I was recently cleaning out an old box of papers and found this little gem. Seems like such a long time ago, my best buds and I were all headed around the US for summer project. Fast forward 6 years... almost two dozen Coyotes applied for summer project, and 10 of them are headed all over the world this summer: Denver, North Myrtle Beach (3), San Salvador, East Asia (2), Australia, Ocean City, NJ (2). Super excited that a few of 'yotes are heading to East Asia with me!
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Coyotes around the world.
I was recently cleaning out an old box of papers and found this little gem. Seems like such a long time ago, my best buds and I were all headed around the US for summer project. Fast forward 6 years... almost two dozen Coyotes applied for summer project, and 10 of them are headed all over the world this summer: Denver, North Myrtle Beach (3), San Salvador, East Asia (2), Australia, Ocean City, NJ (2). Super excited that a few of 'yotes are heading to East Asia with me!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Why College Students?
It was during his college years that CS Lewis learned what it meant to believe in Christ.
It was during his college years that Karl Marx shed his Christian faith.
The fact is, no one thought up the strategy of fulfilling the Great Commission by reaching the college campus. Campus ministry is the result of the observation that God has chosen to use University and college students like you as His primary vehicle in accelerating the evangelism of the world. The campus ministry is the heart of God’s global missionary strategy.
[taken from http://joinus.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/why-campus-ministry]
It was during his college years that Karl Marx shed his Christian faith.
The campus is a battleground of ideas and ideologies, vying for dominance and competing for followers. Everyone will graduate as believers, but in what?
It isn’t a question whether tomorrow’s leaders are on the campus, or even a question whether these leaders will shape and influence our country and world. The question is who will shape and influence them? The old watchword of Campus Crusade for Christ was, “win the campus today and you’ll win the world tomorrow.” Almost every major political, athletic, social, military and religious leader will pass through either the high school or college campus. To reach them with the gospel is to effectively reach the world.
The campus ministry of Cru targets students, because it is the time they make the most decisions in their lives. It is the small window of time where individuals are open to changing their ideas, beliefs and perceptions of the world. This is the reason roughly 90% of all Christians made their decision for Christ before they reached the age of 21.
The fact is, no one thought up the strategy of fulfilling the Great Commission by reaching the college campus. Campus ministry is the result of the observation that God has chosen to use University and college students like you as His primary vehicle in accelerating the evangelism of the world. The campus ministry is the heart of God’s global missionary strategy.[taken from http://joinus.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/why-campus-ministry]
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Leaving A Legacy.
One of my favorite moments of the 2011 CCC US Staff Conference was the night of the 60th Anniversary celebration. Up on the stage sat an adorable, gray-haired woman. The MC (left) shared with us that Nancy (right) spent much of her life as a missionary with her husband Mark. The two served with the PCA in Brazil for 50 years. She was a nurse, and her husband Mark was a pilot. They used his plane as an ambulance to take care of people with machete wounds, snake bites and bullet wounds.
The MC asked Nancy how she was affiliated with Campus Crusade. Nancy was pursuing religion and truth while in college, so she went to a meeting at the house next door to her sorority house. After the meeting, a woman approached her and asked if she enjoyed the meeting, and if she had any questions. Nancy said she'd never placed her faith in Christ, and when the woman asked if she's like to do so, Nancy said she would.
The two women met frequently that year, and on December 2, 1952, at 11:30 in the morning, Nancy became a Christian during her sophomore year in college at UCLA.
Nancy wrote to this woman every year, even while living in the jungles of Brazil, to thank her for her impact in her life.
This woman who shared with her was Vonette Bright. Nancy was the first person to come to Christ through Vonette...ever. Vonette was so encouraged by this experience, she continued to share her faith on the UCLA campus. She was scared to do so, but she "did what Bill told her to do" (her exact words). Vonette didn't know it, but Bill kept track of her faith sharing journey. The next 100 people she shared the Gospel with placed their faith in Christ. Incredible. And now, 60 years after that appointment, the two met on stage at the US Staff Conference.
You never know how one conversation can change a life. And how that one life will impact the world.
