Updated 3/7/12
One of the reasons I’ve always loved college ministry, specifically working as a part of the university, is because it provides ample
opportunity to ‘do life’ with students in their context — the place where they go to class, eat, socialize, recreate and live.
I’ve often thought that those who reach out to this group from ‘off campus’ have a much tougher road… they just don’t have the same ‘easy access’ that comes when your office is located right next to the cafeteria… It doesn’t make ministry impossible… just different.
The past couple of days have reminded me, however, that whatever kind of benefit that comes from being on campus with students is trumped — 100 times over — by the experience of traveling with them.
While trips with students might necessitate time away from family, here are some of the major benefits I’ve been reminded of so far:
- Relationships are accelerated — the kind of relational work that can be accomplished in just a day, let alone a week, can often take a whole semester — if not longer — back on campus.
- Students are less distracted — students are on the trip because they want to be there and are likely looking for the deep, meaningful conversations that might accompany the kind of service opportunity that peaked their interest in the trip in the first place.
- We’re more tuned in — yes, even us college ministers can benefit from getting away from campus, and the responsibilities of home, for a short time… and immersing ourselves in activities alongside students.
- God is more easily recognized — when we’re all out of our normal routines and contexts… our eyes have the chance to re/adjust to our surroundings and God is often much more easily recognized and experienced!
- Transformation is made easier — when students (and pastor-types) are less distracted, and more readily in-tune with God in our midst, spiritual transformation becomes much more likely!
Opportunities to travel with students don’t present themselves very often… but when they do, they are terrific occasions to grow relationships (quickly), experience new things together, and see God work in new and powerful ways.
How have you experienced the relational blessings of traveling with students?
In what ways have you seen God work — off campus — that have made being away from home “worth it?”
What further benefits have you experienced from traveling with students that you would add to this list?
