On many campuses, Christian groups are defined by what we don’t do (drink, smoke, etc.), don’t believe (evolution, etc.), and what we are against (abortion, homosexuality, etc.). Admittedly, during the years we have brought that reputation on ourselves. However, students long for something more than an alternative campus, “safe” from worldly temptations. College students today are crying out for two things: a cause to believe in, and a community to belong to.
Interestingly, those are exactly the call Jesus extended to His first disciples.
A Cause to Believe In
College students want to change the world. With refreshing zeal, naiveté, and idealism they believe they can make a difference. From social justice to local volunteerism, the children of baby boomers have demonstrated a need to get their hands dirty. However, they wonder why mature Christians are not out there with them.
We have failed to highlight how often Jesus’ ministry invoked the words of the prophets. For many, the gospel has been painted far too small, as merely sin management and not a call to change the world. The 2008 Ivy Jungle Survey confirms the greatest asset this generation has to offer is a desire to make a difference in the world. Mission trips and community service rank as the most successful things happening in campus ministry today. As campus ministers we have the chance to tap into this longing to make a difference. We can show them a calling from God to step into the gap, to go into the world and to proclaim the good news—through word and deed. We can help them take advantage of this unique time in life where they have more freedom, time, energy and resources at their discretion than they ever will again. We can help connect their passion with the Kingdom. Help them see Christians ought not be defined by what we don’t do, but by the way we are changing the world—for the glory of God.
A Community to Connect To
People long to belong, and college students are certainly no exception. College is a time for making new friends and discovering more about oneself, but making friends can be tough. Of those students who derail their freshman year, making friends is listed as their biggest challenge. Students want a group of people who will know them and accept them as they are. The 2008 Ivy Jungle survey confirms community/fellowship is the number one reason a student connects with a particular campus ministry. Community ranked twice as important as teaching or worship in attracting students to a ministry.
God has made us for community. Created in the image of a Triune God, we are made for a relationship with Him through Christ, but also with one another. While salvation is personal, the Christian life is always corporate. As ministers, we have the chance to show them the call to follow Christ is designed as a journey together. Authentic community is not only a great need in an increasingly “virtual” generation, but also the place where thriving ministry happens.
Jesus’ call to His first disciples challenged them to become part of a community of men and women committed to each other and the Kingdom.
Not surprisingly, these two longings are planted deep within the human soul. College students’ desires reflect these longings. We have the great opportunity to tap into the soul of this generation, showing these people how their dreams connect with God’s heart and fulfill them for His glory.
