Student ministries can be pretty segregated. I don’t think we mean for it to happen, but it does. We reach out to those who are like us. As a high school musician and “big ‘ole nerd,” it has always been much easier for me to speak a certain language to the students I have come across. Even now, I can talk about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and gaming with the best of them.
The problem is that if we only reach out to those like us, we are missing the point of the gospel. God has called us to reach out to all nations. That means people of all races, backgrounds, clubs, interests, etc. Think about it: what does your group look like? Does it reflect your community? If it doesn’t, what should we do to make that change? How do we reach out to those who aren’t like us? Here are some ways to start:
• Fully embrace what God says through His Word. “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him” (Rom. 10:12 ESV). God calls us to share the gospel with all men and women of every background. The gospel is the great unifier. We all need a solution to our sin problem, and Jesus is the answer. We can’t let the trivial differences of color, background and interests stand in the way of sharing that message with those around us.
• Look for common ground. Even when students are different than us, there are some basic things we can all relate to. Many of our students experience public school. Most students have families they may not understand all the time. All you have to do is think back to when you were a teenager. Times have changed, but many things have remained the same.
• Pray for an open heart. There can be times when we struggle to love those who are different than us. Whether it is learned behavior of the past or attitudes we have allowed to grow in our hearts, God can transform us. We need Him to work in big ways if these are our issues.
• Be intentional as you move forward. Look for opportunities to bridge cultural gaps. Learn a language if that will help. Think missionally rather than just caring for your own. We need to have a Great Commission mindset as we seek to love the students in our community.
God has called us to reach the world with the gospel. There is no time or place for prejudices that prevent us from sharing the gospel or being restrictive with our love and concern. Join us at facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity and share how you break barriers to reach students who are different from you.
