Campus ministry is so much more than programs, events, and overall flashiness. It's about something bigger -- something more encompassing than a mere four years of college. It's about the Kingdom -- the larger Narrative of which we are all a part. It's about discipleship.
There are many things that could be said about discipleship, but I want to highlight one thing right now: discipleship is in the day-to-day.
When we look at Jesus' way of discipleship, we see how he lived day-in and day-out with his disciples. He traveled with them. He prayed with them. He walked side-by-side with them through all their trials and joys.
In campus ministry, we attempt to do the same. We do disciple students in a very formal way -- going through Bible study, prayer, being deliberate in spiritual growth. Yet we also try to go one step further by living day-to-day with our students -- inviting them into our home, getting them off campus for a coffee or movie, or even moving in with them.
For the last five months, we have lived with two of our students, and the growth (on their end and our end) has been astounding. Our God really uses relationships to reveal Himself to us, and to mold us into His likeness. And now as we pack up to leave, we invite other students into this part of our lives. Tomorrow when we move, there will be a number of students helping us.
We praise the Lord that as we go on in ministry, He has provided more and more opportunities to live among our students -- to not just be there for the bigger events, but to be there for the smaller ones, or the days where there are no events at all. He is allowing us to get to know our students in very personal ways, and is opening doors with even more students each year.
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