I just sent out a March 2025 update about Bread and where I’m at! Check it out here, but I did think about the idea of campfires and bonfires, which I wanted to develop here!
There is life in the campfire. If you’ve ever been camping, they provide a place to gather and cook; they provide warmth and comfort; they provide light and safety in a dark and sometimes dangerous world. And if you think campfires are great, bonfires are even better. They magnify it even more!
The world around us seems to be growing consistently darker. There is less and less hope to be found. Oftentimes, we think the best way to fight against the darkness in the world is to come up against it, head-on, and try to remove it. The problem with this, is that that’s not how darkness works. Darkness exists and is here; you can’t remove it. It exists in all the places where light doesn’t shine. It’s futile to fight against the darkness by trying to remove it.
At the time of posting this, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day. Therefore, I want to share with you about a man by the name of Maewyn Succat. He had a journey that involved him being a slave, returning to Ireland as a missionary, and finally standing up to the High King of Tara.
It was around Easter. The druids and High King of Tara (who ruled over Ireland) had decreed that no other lights were to burn except for his bonfire during the festival. Maewyn wanted to honor Jesus on Easter with a light. So he went to the highest hill and built a bonfire that was so large, not only did the king see it from his palace, but it dwarfed the king’s fire.
The high king sent his men to find the troublemaker.
I doubt it was hard to find him.
They grabbed Maewyn and brought him before the king to be executed. Legends say a lot of different things happened, but at some point Maewyn shared the gospel with the king and druids.
He told them of the love of Jesus.
He told them how Jesus had come to earth and died for us.
He told them that while he may be the High King of Ireland.
JESUS was the High King of Heaven.
This led to the druids and the High King deciding to follow Jesus. They gave Maewyn the right to share the gospel across Ireland.
Maewyn is most commonly known as Saint Patrick.
Saint Patrick felt led by Holy Spirit to light a bonfire to honor Jesus, and that decision led to him being granted an audience with the King. He had the courage to share the gospel with people who persecuted him and were ready to kill him! These were people that we, today, may write off as lost.
I think that this was because Saint Patrick understood two big things.
First: Everyone, even if they don’t realize it, is searching for something that God alone can offer.
Second: As Christians, our fight isn’t against people who believe differently than us.
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
Through his obedience to Holy Spirit, Saint Patrick took a risk, stepped out in faith, and the world was changed through a bonfire.
Tending A Spiritual Bonfire
I feel that there are some places that serve as a sort of spiritual bonfire. Places exist in your life and in the world that accomplish the same things as a bonfire, but there’s obviously no physical bonfire.
These are places where you feel:
safe
at home
comfortable enough to feel yourself.
When I was a pastor, I wanted every class and space to be a spiritual bonfire, a place that people were drawn to, could be safe, and would provide warmth, comfort, and life in the midst of the darkness of the world.
I count myself extremely blessed to be able to be part of a ministry now that does the same thing. I see Bread Coffeehouse, and the work I’ll be doing with them, as a spiritual bonfire on the Emory campus, throughout Atlanta, and one that fuels the lights of those around the world. Much like a real bonfire, our little house is a place to gather, share meals, provide warmth and comfort, life, light, and safety in a place where it may be hard to find.
We tend a spiritual bonfire that honors Jesus in the midst of the darkness of the world!
As of last semester, we engaged with almost 800 students a week, we actively discipled almost 60 students in small groups, and provided, free of charge, 1.6k home-cooked meals and 11k cups of coffee!
A Quick Update on me!
I’m now at 23.4% funding! God has blessed me with so many awesome people and sometimes strangers who become friends who have supported, encouraged, and loved me and committed to pray for me, to care about my bills, and to sacrifice for me.
I’m going to be heading up to Emory to start getting into the groove while classes are still happening. This should begin in the April!
I did want to share this graphic: each Roboute Guilliman and fox represents a family that’s decided to commit to donating regularly to me. The foxes on the bottom are families that feel God wants them to join me in missions but aren’t sure how much or how often!
Click the picture to head to my link if you want to join me, or get in contact with me, and I’d be happy to set up a meeting, and we can discuss!
I’d also love any introductions to your church/pastors/missions committees, to be able to share the awesomeness of what I’m doing with them!
- Christiaan
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