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Welcoming the Nations. Exploring the Gospel. Equipping the Saints.


Simon's Story

Dear <<First Name>>,

It was the first night of Table Talk for the Spring Semester. We were opening up our new discussion series on Jesus’ miracles. Many students who had joined us the previous semester were there, including our friend *Simon* As we began to dive into our questions for the night, *Simon* told us that he wasn’t going to hold back on us anymore. He was determined to tell us what he really thought. He got to talking quite a bit about his particular Hindu beliefs, before our other friend *Kameron* asked him to stop talking so I could move our discussion along. I thanked *Simon* for sharing, and asked him if we could meet up for a meal or coffee so we could talk more. A couple weeks later, we finally got the chance to sit down and talk. 

*Simon* is very thoughtful and takes his spirituality more seriously than the average Hindu student. He grew up in a more devout Hindu home, and has been thinking about religion a lot in his life. We were only able to small talk for a short while before we got to talking about his beliefs. Our conversation went in a lot of different directions, but the essence of our conversation went like this: “religions are a man-made construct. God is too big for any one religion to define. God has to have many different emanations (avatars or incarnations) so all the people of the earth in their many different places can know him. Jesus is one of the greatest incarnations of God. I believe in Jesus just as you believe in Jesus, because he is an incarnation (along with other incarnations) of the One true God. It’s bias to say that there is only one true religion.” 

SO. MANY. KNOTS! How do you begin to untangle them all!? At this point, the best piece of advice I’ve received is to elevate Jesus. “If you believe all religions are the same,” I said, “then you can’t have Jesus.” “What do you mean?” *Simon* asked. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is saying that he is the only way to know God. So if you want to say all religions are the same, then you need to take Jesus out of your system because clearly he disagrees.” *Simon* didn't like hearing that but I think our conversation was disruptive for him in many good ways. Our Hindu friends are steeped in the belief that all religions are the same, and they are surrounded by family, friends and a cultural system that would tell them the same. Most have never truly considered the claims of Jesus or been challenged to think that God is bigger than the imaginations of men. 

Our conversation ended well, and *Simon* expressed that he saw something in my belief that he longed to have. Later that day he even sent me this text:

"By the way, I enjoyed our lunch this afternoon. It was quite therapeutic, in a sense. Let’s meet up for coffee another time.”

Please pray for our friend, *Simon.* Pray that the deceptive veil of sin that lies over his eyes would be removed, so that he may see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Pray that he would continue to seek the truth, and that the truth of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished would set him free from the curse of sin and death. Pray that we would continue to meet, and pray that I would have wisdom in communicating the grace and truth of Christ to him. And as you pray for *Simon,* please pray also for the many other Hindu students who are coming to our events and coming to our Bible Studies. Pray that Jesus would make himself glorious to them, and that they would long to be united to him by faith.

*names changed for the student's protection*

Group Photos at Snow's BBQ
Group Photo at Holi
Some Other Spring Shenanigans 
It's been a busy Spring semester with our regular activities like Table Talk, Friday Night Bible Study, and hospitality events but somehow we've also found some time to squeeze in some other fun activities. At the beginning of March we made a glorious return to maybe the most famous BBQ restaurant in all of Texas, Snow's BBQ. We were up at 3:30am, to pick up students and hit the road by 4:30am. We arrived at Snow's at 5:30am and waited in line until 9:30am to get our BBQ and all I can say is... TOTALLY WORTH IT!! We had 21 people in our group this time, and we were having so fun that we hardly even noticed the wait. Definitely one of my favorite memories from the semester.

Additionally our Indian friends host a celebration called Holi on campus every year. It's their festival where everyone throws colors on each other. The celebration includes a lot of music and dancing. I have always enjoyed going to it and coming away a lot more colorful. My oldest daughter, Brighton, reminds me every time to take a shower when I get home from the Holi celebration :)
Group photos from our Spring Break Camping Trip
Spring Break Camping Trip
Thank you so much for praying for our Spring Break Camping Trip! It was a blast and it created some great bonds within our group. Several new students came with us, and at least five of them have become regular Table Talk attenders since the trip. One night, Hannah even overheard *Stacey* (a regular Table Talk attendee) selling Table Talk to one of the new students who hadn't come yet. I always love hearing non-Christian students promote gospel conversations to other non-Christian students! We were exhausted after we returned but the LORD was definitely at work through our camping trip. 
Some Big News from the Bagbys!!!
That's right!! Blaire is going to be a big sister and she can hardly wait!! We will be welcoming our third baby girl into our family this coming October. We are thrilled to have her join us! Please pray that Crystal and our baby girl will be healthy through pregnancy and birth. Pray also that Crystal would have the energy she needs to care for Brighton and Blaire during the hot summer season, especially when I'm traveling for work. 
Prayer Requests

We are quickly wrapping up another year of ministry. Here are some ways you can be praying for us in the weeks to come:

  • Pray for more gospel conversations with *Simon* and other Hindu friends
  • Pray for a great End of the Year Party on May 13th
  • Pray for 10 students to join us at RUF Summer Conference in May.
  • Pray that Crystal and I would find time to rest and recover this summer
  • Pray that we would have wisdom and love to parent Brighton and Blaire
Please let me know if there are ways I can be praying for you as well!
Your gifts play a vital role in helping us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with students coming from all over the world through gospel deeds and gospel words. Help us to continue welcoming the nations at Texas A&M in 2023!

If you would like to give to this ministry financially, please click the GIVE button below to make a contribution on the RUF-I Texas A&M donation page. If you would like to give by check, please write "RUF-I Texas A&M" or "account # 0512" in the memo line and send checks to:

Reformed University Fellowship
P.O. Box 890004
Charlotte, NC 28289-0004

RUF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

May the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

Titus, Crystal, Brighton and Blaire Bagby
GIVE
Copyright © 2023 RUF International @ Texas A&M, All rights reserved.


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