Loaves and Fishes

From the AG newsletter

** CHI ALPHA: “LOAVES AND FISHES”

Eli and Mary Gautreaux have been involved in Sam Houston State
University, Huntsville, Texas, Chi Alpha for the past 14 years,
being nationally appointed Assemblies of God U.S. missionaries to
SHSU since 1996.

In those years, they’ve had their share of surprising experiences as
well as predictable trends - for example, college students being
flat broke by February every year.

However, what took place this past May 4, left this veteran
missionary Chi Alpha couple stunned and believing more than ever in
the biblical account of the loaves and fishes.

On Thursday, April 27, Eli and Mary presented their group of about
500 members a challenge. One of their own, Matt Hoogendoorn, a SHSU
Chi Alpha graduate and former intern, was going to start itinerating
as a recently appointed U.S. missionary. His mission: to start a Chi
Alpha at the University of Houston.

“If we’re really going to help him launch this ministry,” Mary
Gautreaux recalls telling the students, “we’re going to need you to
pray about transferring to the University of Houston to help him
[Matt] and we’re going to take an offering to buy him a new car.”

Indeed. Once on campus, Hoogendoorn could certainly use a strong
supporting cast to help launch an effective Chi Alpha - similar to
the method many church plants are done today. In addition, he’s
still facing at least a year of traveling multiple thousands of
miles throughout Texas to itinerate and raise financial support.
However, his 1980-something Chevy S-10 that hasn’t had operational
air conditioning for at least 10 years, wasn’t going to cut it.

Mary explains that the Chi Alpha staff had come together and, by
working with a Huntsville First Assembly of God member, were
planning on presenting Hoogendoorn with a new vehicle. The problem
was, they didn’t have the money to buy the car . . . yet.

“We were really trusting God to provide,” Mary says. “We went to the
students, and this was our second to last meeting of the year, and
gave them the challenge. We were aiming for $8,000, but hoping we’d
get $5,000 and then we’d [the staff] had to come up with some big
donations.”

With finals coming up, students financially tapped - not to mention
busy trying to line-up summer jobs and getting ready to go home, the
timing was far from ideal.

But the Holy Spirit got a hold of their hearts. Students took to the
challenge with gusto. They began selling their TVs, video games,
bicycles - whatever they could to help reach that $8,000 goal.

Meanwhile, Hoogendoorn was in the dark and understandably nervous.
He knew students were prayerfully considering coming to help him in
a year, but he had no idea about the new car. All he knew was that
with his old S-10, an intimidating itineration road lay before him.

On May 4, Chi Alpha came together once again at their meeting place,
Huntsville First Assembly. As the service was concluding,
Hoogendoorn was pulled from the service on an “errand.”

Eli then took the microphone and the students could no longer hold
back as they broke out into wild cheering - they knew what was
coming. “We’re now about to do what you are all waiting on,” Eli
called out as the cheering escalated. Reading the Bible passage on
the widow who gave her last few coins, Eli quickly related the story
to what the students were about to do.

As the cheering increased, buckets were placed at the front of the
altar and, as Eli gave the word, the students rushed from their
seats to give.

For students who had nothing to give a week before, anything they
gave this week represented sacrifice.

“You know what those students did?” Mary says, excitement bubbling
in her voice. “When we counted the money up, they had given nearly
$14,000 - that was enough for the car and a year’s worth of
insurance! When we announced it, the place went crazy. It was the
‘loaves and fishes’ all over again!”

Hoogendoorn was then let in on the huge surprise - slowly.

After he returned to the sanctuary, a baptismal service was held and
then, the students hurriedly exited to the parking lot ahead of
Hoogendoorn. There, unknown to Hoogendoorn, his new 2005 Dodge
Stratus awaited him in a setting of tiki torches, Christmas lights,
candles, balloons and a banner.

As he finally exited the building, the crowd of students roared out
their surprise and Hoogendoorn was left staring in wonder. When Eli
handed him the keys, cheers and tears mixed openly.

“I still cry when I think about this,” Mary says.

And Hoogendoorn? Of course, nothing but shock followed by words of
appreciation and amazement flowing from his lips . . . the effort to
keep the car a secret had been nothing short of a complete success.

However, later, when Hoogendoorn could gather himself, he would
promise Eli and Mary that all that they [the Chi Alpha staff and
students] had done for him over the years, he was determined to do
the same for the students of the University of Houston.

“The young people of today’s Church are ready to fulfill Jesus’
Great Commission,” Mary says, trying to explain the underlying
meaning of the event. “They’re willing to do literally whatever it
takes to see the gospel advanced.”

For more information about Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, see
http://chialpha.ag.org. To learn more about SHSU’s Chi Alpha, see
http://www.sam-xa.com/.

–Dan Van Veen

• Revival in India - with 21 comments
• Followup to Asbury - with 0 comments
• Controlling Spirit - with 1 comments