In my post yesterday I shared some thoughts on the way we do ministry with college students — specifically wanting to explore whether or not we’re creating “safe havens” for our Christian students to “seek shelter from world;” without knowing that this ultimately serves to hinder — rather than help — their faith development and ability to live out their faith in the world.

Today I’m wanting to think together about how we assist students to more deeply engage their faith, such that it changes: 1) the way they understand God, 2) how they live during their college years, and 3) how they work with God to become the person He has made them to be.

I think the starting place might be in addressing the ways in which our students have stored up their faith in silos.

It’s nice and neat and in its place.

Tucked away.

Out of the way.

Likely in plain sight, but only to be accessed when necessary.

A faith like this seems to imply that there are only certain times, places and ways that faith is relevant.

I think we’re uniquely positioned, as pastors to college students, to not only challenge this way of thinking — but to model for them what a more integrated life of faith looks like.

And of course… most will expect this from us.

They will contest that it is our “job” to think this way — and live this way.

But hopefully we’ll be connected enough around campus to be able to point to others — faculty (across disciplines), staff and yes — even students — who are living this kind of integrated faithful life.

It stems from a belief that faith is meant to inform and influence EVERY area of our lives.

Relationships.

Money.

Majors.

Academic integrity.

Our future.

Responsibility of any and every kind.

The idea that faith is something to be accessed and tended to on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening — while quite possibly something that had been modeled to them for much of their life — is not healthy nor what God desires of us.

So we begin to ask questions like:

• How does that person (you’re in relationship with) move you closer to God? Or further away from Him?
• How do you understand yourself to be steward of the “small” amount of money you have?
• Have you ever asked God about your future and how He wants to use these years to prepare you?
• Do you do everything — including your studies — as unto the Lord?
• Are you open to how God might want to use you in the world — will you go wherever He leads?

Yes, I think a starting place might be as simple as asking some pointed questions that stretch students to think beyond the scope of the walls that their faith has traditionally placed within.

I believe that the deconstruction of these silos — that have been built up over the course of a life time, that now store many perceived “treasures,” and that students have grown quite comfortable with — will take some time.

But if we hope to help them live more integrated lives — informed and directed by faith — we need to be willing to engage in the hard work of deconstructing silos (which is much different from deconstructing faith).

What do you think?

How do you approach this process with students on your campus? Within your ministry?

How’s it working?

Where are students struggling with this?

How are you celebrating successes?

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comment section below.