We heard snippets of news as China was overrun by COVID-19. We've heard how Italy's healthcare system has been overrun, leaving many to die. Last night I watched a video by the New York Times of the crisis now facing emergency rooms in New York City where by Friday they expect to be out of beds in all NYC hospitals. College ministers - our crisis is not live streaming your weekly gathering or setting up Zoom Bible studies - our crisis is coming. Are you ready?
By a "coincidence" only the Lord could orchestrate (i.e. providence) our UMass Medical School Christian ministry Zoom Bible study this last Monday night was on Esther chapter four. Esther clueless to the impending disaster facing her people is called upon by her cousin/advocate father to wake up and see God's hand upon her life and the issue facing her people. Full of faith he boldly pleasds, "And who knows but that you come come to your royal position for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)?
Campus minister we are facing a coming crisis and its time for us as the church to prepare and plan now. In a live stream and article, Ed Stetzer called on churches earlier last week to wak up and move out of "Phase 1: Pause and Innovate" and move into "Phase 2: Prepare and Plan," because the church of Jesus Christ needs to be ready to "Engage and Execute (Phase 3) and "Recover and Emerge" (Phase 4) in the coming weeks and months of this crisis.
What does tha mean for us as college ministers? I confess I don't fully know, bu I would like to call on your college ministry gurus out there to help us all figure this out! Here are a few thoughts:
1. Prepare financially - This one I think all of us have already started to think about, but we need to be calling on our partners to pray and give even more sacrificially to advance God's mission among college students. Many (including some of your students) are about to receive hundreds or thousands of dollars in stimulus money. Some people really need this right now, but some may have essential jobs or may not need it. Can we all sacrifice for the missin?
2. Partner with Local Churches - You may not have a plan to care and addres humanitarian needs among college student or your community, but your churches need to! The church is commanded to care for each other (Galatians 6:2) and to love our neighbor. You don't have to be the church, but your church(es) does need to plan and prepare.
-Mobilize your students to help those in need. Your college students have more time and they might be able to make phone calls, help manage a google intake form, organize a list of community resources for the needy in your community.
-Mobilize through the church. In my context our clubs are affiliated with Student Organizations and are not to meet at all. But your churches can as essential places. I saw a picture from a friend in Tennessee who had college students working in their food pantry.
3. Partner with your university - Start emailing or calling your contacts to say you are here to help them. Here are some ideas:
-Counseling Office - Educators are starting to think about the coming mental healthcare crisis. One campus I work with said 70% of students in the last year had moderate to severe depression in the last year and 30% of students thought abut suicide. This is coming - how will your campus ministry help?
a. Maybe phone calls to students feeling isolated.
b. Maybe you as a campus minister can pray for campus administrators or staff during this time.
-Social Media is the new front door - Have students/your ministry social media pages repost services your campus is providing for students like counseling, food, tutoring, etc.
-Community Engagement office - Email your campus community engagement office to see if they have needs.
-Give to student emergency fund - TGC had an article where Korean college students organized and gave to an initiative for the needy in their city through their university.
4. Be prepared yourself.
-Pray, pray, pray and then mobilize your partners and church to pray.
-Neighbor notes - My wife and I are just in the beginning of this, but we are planning to take notes in ziplock bags to put on the doors of ur neighbors just saying they can text or call us for spiritual guidance, prayer, or for needs.
a. Maybe some of your students are internationals stuck on campus. Could they do something like this with some resources you provide?
The last few weeks I have enjoyed the extra time with my family, but while I am doing this I realize that city officials, healthcare providers, fellow pastors have been working tireless and preparing for the worst. My we be like Esther and step into this moment with bold faith. So that our lives demonstrat our Savior's call, "Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Kevin Cox
Clarke College, Worcester, Mass
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
No comments:
Post a Comment