While the university campus offers an excellent opportunity for evangelization, it can also be difficult to bridge the gap between the local church and the university campus.
College campuses are often seen as “a city in a city. “They have their own culture, their own calendars, their own (and narrow) demographics. While many people at home brush their teeth and prepare to go to bed, students may think it’s time to order a pizza and start working on a ten-page scientific paper. When I started ministry on campus at 22, he looked like students on campus. Now, at 36, I get attention if I’m in a college house. so many other reasons, there is an abyss to overcome.
- Despite this.
- We want churches to be able to influence campus and campus to be present at the local church.
- But how?.
The short answer is that churches should seek a dynamic ministry that establishes a cycle between campuses and the church. As the church has an impact on the university campus, the campus is involved in the life of the local church, so this church prepares these students. walk with God and work for the gospel on campus, as can be demonstrated in the following diagram:
THE CYCLE
The decisive first step occurs from church to campus, it is necessary to send workers to campus to preach the gospel, at least it means preparing students who are members of your church, this may also include the use of pastoral staff (university pastors, paid sheds, etc. ), lay leaders or a faithful ministry for the church (but never instead of preparing church students). The goal is to get to campus with the gospel by sending workers to a ministry focused on it. Simply trying to attract students with a program within the church, churches should focus on getting to campus by sending workers to campus.
The second step is to integrate everything that happens on campus with the local church. As churches spread the gospel and students turn to Christ, they must participate in this local church, where they will learn the importance of baptism, church membership, and brotherhood. They must be disciplined as members of the local church.
Then the cycle repeats: students are connected to church life, ready to return to campus to serve and have an impact. All the ministry that takes place outside is carried back to the local church.
IT OFTEN BECOMES A MINISTRY ON CAMPUS
In my experience, university ministries are struggling to develop a dynamic cycle between church and campus. The two separate and the university ministry begins to function as an isolated subculture. Let me give you two examples:
Disconnected from church: missed target
All too often, theologically credible university ministries, whether para-ecclesiastical, denominational or even maintained by churches, spread the gospel and do good things, but are not integrated into the life of the local church. campus, a diversity of small groups and training opportunities, but the students themselves are not really connected to local churches. They may not be involved in the church at all; maybe they’re constantly changing churches, or maybe they just see the church as a place to go on Sunday mornings.
Such on-campus ministries eventually establish a dynamic that works independently of the church. They have good intentions, but neglect a crucial aspect of Jesus’ aftermath: living in the structure and responsibility of the local church and its leaders. things, but they don’t prepare these students for a life that follows Jesus. Instead of partnering with local churches, these ministries accidentally replace the local church in the lives of Christian students.
Off-campus: Missed opportunities
The other side of the coin is that there are churches that welcome students, perhaps even as members. These students can participate in the church’s ministerial activities and programs. The problem is that they are not actually integrated into campus; they’re not trying to concentrate the department there.
To clarify, I don’t think all college students should direct their personal ministry to campus; However, if most students in your church aren’t looking for a personal ministry on campus, I think they’re missing an excellent opportunity. Members of your church are best positioned to spread the gospel on campus. This type of ministry can do a good job of involving campus students in the life of the local church, but it doesn’t hit the target because it doesn’t seek to discipline or equip them to have an intentional impact on their campus.
START WITH SOME PEOPLE, NOT CERTAIN ACTIVITIES
Many university departments are struggling to develop this cyclical dynamic. Instead of asking, “How will we attract students to our church?”, We should ask ourselves, “How does our church influence the campus with the gospel?
Very often, university ministries bring together a multitude of students for large meetings and activities, but what the campus really needs is no more activities, but people who spread the gospel to non-believers, who approach and help Christian students around them. get involved in the church and be disciplined.
The question now is? ? As??
Start with some people. Whether students, lay leaders, or pastoral team members or passers-by, start thinking about how your church can evangelize and make disciples on campus. If it’s not possible to make sure that a group of people are targeted, here are some steps you can take in the meantime: