What Does it Mean to be Part of the InterVarsity Family?

Definitions to know:
Inner reconciliation:  the pursuit of restoring our identity by allowing God to shape who we are.
World changer:  someone who establishes the kingdom of God where ever they go and who teaches others to do the same.  A world changers is salt and light no matter what career or life pursuit God calls them into.

Have you ever wondered what it means to "be part of" InterVarsity.  It has to be more than just showing up to events, right?  We all are part of families but being part of a family doesn't mean we just show up to dinner every night.  It is more than that.  So what does it mean to be part of InterVarsity in St. Pete.  This short explanation is meant to help us answer that question.  If you are new, this will be helpful to know what you are getting into.  And trust me, its a good thing to get into.  If you are a core member this can help us explain to others what kind of community they are joining allowing them to see what type of community we are.  We are not a sports group or a youth group.  Jesus asks His disciples to leave everything and become fishers of men.  He is up front with what he is calling these young followers to and I believe it a wise thing to follow His example.  So what does it mean to be part of InterVarsity?   The heuristic below is a great way to explain this. 

 

Figure 1.  Yes!  We are on a boat!

Being part of InterVarsity means that you will engage and learn scripture study, prayer, coorperate worship, evangelism, intentional discipleship, and so much more.  What does this produce? A community of surrender, reconciliation and sacrificial living.

Surrender
We are first a community that is Surrendered to Jesus.  Without surrender you go nowhere or our direction is not God’s direction.  Surrender allows God to direct our lives.  Being part of InterVarsity means you allow God to direct the sail of your boat.

Reconciliation
Next, being with us on the boat means we you are pursuing reconciliation with others and inner reconciliation.  If we try to follow Jesus without pursuing reconciliation with others and inner reconciliation we will sink or it means that you will feel left out and not on board.  Though we are reconciled to God we must learn what that fully means and so there is a repeated cycle of exposing our weaknesses, repentance by turning to Jesus, and relentless restoration back to God and community.

Sacrificial Life
Surrender and reconciliation is done within the context of a sacrificial life like that of Jesus.  As you learn to live a sacrificial life there will be constant resistance (academics, peer pressure, life tragedies, etc.).  Being part of InterVarsity means that you have staff and students who have gone before you and who will walk with you in this and we believe the end result will be a sacrificial life that grows you into a world changer where you will find that, in Jesus, we were made to sail through resistance and hardship.

We are those who surrender totally to Jesus, pursue reconciliation with others and inner healing, and who do it within the context of a sacrificial life that we are both learning and pursuing.

“A ship in a harbour is safe, but this is not what a ship is built for.”  –John A. Shedd