One

As a formally trained economist from my college days, I know that numbers can be made to mean just about anything you'd like them to, depending on the context in which you place them. Give me some numbers, and I can produce a graph that shows them in either a positive or a negative light, depending on your point of view.

And so I'm careful to put forth numbers as evidence of something involving the Holy Spirit. I get uncomfortable when people talk about attendance figures at their churches or youth groups, as if these numbers provided proof of a real and relevant connection with Christ.

That being said, the numbers from last week's CHIC (www.noordinaryday.org) event in Tennessee are pretty astounding. Close to 6000 high school students gathered together to worship God, and seek his will for their lives. Over $100,000 generously given by those students as an offering to God, to be used for a village in the Sudan; enough to provide a school (with teachers and supplies) as well as a medical clinic (again, with supplies). Close to 600,000 meals prepared and boxed for shipment by those students, in conjunction with a wonderful organization by the name of Feed My Starving Children. Hundreds of students standing to signify their commitment to following Christ's call into full-time ministry of some sort. Absolutely amazing numbers.

But I am uncomfortable with numbers. Except for the number "one". "One" can't be manipulated. "One" can't be turned around. "One" has meaning that is constant, especially when it comes to talking about how the Holy Spirit moves in the lives of people. And so the most impressive number to me from CHIC is "one". One student, from my group, who stood up on Wednesday evening in the midst of a powerful service of worship, to give his life to Christ, and accept God's free gift of salvation. There were lots of others who did the same that night, and the number of those who made first time commitments to Christ would be not only impressive, but also beautiful. But the "one" is what is most important, and ultimately most impressive and most beautiful. For "one" cannot be tainted by contexts. That "one" life has now found new life in Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and an event with a weird name, known as CHIC, where that Spirit was present.

People always want to know about numbers when I return from CHIC. "How many?" "How much?" I'm thrilled to be able to tell them about the most important number of all from last week..."one".