The MC asked Nancy how she was affiliated with Campus Crusade. Nancy was pursuing religion and truth while in college, so she went to a meeting at the house next door to her sorority house. After the meeting, a woman approached her and asked if she enjoyed the meeting, and if she had any questions. Nancy said she'd never placed her faith in Christ, and when the woman asked if she's like to do so, Nancy said she would.
The two women met frequently that year, and on December 2, 1952, at 11:30 in the morning, Nancy became a Christian during her sophomore year in college at UCLA.
Nancy wrote to this woman every year, even while living in the jungles of Brazil, to thank her for her impact in her life.
This woman who shared with her was Vonette Bright. Nancy was the first person to come to Christ through Vonette...ever. Vonette was so encouraged by this experience, she continued to share her faith on the UCLA campus. She was scared to do so, but she "did what Bill told her to do" (her exact words). Vonette didn't know it, but Bill kept track of her faith sharing journey. The next 100 people she shared the Gospel with placed their faith in Christ. Incredible. And now, 60 years after that appointment, the two met on stage at the US Staff Conference.
You never know how one conversation can change a life. And how that one life will impact the world.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Big Break '11
As the weather slowly warms up in Minneapolis, students are just settling in to their hotels at Big Break, a one-week spring break evangelism training and outreach in Panama City Beach, FL. Last year, over 3,000 college students made the journey to PCB, for their spring break. Over the course of five weeks, the Gospel was shared 10,815 times, with 1,689 people trusting Christ!
I overheard someone talking about the Spring Break atmosphere in Panama City Beach. The first few days, students go crazy. By Wednesday, they start to wonder...is this it? This is supposed to be the most fun thing in the world?
People might scoff short-term mission trips or initiative evangelism. But God can take a chance meeting between an 18 year-old from the U of M and a senior from Auburn...and transform both of their lives.
Follow Big Break on twitter here for updates as the conference continues this month. Hoping to post more later about how God is moving in the hearts of college students.
I overheard someone talking about the Spring Break atmosphere in Panama City Beach. The first few days, students go crazy. By Wednesday, they start to wonder...is this it? This is supposed to be the most fun thing in the world?
People might scoff short-term mission trips or initiative evangelism. But God can take a chance meeting between an 18 year-old from the U of M and a senior from Auburn...and transform both of their lives.
Follow Big Break on twitter here for updates as the conference continues this month. Hoping to post more later about how God is moving in the hearts of college students.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Decoding AI
Today I spent a few hours at the Art Institute of Minneapolis, just down the street from the regional office. A coworker of mine, Jim, has been involved on and off with students at AI for the last 5-6 years, and took me there today so I could decode the campus (one of my assignments from my New Staff Development training).
Decoding is the process of gathering information and relationships to help you figure out what God might be doing on campus. Getting the right info about a campus is the starting point of decoding, but seeking out relationships with people is the most important part of the process.
There were a few things about the Art Institute that made it seem like any other college. We couldn't even get inside the building without swiping an ID card, but we just waited until we could follow someone through the door. There were students chilling in the basement of one of the buildings, hanging out and working on homework.
That's about all of the similarities between AI and the typical 4 year university. At AI, there are four quarters of 12 weeks of class, with a one week break in between. Students can't miss more than one quarter of class at a time, and programs run for 3 years. There aren't sports teams, and there aren't many student clubs (there are 10, to be exact, and the only other non-art, non-academic group besides Campus Crusade is an LGBT group). There aren't any dorms (students can live in one of the dorms at the U of M). A large majority of the 1900 enrolled students commute from all over the metro.
Because of this, the typical campus ministry strategies must be modified. There isn't a Thursday night Cru meeting; there aren't any evening meetings, actually. There's a student-led Bible Study each Tuesday at 1pm this quarter, with attendance ranging from 1 to 8 students. The best time to meet with students is in the day time, usually between 12-2pm. Speaking of timing, with only 12 weeks in a quarter, there are really 9-10 weeks students are available to meet.
One of the themes that keeps coming up in my life lately is the realization that missions is no longer geographically distant- it's culturally distant. Even two blocks from the office, there's a small pocket of art students that is so different from any group I've met before.
Interesting that it's easier for us to go places all around the world, but harder to understand and cross cultures. Regardless, it was really fun to be back on campus today, meeting with students!
