What Do You Want Your Students Reading This Year?
What do you want your students reading this year? Beyond their textbooks (which I hope you encourage), what are the faith-forming, faith-informing, […]
Tag: spiritual growth
A New Metaphor for Talking About Sex (and Relationships)
The game of baseball has long been a popular metaphor used when talking about sex and/or sexual activity. First base. Second base. […]
New Book: CAMPUS gODS (to Release Fall 2013)
Franklin, Tennessee, June 18, 2013—Seedbed Publishing has entered an agreement to publish Dr. Guy Chmieleski’s second book, Campus gods: Exposing the Idols that Can Derail Your Present and Destroy Your Future. (working title)
“The university campus may be the most strategic soil in the kingdom of God and we must work together to cultivate it for the twenty-first-century world, said Dr. Chmieleski. “With the dual trends of the college years as an extended period of adolescence and the rise of a highly genericized version of the Christian faith, it is imperative to creatively and compellingly infuse the whole gospel of grace and truth into the spiritual life of the campus.”
“One of Seedbed’s core commitments is to the college campus. We have a tremendous interest and energy for publishing a rich theological vision for life, faith, and future vocation geared for college students and the campus ministries who serve them,” said J. D. Walt, Seedbed’s sower-in-chief.
My #iMentor Story | Chad Logan
I mentor because I’m convinced that being mentored was the single most impactful component for my spiritual growth in college.
Living in a world of helicopter parents who essentially make decisions for their children, collegians need mentors more than ever to grow spiritually and encounter life responsibly.
Helicopter parents tend to believe their child can do no wrong. This sentiment oftentimes positions adolescents for failure. In college, my mentor asked me the tough questions that no one wants to answer; these were questions that I intentionally avoided for the sake of spiritual sloth. However, without these questions, I would not have discovered the spiritual journey that I’m trekking today.
On Helping Seniors Discern “What’s Next?”
It’s that time of the year again…
We’re getting ready to say good-bye to our students — some for the summer, others for the foreseeable future.
And you’ve likely noticed over the course of the spring term a shift in conversations with your graduating seniors towards more future-oriented topics.
If your seniors are like most — they are struggling to know what’s next. Some are fearful. Some are anxiety-riddled. And some are down right paralyzed.
Why?
Because there is a lot up in the air regarding “what’s next.”
My #iMentor Story | Steve Rankin
I met the Rev. Jack Fogleman when I was eighteen years old and a freshman in college.
In United Methodist organizational nomenclature, Jack was a district superintendent. That meant he had supervisory oversight for roughly sixty congregations in a particular section of the State (Kansas).
Another responsibility that district superintendents have is to keep track of young ministerial candidates. At the point of our first contact, I was not one of them, but Jack was paying attention.
The Makings Of A Great Conversation
We all know that conversations — of a wide variety — are what make up the life and work of those in ministry. Much more so than programs.
And we also know that conversations are the bread and butter of mentoring relationships.
While some things will be learned through shared experience, much of what we share with students comes in the form of conversation — over meals, coffee, and number of places across campus.
Conversations are key.
But do we really know what goes into a good conversation?
How about a great one.
My #iMentor Story | Josh Waugh
Growing up in a larger church, you would think that I could go through youth group picking the best mentors out there and entering college as the next Billy Graham.
That’s what everyone would think at least.
In reality, it was not until my freshmen year of high school that my Sunday School teacher and I began a relationship that changed my life forever. Harry Barber (yes, that’s his real name), who was my interim youth minister and incredible mentor, worked together with me every week for a year and a half as he taught me how to lead my peers at church. We did life together and I learned by watching his example.
Mentoring—A Huge Gift in my Life | Pete Hardesty
Many people have helped to shape my life.
Especially my mentors.
There was my Young Life leader Danny O’Brien that would pick me up at 6am every Wed. for a Bible study.
Then when I was in college, I was home on break and was paired up with a “prayer partner.” It was an old man named Bill Geigert. He has written me once a month for about 20 years.
#iMentor | Guy Chmieleski
The #iMentor Initiative was started to honor the investment of mentors all over the world, and to encourage potential mentors to take the initiative in starting an intentional relationship with a college student today.
Read my story here.