A Lifestyle of Mission - Life After XA

Fred Milner

In the time it took me to earn my degree, God had radically changed me through the ministry of XA and the new campus pastor, E. Scott Martin. “This is not my ministry, it’s yours,” was what the XA leadership constantly heard from Scott. During services we were not to be spectators. We prayed, greeted newcomers and watched to “see what God was doing.” This vision was also captured by my wife, who also was involved with Chi Alpha. Scott would say, “You’re not a student who happens to be a Christian, you’re a Christian who happens to be a student.” In other words our vocation is, first and foremost, to be Jesus to a lost world. This is a truth that has given me purpose and a sense of urgency. Twenty-plus years later what I learned through this essential ministry effects what I think and do every day.

As a general music teacher (K-5) in the public schools, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach children about our nation’s heritage through our patriotic songs and holiday music. Many teachers and administrators have been intimidated into thinking God cannot be mentioned in public schools. As a “believer first,” I have been able to not only educate children, but also my colleagues about the legal rights and responsibilities they have to teach about America’s holidays and heritage.

What would our churches be like if every member thought of himself as just as much a participant in the ministry as the pastor? This mindset has blessed our marriage as we have served as lay youth pastors, worship team leaders, led home cell groups and men’s and women’s discipleship groups, organized short-term mission trips, directed youth musicals and drama/dance teams and taught at our church’s annual 300-plus VBS. My family also reaches out through our church monthly, to indigenous, migrant workers in northern Mexico. Many of them barely speak Spanish but rather speak one of more than 200 dialects and languages in Mexico. Most are steeped in a mystical, idolatrous form of Christianity. Yet God has brought these spiritually hungry people right to our front door from as far away as Chiapas and Vera Cruz (just as he has brought peoples, by the way, from all over the world to our college campuses), that we may share the gospel.

Because of Scott’s influence through Chi Alpha, we were strongly encouraged to evangelize and participate in overseas missions. Not just to stay on campus but to go. We were able to experience what it is to be a missionary for a few weeks. Through the example of mi s s ionar ies such as Phil Hutsel in Paraguay, the Exley family in Argentina and others, our eyes were opened to the xamissions.com 07 EXPEDITIONS call of missions. This has given us the confidence and tools we need to be able to reach out today.

I believe that college students are looking for something to live for, some purpose that is bigger than themselves, just as I was. Praise God that XA was there for me at that critical point in my life. Parents shouldn’t even think about sending kids off to today’s universities without plugging them into Chi Alpha. It’s through the ministry of Chi Alpha that they can become disciples who will influence lives in our congregations as well as nations around the world. Thank God for all of you who support this dynamic ministry.

Fred Milner attended the University of Arizona where he met his beautiful wife, Julie (B.S. in nursing). They have four lovely daughters: Hannah, Holly, Savannah and Sierra. Besides teaching music and leading worship, the Milners also run a cattle ranch in northern Mexico.