By Cory Whitford
WHO DO YOU FOLLOW…
As a toddler, I followed my parents.
As a child, I followed my friends and siblings.
As a teen, I followed my friends–many of whom happened to be girls.
As an adult, I follow the rules… for the most part…
And now, I am followed. By my own kids. By my students. By my Facebook friends.
What I have found to be true is our world is all about following. Everybody follows something. Whether it is your favorite sports team, blog, or friend; we follow things we care about and that matter to us.
This following dates back to even the early Church times, when people wanted someone to follow. One of the great leaders was the Apostle Paul, who experienced an amazing transformation as he went from an angry murderer to a passionate follower of Jesus. People saw his passion and wanted what he had. They wanted someone to follow and Paul knew they would, so he said to them, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
Paul wanted them to know that he was also a follower and that if they truly wanted to follow him then they would have to know that he got his strength from being a Jesus follower first. Paul understood that Jesus was the reason for his changed life because he had tasted forgiveness, grace, and a fresh start through Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross.
Fast forward to June 19, 2022 a group of Harlem Campus Life Students followed me to summer camp in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Like Paul, I along with many other leaders and volunteers are followers as well. This week changed the lives of many, including the Harlem Campus Life students. From this point on many in this group of students have made a decision to follow Christ Jesus. On August 21, 2022, 7 students were baptized proclaiming they are ready and willing to follow Jesus.
What about you? Are you a good follower? Our world is obsessed with leadership.
Go to any bookstore and you will find hundreds of books on being a better leader.
How many books do you think you’d find that would help you be a better follower? I’m willing to bet very few if any. As Christians, Jesus has called us to be His disciples (followers) and to trust in Him. As you grow in discipleship by being a follower of Jesus, know that you will also be a leader to those around you.
I am so proud of all the students. Keep your eye on Jesus and follow Him.
In Christ’s Love - Cory, Harlem Campus Life Director
