I am currently attending a Summit on Public Campus Ministries.  As Christian leaders, we recognize that most of our young people are attending secular colleges and universities.  What are we doing to nurture them and help them to discover and nurture a first-hand faith in God? 

Some years ago, Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias made the following troubling statement about the intellectual climate on many secular campuses: “I have been in universities where courses are branded as “God-bashing” courses.  I have talked to doctoral level students from very sophisticated universities where professors have openly said to them that the goal of that course was to knock God out of their thinking.  I could name one of the Ivy League schools which has a promotional video right now where the closing statement is given by a student saying that one of the most fulfilling results of attending that university was to become an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”1

We cannot afford to ignore the spiritual care of our brightest young leaders attending public colleges and universities.  Intentionally establishing Christian support ministries on these campuses should be a top priority for us.  As local pastors, many of us have academic institutions close to our churches.  Provide a warm and welcoming environment for students who are studying away from home. College and university students also need Christian mentors.  Find mature leaders in your church who are willing to serve as mentors. Simple strategies like meals with church families, retreats, and small group Bible studies can help these students to connect and stay connected during times of intense intellectual challenge.  Let’s help our young people to find and nurture a first-hand faith in God.

 

 

1 Reaching the Secular Mind: An Interview with Ravi Zacharias, Ministry, March 2000.