Tough questions

Jamie McClendon is 22 years old. She has red hair, a contagious smile and a brand-new B.A. from the University of Georgia.

Her close-knit family became closer recently when her best friend married Jamie's brother. This summer she's leading a woman's Bible study, and in August she'll start graduate work. This time next year, she'll be a licensed dietitian.

Life seems to be rolling right along for Jamie. But something happened in March that planted a seed of discontent in her current agenda-and shook up her future plans.

During spring break, Jamie spent a week in Paris with 17 other students from UGA's Baptist Student Union.

Spending time with university students was the highlight of the trip. As Jamie and the other students ate in university cafeterias and conducted surveys on college campuses, they enjoyed relationships with Paris's students-and learned about the students' deep need for Jesus.

"It made missions more real," says Jamie. "There are people out there who don't know [about the gospel] and don't care to know."

Beginning with that week in Paris, God started opening Jamie's eyes to the nations-and she wonders if He's calling her to reach them.

Before going to Paris, she pictured missionaries as out-of-touch, grass-hut dwellers. Then she met Scott and Mentanna Campbell, who live in a colorful apartment in the heart of Paris and minister to college students there.

"They're not weird; they're normal," she says. "And they're a lot of fun, too."

When she thinks about herself in missions, though, Jamie asks some tough questions-and doesn't find easy answers.

She knows how one week in Paris challenged her. And she asks: "What if I went for six months or a year or two years? How much more would I be challenged?"

She hears God answer: "How much more would I be with you?"

But she worries she'll fall without the support of family, friends and church.

As a recent graduate, she hears family and friends urging her to establish her career before she thinks about going overseas. But deep down, she knows God's will may be different from the best intentions of loved ones.

And then there's the question of marriage.

"A lot of people marry pretty young here," says the Conyers, Ga., native. "And I'm 22."

But she realizes there are places all over the world where women will be reached only by other women. They need Christian women-women like Jamie-to lead and disciple them.

Ultimately, Jamie knows God commands us to worship Him. And Christ commands us to make His name known.

"We think we can put our life on hold and then get back to the real world," she says. "But it's not putting your life on hold. If we don't do it, the rocks will cry out."

That leads her to the question she's afraid to answer: "If I think it's so important, why aren't I doing it?"

And she admits: "I'm scared of what the calling will require of me."

FORUM: Are you facing the same struggles Jamie's facing? Or have you already tackled these issues and found answers to share with Jamie and others? Go to www.thetask.org/students/forum/default.asp and share your experiences with other college students and recent graduates.

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