Seeing Our College Ministers

Written by Ben Uthe

You work for Cru right? Nope. Young Life? No. These are questions I would get asked during my eight years of working for a college ministry called Campus Outreach. Often these questions came from people who have been financially supporting me and receiving email updates. Obviously, no harm was meant but I did feel so seen and valued when someone correctly knew what ministry I worked for and what campus I was on. To me it showed that I mattered to them. They took the time to read the updates I was sending. They were praying specifically for my ministry and my campus. I share that to encourage all of you to help make other college ministers at our church feel seen. To feel loved and known. Ask them questions about their unique roles. Get to know what a typical week looks like for them. Figure out what makes their ministry different from others. 

Doing college ministry can be very isolating. While almost everyone at a church would agree that college ministry is vital, as a college minster, it’s easy to feel that you don't quite fit in at church. You are doing evangelism, discipleship, counseling, etc., but are not a pastor. College ministers spend so much time with eighteen to twenty-two years old that they sometimes get lumped in with them despite their age. Although college ministers enjoy their work, they certainly don't always gel with the college students, there is an age gap and often a fairly significant life experience gap as well. These college ministers need people to relate to. They need people who they can live the Christian life with them in their stage of life. Their students will view them as a spiritual authority. In my experience what I longed for from a congregation was to be seen as any other member and for people to also ask about life outside of work on the college campus. Often though without some intentionality that can be more challenging than you might think. Another challenging aspect of campus ministry can be people wondering when you are going to “get a real job.” Assuming campus ministry isn’t a career can diminish the dignity of the ministry that God has called the campus worker into. When a pastor has been working for three years hardly anyone will ask what he is going to dox next or when is moving on to a “real job”, but people tend to do this with those who work for college ministry. The assumption is this is temporary, and ought to be a steppingstone. For some it is but for others it truly is a calling that they are passionate about. Believe me, there are plenty of people currently wondering when they will move on to something else. There is a time and place for those conversations. But I pray Waypoint Church would be a place that any college minister would feel that they have a job that matters. Their work is so important, and we need so many more who will labor on the college campus. In order to do that, let's ensure that we have a culture that lifts up those who take the Gospel to the next generation and not wonder when they will get a “typical” job. We have many in our body who serve full time on the college campus, let's love them well! 

Please be in prayer for our current campus ministers now and throughout the school year: 

Lauren Bass-Cru Regional Team

Riley Davis-Cru at UNC

Kelly Haywood-Cru at UNC

James Ho-InterVarsity Triangle Area Director

Zane Pinkleton- InterVarsity at UNC

Graham Watkins- InterVarsity at NC State