Decoding is the process of gathering information and relationships to help you figure out what God might be doing on campus. Getting the right info about a campus is the starting point of decoding, but seeking out relationships with people is the most important part of the process.
There were a few things about the Art Institute that made it seem like any other college. We couldn't even get inside the building without swiping an ID card, but we just waited until we could follow someone through the door. There were students chilling in the basement of one of the buildings, hanging out and working on homework.
That's about all of the similarities between AI and the typical 4 year university. At AI, there are four quarters of 12 weeks of class, with a one week break in between. Students can't miss more than one quarter of class at a time, and programs run for 3 years. There aren't sports teams, and there aren't many student clubs (there are 10, to be exact, and the only other non-art, non-academic group besides Campus Crusade is an LGBT group). There aren't any dorms (students can live in one of the dorms at the U of M). A large majority of the 1900 enrolled students commute from all over the metro.
Because of this, the typical campus ministry strategies must be modified. There isn't a Thursday night Cru meeting; there aren't any evening meetings, actually. There's a student-led Bible Study each Tuesday at 1pm this quarter, with attendance ranging from 1 to 8 students. The best time to meet with students is in the day time, usually between 12-2pm. Speaking of timing, with only 12 weeks in a quarter, there are really 9-10 weeks students are available to meet.
One of the themes that keeps coming up in my life lately is the realization that missions is no longer geographically distant- it's culturally distant. Even two blocks from the office, there's a small pocket of art students that is so different from any group I've met before.
Interesting that it's easier for us to go places all around the world, but harder to understand and cross cultures. Regardless, it was really fun to be back on campus today, meeting with students!
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Seeking Status.
Growing up, I wanted to be a high-powered executive, working long hours in a big city office, making a ton of money and bossing people around. And I pictured myself doing all of this while wearing heels.
So, I asked Jesus into my life. I prayed a simple prayer, confessing my sin and acknowledging the fact that I couldn't save myself, but I needed Jesus to save me. I asked God to make me into the person he wanted me to be- a significant person in his eyes, and that I wouldn't care about how I looked in the eyes of other people.
My reasoning for this was simple; I wanted to be seen as having status in life. I wanted to be seen as important, and the way I thought I'd get that was to make a lot of money, have a lot of power.
When I got to college at the University of South Dakota, I realized I was starting out with 0 status in life. I was from a tiny town in Minnesota that no one had ever heard of. Anything I did in high school didn't really matter; this was a clean slate.
In a way, being in a new town in a new state at a new college excited me. I realized I could construct whatever image I wanted to. I could start all over and be whoever I wanted, whether it was really true or not.
My very first week of class I met an interesting group of people. As we continued to hang out, I realized they were different than anybody I'd ever met before, for a few reasons. One of them was their interest in hanging out with me and my roommate. We spent quite a bit of time with a couple girls several years older than us. I was amazed that these cool seniors would want to hang out with lowly freshman. After a week or so, I realized that it wasn't just me that they seemed interested in; they seemed to have a love and compassion for other people, even strangers they didn't really know. I'd never really seen that before.
In a way, being in a new town in a new state at a new college excited me. I realized I could construct whatever image I wanted to. I could start all over and be whoever I wanted, whether it was really true or not.
My very first week of class I met an interesting group of people. As we continued to hang out, I realized they were different than anybody I'd ever met before, for a few reasons. One of them was their interest in hanging out with me and my roommate. We spent quite a bit of time with a couple girls several years older than us. I was amazed that these cool seniors would want to hang out with lowly freshman. After a week or so, I realized that it wasn't just me that they seemed interested in; they seemed to have a love and compassion for other people, even strangers they didn't really know. I'd never really seen that before.
It wasn't long before I found out why they had this real love for people, even people who were hard to love. They had experienced the love of God is such a meaningful way in their lives that they couldn't help but love other people because of it. They talked about God like he was their buddy who lived down the hall in the dorm; like they actually knew him. And I'm not talking about the way Pastors talk about God, like he's "sovereign and almighty" and all that stuff. They talked about God teaching and showing them things in tangible ways.
Even though part of me thought it was kind of weird, I was amazed that they were so assured of their status in God's eyes. Even when they didn't feel like God cared about them, they chose to believe him despite their doubts and trust the truth over their feelings.
