Rick Mattson

Summary: Offers both a framework for thinking about Christian witness among graduate students and faculty and a host of practical resources aiding in that witness.

One of the most challenging fields for Christian witness, at least by perception, is the population of graduate students and university faculty working in public or private institutions of higher education (other than explicitly Christian colleges). Not only is there a higher degree of skepticism about Christian claims but there are real risks Christian peers may face in terms of reputation or even employment in seeking to bear witness to what one believes. Often Christian peers fear imposing themselves or being perceived as racist, homophobic, colonizers.

Does this then mean Christian acacemics get a “pass” on “you shall be my witnesses” among their peers in the academy? Rick Mattson thinks not. Mattson is a traveling evangelist and evangelism trainer with InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministry and his work over many years has convinced him there is not only the possibility of witness but that there are people hungering for spiritual reality and that those of us who work with this population may have the joy of walking with some as they place their trust in Christ.

The first part of this book offers a framework for Christian witness in the academic world. Very quickly, we discover the source of Mattson’s optimism. In the first chapter, “A Theology of Witness,” Mattson articulates the encouraging truth that “God goes before us.” Witness begins, not with slick salesmanship, but with “listening in stereo” to both the person with whom we are speaking and to the Holy Spirit who may prompt us with questions we might asks and what we might say, and how far, in a conversation, we might go in faith sharing. At some point, this involves taking a risk, either in identifying ourselves in some way as a Christ follower or in asking a question that takes the conversation to a deeper level. Mattson discusses the importance of consent, of asking permission when we do so. God going before us, discernment, and taking risks make up the first three chapters of the book and Mattson ties it all together with a running narrative of an in-flight conversation with “Ruth” that is illustrative of the process and how natural this may be.

The final part of this framework is a discussion of five thresholds of conversion, describing the process by which people come to faith. Rarely is this in a single conversation, but rather over time as a person trusts a Christian, moves from indifference to curiosity, becomes open to change, moves from meandering to seeking, and becomes a follower of Christ. Mattson believes this is a process in which God is at work in a person but offers suggestions of how we might walk alongside someone in that process helpfully.

The rest of the book consists of fifteen appendices, each a few pages long with very practical helps. Mattson discusses things like the 40-60 model, where we spend more time listening than speaking, helps in telling our own story, three steps to inviting people to events, and the place of scripture in our witness. He offers appendices for specific groups within this larger category of “academics”: international students, faculty, and Black scholars and professionals.

This book is written specifically for those involved in InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministry (of which I am a part). This includes graduate students, post-docs, researchers, and faculty along with the campus ministers serving this population. At the same time, there are many others engaged with this population who will benefit including study center staff on university campuses and other campus ministries and local congregations. In addition, there are Christian graduate students and faculty on many campuses not yet being served by any outside ministry who will find the principles and resources in this book helpful. Finally, the framework and some of Mattson’s resources are applicable more broadly, as evident from illustrations that he includes from outside academia.

Mattson’s succinct, highly readable, and practical book offers hope for a culturally appropriate and effective Christian witness among graduate students and faculty. The good news that God goes before us in witness means we don’t have to make something happen. Rather than impose our faith on the unwilling, we have the opportunity to expose our faith with those in whom God has been working, as we discern through “listening in stereo.” My experience is that God loves to surprise us in such things, often through conversations with those we thought most unlikely to be interested. And that is part of the joy!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.… (más)

Summary: The stories of ten people from diverse backgrounds who never expected to find faith in Christ and how they found the unexpected.

For some people, turning to faith in Christ is just not on the radar. They were turned off by the church. It all seems irrelevant to their lives. Or they've done too much "stuff" that they could never believe God would forgive. Maybe they've just never thought about it.

This is a book of stories of people like this. They come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. A Latino macho man. An urban black athlete into parties and women. A liberal arts college feminist. A Native American woman literally haunted by the spirit of her deceased father. A couple of atheists, one nicknamed "Satan" for his knack of de-converting Christians. A secular Korean Buddhist photographer. A military pilot. An Asian American student at UCLA averse to risk. And the author, whose early life consisted of music gigs, golf, and girls.

The stories are as different as the people. For some, an event that can only be described as supernatural played an important part. For others, it was an impulse to attend a church, conversations with a believing friend, a book, even a song. For many, it was multiple influences pointing in the same direction. For most, coming to faith didn't happen instantaneously. For many, it felt as much that they were found, or that they stumbled into faith, as finding faith.

This is a book that inspires hope. You may find yourself reading and thinking, "if that person could discover a living faith, anyone could. Even I could. Or my friend could." This makes it a great gift for friends who have shown some spiritual interest. Or if you are wondering what it might look like to believe, here are ten renderings. One might sound a bit like you. The stories are short and the book is an easy and quick read.

This may be helpful to one other group. In some cases years or decades have passed since we've come to faith. Perhaps we never remember a time we did not believe. That's not how it is with everyone and this book can help with understanding the journeys to faith of those not like us and perhaps help us to become aware of the ways spiritual stirrings might show themselves in our friends.

I found myself encouraged as I read this book, that God delights in bringing people from all kinds of places into relationship with himself. There is no barrier too great, and even if we are stumbling along the way to God, God finds a way to us.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.… (más)