Over the next week or so, you'll be seeing and hearing a lot about "Immerse," a community Bible study for college students in Tyler, Texas.
While I am both honored and excited to be a part of this ministry, that's not necessarily fueling all the posts, videos and "tweets" you're going to be seeing.
I'm doing this because it's my way of asking you to walk with me in this and to help me.
Because it's hard.
In my experience, there are common "challenges" when trying to pull of something like Immerse is trying to do. And I commend them for it. I believe in it...I wouldn't be leading worship if I didn't. (Trust me...I don't like gigging that much. I play for places I can believe in!)
Over the next few days, I'll be looking at a few of these challenges from the perspective of a worship leader. Here's what I'm asking of you:
- Comment. My perspective is mine alone. I'm just one dude and I'd love to know what your take on the whole issue of city-wide college ministry. Many, many of you are deeply invested in God's Kingdom and a lot of you spend a lot of brain power asking questions about our motivations and how we judge success.
- Pray. I won't lie. I need prayer. I love leading worship and it's a big part of my life, but taking on a new place is always tough. I'm asking God to bless me in my ability to get to know the kids at Immerse and I'd be honored if you'd join me.
- Talk. Services like these are not for everybody...but they are for somebody. I'm specifically asking those in the Tyler area to spread the word to college students who might benefit from a Monday night worship and Bible study time.
As always, thanks for checking out the site.
And be back tomorrow for Part 1 - "Nobody's Got It All Together."
3 comments:
I'll comment, but my comment reflects more of what I'm thinking about my job than yours. And I'm a guy who leads a lot of these kind of things...
Why do we need "college ministries?" What are they for, what are they supposed to do, and why is the ordinary worship and life of the Church insufficient?
I've been seriously questioning the implications of so many para-church events. I'm beginning to believe they exist because of disobedience on the part of either individuals (husbands in the case of "women's Bible studies"), families (youth ministry), or the church as a whole (college, singles, young adults, married left-handed short people...).
These sorts of things reflect an individualistic, consumer-driven orientation. Meeting the felt needs of a demographic is more important than the life of the Body. Why on earth would we get some of us with particular characteristics together to worship without the rest of us?
Theology comes out out fingertips, and whatever's coming out is our theology. We seem to be either saying (negatively) that we want our own thing or (positively?) that these things are necessary to remedy our current failings.
Let's assume for a moment that 3rd graders had transportation and the knowledge of Geography...
What would be wrong with having a separate meeting time apart from the church specifically for 8/9 year olds???
Is it different for college-aged? Or is it the same? If it is different then why/how is it different?
What are they meeting for? What's the purpose? Fellowship?
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