Even though part of me thought it was kind of weird, I was amazed that they were so assured of their status in God's eyes. Even when they didn't feel like God cared about them, they chose to believe him despite their doubts and trust the truth over their feelings.
I wanted this assurance for myself. I wanted to know God like they knew him. One day, a friend of mine came to my dorm room to talk about all of this stuff. We read some verses together and talking about God's love, my sin, and Jesus' death on the cross. She shared with me one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. She said, "For God so loved AMY that he gave his son for her, so she may have eternal life by believing in Him."
I'd heard this verse a million times, but suddenly I actually understood it. God gave his son for ME? He must love me a ton, to give up his son for me. I realized that this made me important in God's eyes. I didn't have to pursue a powerful status in life, because God thought I was already significant.
As I pondered these things after my friend left, I realized a few things:
- I wasn't sure I'd go to heaven when I died.
- If I asked Jesus into my life, I'd be sure.
- This was a really significant decision.
As I pondered these things after my friend left, I realized a few things:
- I wasn't sure I'd go to heaven when I died.
- If I asked Jesus into my life, I'd be sure.
- This was a really significant decision.
- I should not have let me friend leave without telling her all of this.
So, I asked Jesus into my life. I prayed a simple prayer, confessing my sin and acknowledging the fact that I couldn't save myself, but I needed Jesus to save me. I asked God to make me into the person he wanted me to be- a significant person in his eyes, and that I wouldn't care about how I looked in the eyes of other people.
So, I prayed this prayer, and nothing really changed right away. Little by little, as I began to learn more about God through the Bible and talk about him with others, I realized why he saw me significant: because he had created me to be like him ("in his image," as it says in Genesis). He wanted me to be his ambassador in the world, and share my love for him with others around me. That God would trust me with this task, the most important thing in the world, and the purpose of our lives, showed me that God thought I was significant.
Now more than 6 years later, my life continues to revolve around this significant task: sharing my love for God with others around me in any way I can. My relationship with him is the most significant one I'll ever have, and affects everything I do in life. And when my time here on earth is done, the fun really begins: life in Heaven with Jesus.
Now more than 6 years later, my life continues to revolve around this significant task: sharing my love for God with others around me in any way I can. My relationship with him is the most significant one I'll ever have, and affects everything I do in life. And when my time here on earth is done, the fun really begins: life in Heaven with Jesus.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Transformed.
Two weeks ago we had a women's conference in Minneapolis called "Transformed: Laboring for a Lifetime." (Insert your witty comment here about a women's conference with the word "laboring" in the title).
As far as conferences go, this one was pretty typical- worship, a speaker, breakout sessions, campus time, free time, a dance party, lots of laughing, definitely some crying, etc.
It was a really encouraging experience for me as I wait for the last bit of funding to come in. My calling to ministry was definitely confirmed. I'm a passionate person, but not excites me more than hearing about a student coming to Christ in her dorm and seeking to be used by God to reach her friends and family.
I'd love to be able to solve the economic, political and social problems we face in America and around the world. I can't do much about those problems, but I can help college students discover the truth about Jesus. And someday, maybe they can make a difference in the economic, political and social arenas.
Jesus didn't give up his time in heaven to suffer, die, and then come back to life to give me a peaceful, safe, comfortable existence. One day I will have all those things in Heaven. But He came to earth for redemption. And because of this I can glorify God with my time on this earth, which ends up having a lasting difference in the lives of people I meet.
Here is a photo from the women's conference (I am in the bottom left, in front of a laptop at the sound booth).
This is what it's all about. A sea of college students, learning about Jesus. Some realizing their need for redemption for the first time in their lives. Some considering how God might want to use them to make a difference, for the first time in their lives. So awesome.
As far as conferences go, this one was pretty typical- worship, a speaker, breakout sessions, campus time, free time, a dance party, lots of laughing, definitely some crying, etc.
It was a really encouraging experience for me as I wait for the last bit of funding to come in. My calling to ministry was definitely confirmed. I'm a passionate person, but not excites me more than hearing about a student coming to Christ in her dorm and seeking to be used by God to reach her friends and family.
I'd love to be able to solve the economic, political and social problems we face in America and around the world. I can't do much about those problems, but I can help college students discover the truth about Jesus. And someday, maybe they can make a difference in the economic, political and social arenas.
