The local church is not something I dived into as a college student or something I built a strong partnership with as a campus minister.  Now, as a college pastor in a local church, I often ask myself, “What in the world was I thinking?”

Having had the opportunity to see the ministry to college students from both sides I feel like I have a well-rounded viewpoint.  I know what it’s like to walk around campus and see students every day, to eat lunch with them in the student center, have life conversations with them on a bench outside of the library, to cheer with them at basketball games, to hurt with them at the loss of one of our campus community members, and to be surrounded by, well, what surrounds them.

As a college pastor in a local church, I know that it can often feel awkward to step onto a campus because you are an outsider.  To the student you are out of context because your place is at the church and not on campus.  I know that we often think that it’s great for a student to be involved in campus ministries but, at the same time, we think that if they aren’t part of a church then there’s something wrong.  I also know that we are sometimes the single voice in the crowd of our church that yells, “Don’t forget about the college students!”

Like many of you, my mind is often focused on college students.  We live it day after day…college ministry…breathing it in…college ministry…and breathing it out.  It’s in most of our thoughts.  It’s become part of our DNA.  Students become part of our extended family…family that we care and provide for as we watch them each grow and mature.  We encourage them in their faith and, after a few years, have to release them into the world.  At the end of their journey we sometimes ask ourselves:

• Are they going to make it?
• Did I do everything that I could as a minister to draw them closer to Christ?
• Will they be able to continue their faith walk on their own?
• Is there something I should have done differently, more, or less to guide and encourage them?

Focus is what it’s about for both campus ministers and college pastors.  Our focus is on college students.  Our focus is on seeing them thrive in a relationship with Christ.  Our focus is on enhancing their four years of education by opening their eyes to a world in need.  Our focus is on giving them each and every opportunity to put action to their faith.

As a college pastor in a local church I also see it as my responsibility to teach the importance of Church to students.  I didn’t always communicate that well as a campus minister but, maybe that’s because I didn’t fully understand it.  Like I said, as a college student myself, I didn’t dive into church.  I didn’t connect with a single church and make it my church home.  I didn’t take responsibility as a church member in college.  I didn’t embrace its mission…why it exists:  to teach the nations, baptize new believers, encourage Christ-followers, and to glorify God.

Developing a student’s faith during their college years is so important.  You often hear that it takes a village to raise a child.  I believe that it’s the same thing when ministering to college students…a village, consisting of ministers on and off campus, is needed in order to help students flourish in their relationship with Christ and understand the purpose of, and their role in, his Church.  I think that these two things need to go hand in hand.

Are we, as ministers, willing to join arm in arm to be a village?  I hope so.

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Matt Robertson is the College Pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church in Franklin, TN. I am also a husband (she’s amazing) while loving on college students in the area. I don’t read enough (movies are good), I like the kitchen, & I’m a bit tech savvy (sometimes).  You can reach matt at: matt[at]rollinghillscommunity[dot]org; twitter.com/mgrobertson and blogs.rollinghillscommunity.org/college