Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

More Urbana '70 NewsUrbana, III. — Probably the number one question in theminds of many as they converged on the University ofIllinois campus for Urbana '70 was whether or not thestudent revolt and campus radicalism would have anynoticeable effect on the convention.Would there be demonstrations by dissident students?At convention's endit was clear that student unrestraised scarcely a ripple at Urbana '70. Startling, consideringthat nearly every segment of the student population acrossthe country was represented among the more than 12,300participants.Then again, perhaps not so surprising. It appeared thatstudents got what they came for.The following factors madeit possible for students toreceive personal attention, experience effective communicationand meet individual needs and goals:* Whether their hair was long or short, collegians atUrbana '70 had a special reason for coming to this convention:Most were interested in the relationship of JesusChrist to their own lives and the world.* Students had been intimately involved in all stagesof planning the convention. The result: the convention wasuniquely designed to meet student needs and interests.* Speakers spoke with relevance on gut issues concerningthese students: the relationship of Christianity toglobal social and political problems.GRATITUDE. from page 7In a day when a student gathering of thousands usuallymeans protest and tear gas,it was awesome to see more than12,300 gathered in the University of Illinois Assembly Hallbecause of a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. But mostof them didn't appear to worship an institutional Jesus, asevinced by their enthusiastic response to speakers (see quotesheet also) such as Dr. Leighton Ford, who said: "Maybeonce upon a time we could think of a missionary as a superiorsoul from Canada the good or America the beautiful going toset the poor heathen right. But no more. We've seen theburned out ghettos. We've seen the rural slums. We've seenthe bodies at Kent State. We've seen the stupidity and greedthat has killed Lake Erie. No longer can we labor under theillusion that God is our great white father and that JesusChrist wears red, white and blue."Students served on the convention's planning andexecutive committees. Great numbers of students also hadthe opportunity to help shape Urbana '70 through severalreact sessions held by the staff of Inter-Varsity ChristianFellowship, convention sponsor, around the country morethan a year before the event was held and because of anextensive survey soliciting response from participants atUrbana '67.The result: A complete reorganization of the conventionformat.Half of the time was left free for students to make uptheir own schedules.Inter-Cristo, a computer matching service, enabledstudents and missionaries with like interests to locate eachother, solving a major logistical problem in making theconvention of practical assistance to both.* Every afternoon convention speakers andmissionaries were stationed in numerous small meetingrooms to interact informally with students, providing thebest possible situation for meaningful communication.The more than 10,000 students were divided ingroups of ten with a group leader. They met mornings andevenings for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. Groupleader's sole responsibility at the convention was to get toknow his ten students and assist them. With such personalattention students had a hard time "getting lost in thecrowd."Frustration from lack of communication appears to bea major cause of student disturbances. Apparently Urbana'70 succeeded in overcoming the communications problem.Students got what they came for: information, guidance andmeaningful inter-action and insight on matters of mostimportance to them.•••always insisted on leaving squash out until they had beenfrosted a bit. One of his favorite sayings was, "Ye never getanv sweetness in a squash until after there has been a frost toripen it; andif ye want a real sweet squash, waittill therehave been two or three frosts." After telling the story of theold gardener, Beecher would add, "So I have foundit withindividuals. Only those who have experienced the frosts ofadversitv and real trial are possessors of very much sweetnessof character."Do we as Christians pass this test of gratitude foradversities too as well as pleasant experiences and gifts? Suchgratitude is our dutv.PRAYER OF GRATITUDEOf all the many, many giftsWe long so to possess.The one that is the best is this.The gift of gratefulness.Of all the blessings we receive.Which happiness impart.The one that brings real joy is this—Gratitude in the heart.•••