Jesus didn't give up his time in heaven to suffer, die, and then come back to life to give me a peaceful, safe, comfortable existence. One day I will have all those things in Heaven. But He came to earth for redemption. And because of this I can glorify God with my time on this earth, which ends up having a lasting difference in the lives of people I meet.
Here is a photo from the women's conference (I am in the bottom left, in front of a laptop at the sound booth).This is what it's all about. A sea of college students, learning about Jesus. Some realizing their need for redemption for the first time in their lives. Some considering how God might want to use them to make a difference, for the first time in their lives. So awesome.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Why College Students?
There are a lot of reasons that make reaching college students a strategic part of fulfilling the Great Commission. College students today are...
1. Teachable
2. Starting Fresh
3. Leading
4. Unfettered
5. Growing
6. Seeking Identity
7. Global
8. Innovative
9. Integrated
10. Active
A short article written by Ken Cochrum and Amber Kinneer explains each element on the list.
Do you agree? Would you add/remove from the list?
1. Teachable
2. Starting Fresh
3. Leading
4. Unfettered
5. Growing
6. Seeking Identity
7. Global
8. Innovative
9. Integrated
10. Active
A short article written by Ken Cochrum and Amber Kinneer explains each element on the list.
Do you agree? Would you add/remove from the list?
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Advice to Seniors
I was digging through some junk the other day in my attempt to pack my stuff, when I happened to find a notebook of loose papers. I almost threw it away without checking to see what it was. Turns out, it was notes from a guest speaker in the Business School from my senior year of college.
As I glanced at the notes, I remembered that he was actually was a good speaker. I didn't write down his name, but I remember he was at that time the CEO of the Americas of HSBC. My notes are pretty basic:
-Love what you do. It’s all that matters.
-If you’re in a game you can’t win, you’ll lose.
-Know the boundaries of the circle of competence. What do I do well?
-What do I do when I don’t have anything to do? How can I make money doing it?
I remember appreciating his honesty; we heard so many people come through the business talking about money, politics, climbing the corporate ladder. But there were small glimmers of something different- "revolutionary" ideas that loving one's day job will bring you more happiness than money. (Shocking, isn't it?)
He also had a top ten list - advice for college grads:
1. Manage your own career (60% me, 20% company, 20% luck).
2. Excessive Job Hopping is detrimental to your career.
3. Maintain a keen sense of curiosity; don’t be too complacent.
4. Gain international experience/exposure; a second language is a plus!
5. DO NOT compromise your values and principles at work.
6. Take pride in all aspects of your work. Be responsible. Take ownership.
7. Be a team champion; don’t be a star.
8. Listening is an art and a hard skill to develop.
9. To be held hostage to your job is not a career.
10. Enjoy what you do and have fun!
Even though I'm in full-time ministry, I still want to have a 'career' of sorts. Maybe that's a bad thing. I've wondered at times whether I'll get (any) skill development on a professional level working for Crusade. Whether I will or not, the spiritual and personal development is a lot more valuable to me (and I think development in these areas would help my professional skills to stand out more, anyway).
Anyway, I know this list is just his opinion, or a rip-off of another person's opinion, but I was intrigued by his very first statement: you need to take change of your own career. I know I will get great opportunities professionally with Campus Crusade (definitely comparable to my fellow USD B-School classmates of 2008); but regardless, I must be responsible for my own career development.
I don't worry as much about other items on the list (#2, #4, #5), but the rest are really important. I definitely want to enjoy my work, fostering creativity and curiosity while being responsible for my contribution to the team.
If I haven't said it enough, I'm so excited for what is in store at the Regional Office!
As I glanced at the notes, I remembered that he was actually was a good speaker. I didn't write down his name, but I remember he was at that time the CEO of the Americas of HSBC. My notes are pretty basic:
-Love what you do. It’s all that matters.
-If you’re in a game you can’t win, you’ll lose.
-Know the boundaries of the circle of competence. What do I do well?
-What do I do when I don’t have anything to do? How can I make money doing it?
I remember appreciating his honesty; we heard so many people come through the business talking about money, politics, climbing the corporate ladder. But there were small glimmers of something different- "revolutionary" ideas that loving one's day job will bring you more happiness than money. (Shocking, isn't it?)
