Home Away From Home

Every year thousands of Missouri Synod students leave home and travel off to college, leaving their home congregations as well. Who is to see to their spiritual well being while at college? Campus ministries provide a church home away from home for students attending college. This is of incredible importance, because while at college a student's faith will be tried and attacked in many new ways, from the classroom to campus culture. Students are faced with decisions that will impact the rest of their lives academically and socially. Campus ministries provide supporting, loving, caring, forgiving, communities founded in God's Word and Sacraments that are necessary in navigating this exhilarating period in students lives.

The Campus Mission Field

College campuses are excellent mission fields. Up to 70% of college students have no church affiliation. Campus ministries are a way of outreach to these people who so desperately need Christ. This includes international students, who having been called by God to faith in Christ Jesus, may have the opportunity to share the Gospel with those in their home countries.

Developing Leaders

We often refer to young people as "our future." College students are the future leaders of our congregations. Through campus ministries, students are exposed and encouraged to take part in leadership. Through programs such as Peer Ministry and Lutheran Student Fellowship, students learn what it means to be a servant in a community of believers, gain practical experience, and most importantly, see God's hand moving through them to be bring others to Christ. By God's grace, these students are ready to serve in our churches
 
Getting Your Students Connected

There is no need to send college students off to blindly grope for a church home while at college. There are over 600 dedicated campus ministries of the LCMS in the United States.  Also, there are many Congregations near campuses which, although not official campus ministries, can see to the spiritual well being of students.  The availability of these can be determined before a student reaches college.

The Campus Ministry Board of the C-N-H District has developed a program to assist local pastors and congregations to get soon to be students connected with a congregation near their college.  If you would like help with this, the process is simple.  When you learn of where a student will be going, send that student's information to cnh_campus_ministry@yahoogroups.com and we will send information to the student and to the local congregation.  That way, when your student gets to college, he or she isn't a stranger someplace but an eagerly waited brother or sister in Christ.

Consider Starting a Campus Ministry

Campuses of all shapes and size, junior colleges, four-year schools are ready for planting and ripe for harvest. While many schools are being served, many more are not. If there is a campus in your community, please consider the campus as a part of the mission field in which God has planted your congregation. Taking care of local college students is a rewarding way in which God can work through your congregation. Starting a Campus Ministry at your congregation is a simple task.  All you need is a local campus and some time.
 
If you have reservations or simply questions, the whole reason the District has a Campus Ministry Board is to help facilitate congregations in their outreach on college campuses.  We will help you in any way we can. You may contact the head of the Campus Ministry Board, Pastor Anton Prange, or take some time now to write down your name, contact info, and areas of concern.

Connecting Your Current Campus Ministry

If you have an established program or if your congregation simply spends time catering to the needs of college students, we would like to know. Connecting with the rest of the District will create a valuable network in which ministries can support one another and create a greater pool of resources. Working collectively will reach more people in this mission field than working individually. If you are doing campus ministry, let the campus ministry board know. The board gathers once every few months to give each other support and advice for the various ministries represented. Not only might your ministry benefit from the experience of others, but others would certainly benefit by hearing of how the Lord is working through you.

Again, for more information, please do contact:
Pastor Anton Prange
Faith Lutheran Church in Seaside, CA
831-394-1312 or
anton_prange@csumb.edu