As I prepare to start leading worship for "Immerse," a city-wide college Bible study, we're looking at common challenges within college ministry. I'd love to know what you think about these posts...what you've seen, learned, experienced through ministries like this.
The Church Is The Thing
Challenge #4 is a tough one....how do we plug students into the local church?
A few you have commented on this, and while I don't think that events like this are necessarily disrespectful to the role of the local church, I will agree that "para-church" ministries often fail at actually supporting local churches.
Here's what I like about Immerse (and about college ministries like it)...
I like that the folks at Immerse are taking worship onto the campus. I like that there's a place where Christian students can go to pray, be held accountable to some other believers and study God's Word. Isn't this the same sort of premise behind student associations on college campuses? (Wesley Foundation, Baptist Student Ministry, etc.?)
But meeting on Monday nights isn't "church"...even at its ideal, Immerse simply cannot do all the things that a church can do. And I don't think we should.
So, how do we use our time to get kids invested in a local church family?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
I'm being serious. With these other issues I've mentioned, I've seen things work...I can look back on my experience and share those tips and ideas that seem to be a consistent benefit.
But local church? I'm don't know. I just know it's hard. Here's why:
- Which Church?
Doing this is difficult because I really can't step up on stage and say something like, "You need to be plugged into a local church. BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH MEETS SUNDAYS AT 9 AND 10:30 WITH SERVICES. FIND US AT BETHELBIBLE.COM."
It's a difficult thing, knowing that you need to encourage kids to have a home church and yet also knowing that you're unable to recommend one specifically. You end up speaking in generalities...which really doesn't work in this situation. - How Do We Know?
Let's say we find a way to do it...we find a way to offer up some vague, non-committal advertisement for being part of a home church.
How do we know if it's working? What if our kids plug in somewhere and hate it? What do we do then? Respond with something like "Oh, yeah...that church sounds horrible. Okay, well, time to find a new one!"
Doesn't seem very healthy, does it? - Is There A Payoff?
The third problem is finding church support. Connecting with churches is hard in ministries like this...I don't know that Immerse is in any sort of competition, but I know sometimes that's a fear in situations like this one.
Sadly, the idea of "payoff" ends up hurting here. As a minister in a local church myself, I understand this. If somebody calls me or mails me a letter to encourage my people to attend some event, my first thought is often, "What's in it for us? Is this part of my mission here in my church?" I don't think that's necessarily bad...I just think it's true.
How do ministries like Immerse maintain the support of local churches when we really can't turn around and do specific infomercials for them?
Can it be done?
Props to one of my new Tyler Twitter pals. Caleb Canal called this thing WCMS a few days ago. That's smart. I should have been calling it that all along! Dang it!
9 comments:
I'd tell them to go to the same Church in which they were raised, or to ask their parents where to go. I would tell them if they hate it, to learn to love it. And there is no payoff to me other than all the above is good for the kids and their Churches.
This is a very difficult ministry. If I knew why I would be more sucessful myself! This may be one of the places where evangelism and Christianity have a bad name. Also, we really don't know what sucess is in this ministry. Is it numbers? Is it conversions? Is is planting and nurturing a seed that may not bloom for years?
I will say that I thought I was a complete failure at college ministry. I gave up and moved on. The strange thing is some of the persons that I thought I never reached are now asking for guidance, and shareing stories with me on how God is walking with them. The reason I thought I failed is because I gave up too soon! This is my only advice.
Prayer, Accountability, Bible Study are not the goals of discipleship (hear me all you Southern Baptist Churches who live and die by Beth Moore and Men's Retreats). The goal of discipleship (as best as I can tell) is making other disciples, who in turn learn to make other disciples. Those other things like accountability and study develop from the process but I think we've put the cart before the horse so to speak.
Many para-church organizations are like beasts with no heads. Nature shows us that anything born without a head dies. Beasts born with multiples heads are freaks. Not that the "Church" should be the head (Christ rightfully holds that role) but even from a managerial aspect things usually don't last if there is no one in control.
It sounds like there is a lot of passion behind getting something started, but passion doesn't equal wisdom.
What about the church-backed ministries that already exist on the UTT and TJC campuses? Are they not doing what these guys are trying to do?
I think a lot of these challenges are not inherent to college ministry, but to the processes some people use to try to start or operate a college ministry.
LOL You tell em Johnny, Im laffin my butt off . First we must ask what is " THE CHURCH" ? 2nd Why do we feel the need to institutionalize these people?? Im just askin .
No Scott I believe we already have an answer for those questions (Acts 2). Simply because we can all list instances where "church" is not perfect that doesn't give us a reason to ignore it or run from it.
Absolutely. The last thing a young person needs is to forsake assembling together, as some have done, and to leave the protection of submitting to those God has placed in authority above them.
The Church is an institution, and it was instituted by God. I want to be institutionalized within it. It's never a question of whether one will join an institution; it's a question of which institution one will be part of.
Rob , im just asking because many people (and pastors) dont understand the concept of an Acts 2 church. I dont think we should run from it but i believe things happen to cause us to examine what the Scripture teaches and what the "institutional church" has become. Anytime man is involved you can usually find some screwed up stuff. (just drink the Kool-Aid) I think Todd has really caused us to seek and if we seek , we will find . Todd i started out thinking " what the heck kinda post is this " but the more i read the more i find myself pondering what you say. Pretty good stuff
Hey Todd ...
How many of these WCMS posts do you think there will be ? They are very good ... I have purposely withheld some thoughts until the end ...
Just wondering if you have planned that far ahead ...
DWC
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