He also had a top ten list - advice for college grads:
1. Manage your own career (60% me, 20% company, 20% luck).
2. Excessive Job Hopping is detrimental to your career.
3. Maintain a keen sense of curiosity; don’t be too complacent.
4. Gain international experience/exposure; a second language is a plus!
5. DO NOT compromise your values and principles at work.
6. Take pride in all aspects of your work. Be responsible. Take ownership.
7. Be a team champion; don’t be a star.
8. Listening is an art and a hard skill to develop.
9. To be held hostage to your job is not a career.
10. Enjoy what you do and have fun!
Even though I'm in full-time ministry, I still want to have a 'career' of sorts. Maybe that's a bad thing. I've wondered at times whether I'll get (any) skill development on a professional level working for Crusade. Whether I will or not, the spiritual and personal development is a lot more valuable to me (and I think development in these areas would help my professional skills to stand out more, anyway).
Anyway, I know this list is just his opinion, or a rip-off of another person's opinion, but I was intrigued by his very first statement: you need to take change of your own career. I know I will get great opportunities professionally with Campus Crusade (definitely comparable to my fellow USD B-School classmates of 2008); but regardless, I must be responsible for my own career development.
I don't worry as much about other items on the list (#2, #4, #5), but the rest are really important. I definitely want to enjoy my work, fostering creativity and curiosity while being responsible for my contribution to the team.
If I haven't said it enough, I'm so excited for what is in store at the Regional Office!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Campus Ministries Working Together
How does a ministry decide on which students they will focus? How do staff members who can limited time and resources make certain their resources are used effectively on campus?
I love the intense focus within Campus Crusade of winning students to Christ. Our organizational focus is evangelism and discipleship. This is what God called Dr. Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, to focus on when the ministry started in 1951, and this is still our focus today.
I've heard a quote from Bright stating his interest in helping a believer understand and live in the power of the Holy Spirit over bringing someone to Christ. His reason was strategic; the more believers that are actively sharing their faith, the more people that could potentially be reached.
So if we're about reaching students in college and training them to be life-long laborers, the strategist (is that a word?) in me says train them while they're in high school so they can jump right into ministry in college.
A good thought, but there's an alarming statistic to consider: around 80% of Christian high school students leave their Christian faith in college.
So what do we do? How do we balance what God's called us to as a ministry and the current needs of university students?
This issue has been in the back of my mind throughout my college days, and even more now as a staff member with Campus Crusade. Several months ago, a friend shared with this article with me from the InterVarsity website about the importance of the first 72 hours on campus. The story also highlights a great organization partnering with existing Christian ministries on campus. (I love hearing about Christian mission organizations working together. It just makes sense to team up in reaching people with the Gospel).
Youth Transition Network (YTN), was created by Jeff Schadt to help students transition from high school to college. Schadt, a former Campus Crusade for Christ staff, explains that freshman often assume the adjustment to life on campus will be easy, but they often find themselves overwhelmed.
YTN partners with more than 65 organizations, including InterVarsity and Campus Crusade, to help students transition well. "For the second year in a row, YTN is offering SUCCEED 2010 to give high school juniors and seniors and their parents an opportunity to attend a live simulcast that covers the social, spiritual, financial, academic, and time-management issues that students face. “We address their practical needs as well as their spiritual needs,” Jeff said." (From the InterVarsity website. The Article in its' entirety can be found here. More information on this simulcast is available at YTN’s parent and pastor website www.YTN.org).
I'm grateful I had a textbook experience, because the transition to college can be a tough one. My first 72 hours set the course for my college career, and totally changed my life. If my then-Christian roommate wanted to party hard the first few months of college, I probably would have tagged along, I desperately wanted to fit in at that point, so I was willing to take huge steps out of my comfort zone and experience new things. I'm so thankful the Christians on campus were putting themselves out there to meet new people and trusting God to work amongst the new freshman on campus.
I love the intense focus within Campus Crusade of winning students to Christ. Our organizational focus is evangelism and discipleship. This is what God called Dr. Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, to focus on when the ministry started in 1951, and this is still our focus today.
