Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to serve on the board for the Association of Baptist Students at the University of Arkansas. It has not been an easy job. We had to navigate a leadership change and a worldwide pandemic. Add to that the transitory nature of college ministry, and the role has been stressful. However, it is worth it. College ministry is one of the most important things that we can invest in. You might think, “I don’t have a college near my church.” If that is the case, you need to find a ministry you trust and help them as they seek to reach the next generation for the kingdom.
There are really two types of college ministry. One is the church-based model. This college ministry pours out of a local church and functions in that capacity. We often think that only larger churches can accommodate this type of ministry, but mid-sized to smaller churches can also make a significant impact on students because of their strengths in relationships and personability. The second type of college ministry is the para-church organization. It serves the kingdom by reaching out to college campuses that most churches are unable to do. They are laser-focused in their ministry approach. Our ABS ministries and others fall into that type of ministry.
Either way you approach college ministry, it is important to see the value and significance of reaching the students who populate campuses around the country. The question for many is, “Why is it so important?” Let me give you a few thoughts to consider:
• College ministry is international missions. Wow! That sounds pretty intense. However, it is true. There are many people from all over the world who attend U.S. schools of higher education. You may be surprised at the number of international students found in the smallest of colleges and universities. When we reach these students with the gospel, they will carry that back with them. Their lives and loved ones will be changed by the domino effect of the gospel. Making that investment while they are on U.S. soil simply makes sense.
• College ministry is targeted. As a pastor, I have a responsibility to my congregation. That includes old, young, rich, poor, educated and uneducated. It is a broad swath of people. As a college pastor or parachurch director, I have the ability to focus my attention on a specific group of people who are largely all in the same space, geographically and socially. That shared college experience is a starting point for conversations and relationships.
• College students have more free time and less responsibility than most other adults in our society. You might disagree with that statement, but it is fair to say that their lives are genuinely more flexible than the average mother of three trying to navigate meals, work and school schedules. That flexibility provides greater opportunity to hear and share the gospel message. Reaching college students means that you are enlisting a group that can serve in ways that other adults can’t.
• College students are making decisions about their faith and life philosophy. Our college days are some of the most formative years of our lives. Sharing the truth of God’s Word with college students can set them on a path for not just a good life, but a God-driven life. I remember making a couple of big decisions during my college days. I surrendered to God’s call on my life, and I chose a wife. While students may not pick a wife during college, they are picking life-long friends. All of these things shape their faith and life philosophy. It is of vital importance to share the gospel during this time frame.
Do you value the work of college ministry? Are you or your church investing in the campuses across our country? God has called us to share the gospel. University campuses are an incredible place for us to pour our lives and ministries into. If you want to invest in an Arkansas-based college ministry on a secular campus, check out the Association of Baptist Students at the University of Arkansas or Southern Arkansas University.
