I love college students. So much of my life has revolved around campus ministry. My first two ministries were at Texas Tech and the University of Washington. I have attended the last 37 National Campus Ministries Seminars. In fact, I think campus ministry is the best way to change the world.
In Acts 19, Paul goes to the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus. I’m told that it would be the closest thing to an institution of higher education in that time. It would be like the University of Washington is to Seattle. Anyhow, it says that he stayed there for a couple of years, and everyone in Asia heard the word of the Lord. How did that happen? I assume that people from all over the world came to this school and stayed for a few years developing knowledge and leadership. Then, they left and went back all over Asia. And they carried with them the gospel that they learned there. People come from all over the world to American universities and then they go home as the world’s leaders. It would be so nice if they took Jesus back with them.
I have watched the ebb and flow of campus ministries for four decades. I have seen it move from a studious mode to a family fellowship mode to an evangelistic mode. All were good and all presented its difficulties. But I like what I’m seeing now. I have a lot of hope. We have entered into a movement of compassion for the world. Jesus has to be pleased.
Last week I attended the Gulf Coast Getaway in Panama City, Florida. I was expecting warm weather and it was 26 degrees. But that was quickly overshadowed by the intensity of the commitment of close to 2000 college students. The singing was like being in heaven. The lessons were challenging. The fellowship was delightful. But it was the heart to help the least of these that dominated everything else. Students brought all kinds of blankets, towels, pillows, and other household items for orphans in Malawi. Money was given to feed children who live in a dump in Honduras. One of the worship team had recently lost her husband in a hunting accident. They gave $10,000 to help her with her children. And they sponsored 103 desperate children through Christian Relief Fund. The longest line I saw there was in front of an ATM machine. People were waiting in line for over an hour just to pull out money so they could give more.
The theme was “reimagining campus ministry.” If this is what it looks like in the future, I have a lot of hope. I think Paul would say that it is one of those “greater than you can imagine” deals.
I totally agree.