Strong campus ministries are important for the health of the church.
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35% of all new clergy identify campus ministry as the critical environment
in which they discerned the call to ministry.
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Participants in campus ministry become council presidents, sunday school
teachers, church musicians, and the faithful of the church.
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Participants in campus ministry become doctors, lawyers, business people,
teachers, scientists, engineers, politicians, and many other Christian
servants of society.
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Campus ministry is the church's diplomatic outpost in the midst of the
academy--never forget: it was in the academy that the Reformation was born
and nurtured.
Campus ministry depends on the church.
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70% of the income of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU comes from churchwide
and synodical grants.
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The church in all its expressions is the first source for locating students
at our universities.
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The church is the source of campus ministers.
Still, campus ministry can fall beneath the radar of the church, especially
in times of heated controversy and diminishing revenue. Only the
persistence of the faithful can guarantee the place of campus ministry
within the ELCA.
How can I advocate?
Campus ministry advocacy is like evangelism--don't let that scare you!
It is all about sharing your thoughts and feelings about campus ministry
with others.
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What excites you about campus ministry?
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What does campus ministry do well?
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How does it change lives?
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How does it enrich the church?
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Why do you support it?
The answer to at least one of these must roll off your toungue already.
Pretend, right now, that you are talking with a fellow member of the church.
Your friend comments on the need for more young adults in the church.
Can you respond with reference to campus ministry? Try it.
See, it's not so hard. In fact, it is sort of fun to talk about something
you believe in, especially something as important as this.
Now, think about your reponse. Was it a synopsis of statistics
about campus ministry? If so, that is impressive. Most can't
rattle off the figures. Your response was probably a story--a story
about your experience as a participant in campus ministry or maybe a story
about a young person you know that was helped by a campus ministry.
Most listeners will be moved by the story of a life changed (perhaps
a life saved) by campus ministry. Most listeners will be moved by
your own enthusiam for campus ministry. In most cases, it is as simple
as this. What comes easily to your lips is probably the right thing
to say. Just don't be afraid to say it. In these dark and latter
days, people want to hear some good news for a change. Tell them
the good news about campus ministry. Tell them that somewhere (e.g.,
WVU) young people stand side by side with professors, staffers, and townspeople
in worship, education, fellowship, and service.
There will be those times when the stats are handy. Some will
want quantifiable measures of success. If you can remember the stats,
well and good. If not, don't worry. You can always ask
us.
When is the right times to advocate?
There are very few wrong times, and, borrowing from the Apostle, we should
be zealous in season and out. Here are some suggested times.
There are many more.
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When a young person is thinking about or heading off to college.
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When a fellow member of the church expresses concern about collegians.
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When a congregation is in pastoral vacancy.
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When someone mentions the university/college.
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When a congregation is preparing a budget or deciding what benevolences
to support.
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you would like some advice on advocacy in your setting,
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you have some other ideas you would like to share, or
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you would like to report your experiences in campus ministry advocacy.
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