it opens a door. And when it does, the Word does what only the Word can do.
From Thomas Welch, campus ministry pastor at Peace in Houghton, Mich.
