The College Years

Final exams finished up last week at UNO. Once finals finish and students scatter for the summer, our work on campus ends until the fall. In the mean time, we are working to plan and prepare for our summer project and for the fall semester. Our planning as of late has included preparing discipleship material, seeking out student leaders to invest into, and challenging students to step into leadership roles in the fall.

One way we want to continue challenging students is to live "missionally". I recently read a brief article in which a Seattle-based pastor talked about how college students have such a great opportunity to be missionaries on their campuses right now. He says:

At many universities, the nations come to you. The University of Washington has over 100 different countries represented, which means you can be a cross-cultural missionary by knocking on the dorm or apartment door across the hall.

The variety of affinity groups is astounding as well. It's easy to connect with someone over a common interest. (At UW, there's even a Fried Chicken Club.) The options are endless.

Arguably the strongest connection, however, is life stage. Most students are experiencing radical changes in their lives, including unharnessed freedom, real responsibility, solidifying worldviews, and an increasing pressure to "get it together."

The college years are an amazing time to be on mission, reaching your friends with the life-changing good news of Jesus. How? Here are some ideas, in no particular order:

1. Know non-Christians

It seems like common sense, but too many campus ministries are set up to babysit nice, moralistic, hypocritical youth group kids and create a bubble around them. As Christians, we have to be outwardly focused.

2. Think about where you will live

Make your living situation missional: meet new friends and build relationships to see students meet Jesus instead of secluding yourself with people who all act and think the same way you do. Grab a Christian friend and move into the wildest apartment complex in the neighborhood. Don't conform, but be a movement of change in an area where it's desperately needed.

3. Join the Greek system

There's instant community established by living in the Greek system, and people in sororities and fraternities know everyone. Once you're in, you become really well connected and are able to be on mission in an extreme environment.

4. Get involved (not just at church)

Join a club related to your major, hobby, or interest. Stop saying yes to every church obligation and begin seeking how the gospel can apply to all areas of life. Build relationships by playing intramural sports on a team without all your Christian friends.

5. Start a small group in public

Instead of meeting in a house or apartment, start gathering in a coffee shop or study hall. This will not only allow you to support the local community, but it might also allow somebody else to eavesdrop on a worthwhile conversation.

6. Serve the community

Get involved with a local non-profit or service center. By serving the community alongside non-believers, you're doing the work that Jesus calls us to do by being missional not only to the populations you're serving, but also to the people you're serving alongside.

7. Practice radical hospitality

College students aren't known for being the most financially well-off or generous people around. Buying a classmate coffee or lunch is a small sacrifice that can speak volumes and make a huge statement in demonstrating grace.

Too often Christian groups remain just that... groups of Christians who hang out together, which is great, but it doesn't go any further than that. We want to challenge students to be intentional with how they are living right now in college. There are a few short years to reach people on the college campus before they will scatter throughout the world and live for something or someone.