In order to see the gospel of Jesus Christ transform the lives in our universities and many students come to faith in Christ, we need to encourage the students in our churches to immerse themselves in student culture.
It is so easy for Christians to gather in cliques and holy huddles where they feel like they are on fire for God, but unless they are connected into the wider student scene that fire remains insulated. Some students spend almost all of their free time with other Christians. Whether it be in church gatherings, small groups, prayer meetings, Christian societies or simply friendships the diary gets filled with God stuff.
It’s essential that our students are plugged into a local church and able to express their faith openly on campus. It is also critical that we give permission to our students to not come to everything! If we release them from Christian meetings and send them out to reach their mates
Story: A church recently asked me to come and speak to a group of students in their church who lead on campus in regular societies. They want me to encourage them in how they are influencing the culture around them. Could you gather such a group within your church? Have lunch with them on campus and pray for them in church.
Do you tell your students that they are missionaries to their mates (like we all are!)? Do you preach on how we can outwork our faith in our place of work? Do you see the church’s primary place of operation as “out there” rather than “in here”? Do you ask the students in your church how they spend their free time? Do you celebrate what you want to replicate with the students?
Read the 5 awkward truths for church leaders
Truth 1 - You don't invest enough in reaching students
Truth 2 - You think students are too young for "proper" leadership
Truth 3 - You are only interested in Christian students, not all students
Truth 4. Your students need to be in and leading non-Christian societies
Truth 5. Everything is better when students are discipled in the local church
These blogs are generalisations. The truths I have stated might not be true in your church. My objective is to provoke and inspire rather than accuse or discourage. Apologies if I haven’t got that balance right.
