Do our students understand their place in the Church?

Do they understand their place in the grand story of God?

Sometimes I’m not so sure that they do…

I love college ministry, I think it is incredibly important work, but sometimes I fear that we’re not helping our students to see (or understand) their place in the life of the Church and God’s grand story.

We get too contextualized in our approach…

We can tend to focus (maybe too much so) on the unique nature of campus life and the college years — and some of the specific challenges of growing in their faith during these years — and fail to help them make this significant connection to God’s story and God’s bride.

I believe that what we do with students — on campus — is meant to help them better integrate into the life of the Church and God’s grand story — but we have to help them make these connections… because they won’t just happen.

And if that’s not what we’re doing… then what, exactly, are we doing?

Again… I love what I do (what we do) and think it’s very important! But we have to help students understand our work with them within the larger story that’s unfolding around us.

And we need to get students off campus — regularly — and involved in local church communities and ministries.

We need to find ways to better partner with local churches and their ministry efforts.

We need to help our students — especially those who might have issues with the Church — to see it with different eyes (and therefore see themselves differently within it).

I’m thankful for the countless churches around Greater Nashville that love on BU students — many of whom I may never have personal contact with.

I’m thankful for students who choose to be involved with what we’re doing on campus… while also being invested in a local church community.

And I’m hopeful — for those students who are only involved with our ministry on campus — that we might serve as a bridge (back) into the local church during their college years.