Author: guy.chmieleski@gmail.com

Blogathons, Spiritual Formation, Student Culture, Trends & Issues, The Campus Minister

Mentors and Friends: Why You Need to Be a Spiritual Matchmaker

Walking alone.

Far too many of our students are doing it these days…

I’m not talking about walking alone late at night (although too many are doing that as well), but I’m talking about their approach to life during their formative college years.

Sure, they have friends.

Well, kind of.

They’ve made acquaintances that are often based off of similar tastes in music, class schedules, fashion sense, hometown, housing arrangement, etc… and while some of these relationships have the potential to drift into deeper waters — most never will.

Academics & Vocation

When You’re Not the Star

We live in a rock star culture.

No doubt about it.

And I happen to work at a school that’s known for attracting wanna be rock stars — because we routinely produce them.

But not all of those hopeful, incredibly talented and well-trained students get to see their dreams realized. In fact, it’s a small fraction that do.

And that can be hard,

Student Culture, Trends & Issues

Should Your Ministry Have a Blog?

FaithONCampus.com is not a central part of my ministry with students.

Yes, it informs my work in a number of ways, but it is not geared towards students — it’s geared towards people who walk with college students, and invest in them on a consistent basis.

But it’s been through my work here that I’ve become increasingly convinced that I needed to add a second blog to my online work — one that is geared towards college students, and specific to the Belmont community.

We’ve been at it for over a year now — and we’re still working to find a good rhythm, as well as content that draws students in — but I’m thoroughly convinced that having a blog is a MUST for ministry with this generation of college students!

Student Culture, Trends & Issues

Social Networking as Ministry

Last summer I had the chance to lead a couple of workshops on Social Networking as Ministry at the United Methodist Collegiate Ministries ‘Prepare’ Conference.

It was a lot of fun and generated some great conversation.

I made sure that they knew I did not consider myself to be an “expert” in the area of social networking and let them know that there’s a lot for us to learn from one another as we think about having a pastoral e-presence.