One of the moments I feared most when I was in high school was that first day of lunch. It still makes me a little anxious thinking about it. So many questions, worries, and thoughts flooded my mind as I walked into the giant cafeteria of my high school. With my heart racing, my eyes scanned the cafeteria for people I knew. Where would I sit? Or more importantly who would I sit with?
It felt as if lunch could make or break you. Sit at the wrong table and you would get associated with the wrong crowd or worse yet, no one would sit with you. You wanted to feel loved and welcomed. Sitting with friends made high school lunch bearable. People associated you with the company you kept at lunch.
Starting a new business or new ministry venture isn’t too different in some sense. The cafeteria has gone from tables to computer screens but at the end of the day we look to the company people keep as a marker of who they are and what they are about.
When I started redeemedonline.com and #ShareJesus two years ago, I knew the reality that who you partner with speaks volumes. We’ve been able to reach literally several hundred thousand people with the good news of the Gospel because from day one we’ve been about amplifying and joining together powerful voices with your voice. If you are reading this, I want you to know that I believe in you and the power you have to share the good news with others. For our part, we have tried to be laser focused in pulling together speakers from all over the country to give you great content to share. We want you to both experience Jesus and share him with others.
It brings a smile to my face to tell you about one of my other key partners, Franciscan University of Steubenville, that joined #ShareJesus as the presenting partner this past Advent and Lent.
Redeemedonline.com and #ShareJesus wouldn’t be happening without Franciscan University. Almost every one of our speakers in some way or another has been impacted, formed, or shaped by Franciscan University. Without my alma mater, Franciscan University, I know that I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
If you’ve met a Franciscan University graduate, you’ve probably met a Franciscan evangelist. There is an idea called “evangelism marketing” that has become popular today in the business marketing world. Wikipedia defines this as creating “customers who believe so strongly in a particular product or service that they freely try to convince others to buy and use it.” An education at Franciscan does this.
I know many Franciscan graduates are changing the world because Franciscan changed their world. I’ve seen this firsthand.
The partnership of redeemedonline.com and #ShareJesus with Franciscan is very intentional. It’s about reaching more people with the good news of the Gospel. Like St. Francis, Franciscan University is a place striving to rebuild the church. I am overjoyed to share this video with you today…
Thanks for listening to my story. I would love to hear yours. How has Franciscan University impacted you? I love hearing stories about Franciscan- whether your youth minister or friend went there and impacted your life or you went to school or a conference there, please share your story below.