I've heard a quote from Bright stating his interest in helping a believer understand and live in the power of the Holy Spirit over bringing someone to Christ. His reason was strategic; the more believers that are actively sharing their faith, the more people that could potentially be reached.
So if we're about reaching students in college and training them to be life-long laborers, the strategist (is that a word?) in me says train them while they're in high school so they can jump right into ministry in college.
A good thought, but there's an alarming statistic to consider: around 80% of Christian high school students leave their Christian faith in college.
So what do we do? How do we balance what God's called us to as a ministry and the current needs of university students?
This issue has been in the back of my mind throughout my college days, and even more now as a staff member with Campus Crusade. Several months ago, a friend shared with this article with me from the InterVarsity website about the importance of the first 72 hours on campus. The story also highlights a great organization partnering with existing Christian ministries on campus. (I love hearing about Christian mission organizations working together. It just makes sense to team up in reaching people with the Gospel).
Youth Transition Network (YTN), was created by Jeff Schadt to help students transition from high school to college. Schadt, a former Campus Crusade for Christ staff, explains that freshman often assume the adjustment to life on campus will be easy, but they often find themselves overwhelmed.
YTN partners with more than 65 organizations, including InterVarsity and Campus Crusade, to help students transition well. "For the second year in a row, YTN is offering SUCCEED 2010 to give high school juniors and seniors and their parents an opportunity to attend a live simulcast that covers the social, spiritual, financial, academic, and time-management issues that students face. “We address their practical needs as well as their spiritual needs,” Jeff said." (From the InterVarsity website. The Article in its' entirety can be found here. More information on this simulcast is available at YTN’s parent and pastor website www.YTN.org).
I'm grateful I had a textbook experience, because the transition to college can be a tough one. My first 72 hours set the course for my college career, and totally changed my life. If my then-Christian roommate wanted to party hard the first few months of college, I probably would have tagged along, I desperately wanted to fit in at that point, so I was willing to take huge steps out of my comfort zone and experience new things. I'm so thankful the Christians on campus were putting themselves out there to meet new people and trusting God to work amongst the new freshman on campus.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
post-grad thoughts
We all have 'em. Those spiritual lows that seem so low we can't get out of them on our own. Often times we can't, which is one reason community is so important. Spiritual valleys. They are certain, hopefully few and far between, but probable in many of our lives.
One potential time for a spiritual slump, without a doubt, comes post-graduation. Why? How does this happen? What can we do to avoid it?
I would agree those I've heard from on this topic that we post-grads may have a hard run ahead of us, at least for a short time. The environment on campus is so unique; I heard someone relate it to a spiritual greenhouse-- a schedule that allows tons of fellowship, people who are in your stage of life, the freedom to spend abnormal amounts of time with God in the Word/prayer/worship. Nothing beats the college atmosphere, and because of that we feel pulled to re-create it. But it's just not possible, so we shouldn't try.
Life after college brings demands we're not used to: first real jobs and new careers that warrant our most productive time, errands and responsibilities that steal our time away our free time, not to mention most of us move to a new location and must find a new community and church family.
The thoughts and emotions I had on the day I went from living in a big 4 bedroom farm house with my best friends to my 1.5 bedroom apartment by myself will never leave my mind. It was a tough adjustment to say the least. But I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Relevant Magazine had this to say on the subject:
"It’s easy to look back at the good times and feel like it was the activities that made those times what they were and want to reengage them. According to Josh Loveless, pastor of STATUS Church in Orlando, Fla., such a pursuit is a dangerous one. “You have to stop trying to recreate what worked last year,” he says. “Stop playing that worship CD that ‘did it for you’ three years ago...maybe you need to ask if there are other ways that God wants to meet with you.”
To try and recreate the spiritual high by recreating the activities of that time can lead to frustration, burnout and legalism — ultimately decaying your relationship with God.
It’s easy to forget it was because of God’s grace and His Spirit moving in your life that those spiritual activities helped you connect with Him in the past. Those activities flowed from an intimacy and relationship with God ... not the other way around."
The article goes on to show us what's in the other hand; "In the avoidance of empty forms, it’s easy to simply do nothing. For many in our generation, the pursuit of authenticity has trumped all other pursuits. Above all else, we desire to be real. We relentlessly question our motives and the motives of others, testing them for any sign of falseness, for any indication of forced affectation. We don’t want to make ourselves do anything — we want to want to do it."
So we choose not to do something just because we don't do it with the right motive instead of pursuing the right motive.
“A lot of times we abandon the standard because we realize we have been doing it for the wrong reason. The right response is not to abandon the standard, but to have the standard birthed out of something more correct, more true, more authentic, more sustainable.
By even asking these questions of high times and low times, we seem to be admitting one is better than the other. There’s a desire to “get through” the low times in order to “get back” to the high times. But what if both times are equally good? And not just in a clichéd way that says the low times are pruning and prepping us for the bigger, better times ... but in a way that embraces the low times as some of our most precious times with God.
“Are we comparing this and that instead of embracing that they both are what they’re supposed to be?” Austin asks. “And that might be the challenge we face—that we look at the dry times as a negative, instead of part of His journey with us.”
Anticipate the next season God has for you, but engage with this season you’re in right now. Understand that it will change you and it will change your faith. You cannot go back. But you can move forward—tested and purified." (italics are quotes from a Relevant Magazine article "What To Do When Faith Fades" found here).
One potential time for a spiritual slump, without a doubt, comes post-graduation. Why? How does this happen? What can we do to avoid it?
I would agree those I've heard from on this topic that we post-grads may have a hard run ahead of us, at least for a short time. The environment on campus is so unique; I heard someone relate it to a spiritual greenhouse-- a schedule that allows tons of fellowship, people who are in your stage of life, the freedom to spend abnormal amounts of time with God in the Word/prayer/worship. Nothing beats the college atmosphere, and because of that we feel pulled to re-create it. But it's just not possible, so we shouldn't try.
Life after college brings demands we're not used to: first real jobs and new careers that warrant our most productive time, errands and responsibilities that steal our time away our free time, not to mention most of us move to a new location and must find a new community and church family.
The thoughts and emotions I had on the day I went from living in a big 4 bedroom farm house with my best friends to my 1.5 bedroom apartment by myself will never leave my mind. It was a tough adjustment to say the least. But I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Relevant Magazine had this to say on the subject:
"It’s easy to look back at the good times and feel like it was the activities that made those times what they were and want to reengage them. According to Josh Loveless, pastor of STATUS Church in Orlando, Fla., such a pursuit is a dangerous one. “You have to stop trying to recreate what worked last year,” he says. “Stop playing that worship CD that ‘did it for you’ three years ago...maybe you need to ask if there are other ways that God wants to meet with you.”
To try and recreate the spiritual high by recreating the activities of that time can lead to frustration, burnout and legalism — ultimately decaying your relationship with God.
It’s easy to forget it was because of God’s grace and His Spirit moving in your life that those spiritual activities helped you connect with Him in the past. Those activities flowed from an intimacy and relationship with God ... not the other way around."
The article goes on to show us what's in the other hand; "In the avoidance of empty forms, it’s easy to simply do nothing. For many in our generation, the pursuit of authenticity has trumped all other pursuits. Above all else, we desire to be real. We relentlessly question our motives and the motives of others, testing them for any sign of falseness, for any indication of forced affectation. We don’t want to make ourselves do anything — we want to want to do it."
So we choose not to do something just because we don't do it with the right motive instead of pursuing the right motive.
“A lot of times we abandon the standard because we realize we have been doing it for the wrong reason. The right response is not to abandon the standard, but to have the standard birthed out of something more correct, more true, more authentic, more sustainable.
By even asking these questions of high times and low times, we seem to be admitting one is better than the other. There’s a desire to “get through” the low times in order to “get back” to the high times. But what if both times are equally good? And not just in a clichéd way that says the low times are pruning and prepping us for the bigger, better times ... but in a way that embraces the low times as some of our most precious times with God.
“Are we comparing this and that instead of embracing that they both are what they’re supposed to be?” Austin asks. “And that might be the challenge we face—that we look at the dry times as a negative, instead of part of His journey with us.”
Anticipate the next season God has for you, but engage with this season you’re in right now. Understand that it will change you and it will change your faith. You cannot go back. But you can move forward—tested and purified." (italics are quotes from a Relevant Magazine article "What To Do When Faith Fades" found here).