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This weekend I was in LA at NYWC. It was an encouraging weekend teaching, discussing college ministry with a bunch of people, hanging with friends, and listening to some good messages. I also took some video of a few friends while we were hanging out who shared some “words of wisdom” about college ministry. I’ll post some of those soon.
But, being true to my word, I wanted to write a very short bit about the show Community. The biggest insight into college-age people, I thought, came in the idea of being a part of a cause. Being a part of something bigger than themselves. It’s no secret that college-age people have zeal, but one thing many miss is their zeal to help the helpless.
This surpasses the recent awareness on social justice. This is an age-stage thing. Some might even say it’s a human thing. But what I can say for certain is it’s a college-age stage thing. Some of this is due to their place in life – or lack of “place” in life. They don’t have direction in life, but we all need direction and “a cause” to live for. Since many don’t know the “cause” for them as an individual yet, their zealous energy is funneled into a cause to help someone else.
Unfortunately when we get older we far too often lose this, focusing on ourselves.
As leaders we need to emphasize focusing on others as biblical and especially during the college-age years. It’s when we can help college-age people focus on a worthwhile cause today that keeps them from devoting their lives to worthless causes later.
I think the show, Community, had some insight into this. It was twisted in a relational mixed motivation plot, but that’s life (and television). The show highlighted this focus of being a part of a cause and I thought rightly so. I also think it’s good to process through for our ministries.
How do you help keep college-age people find meaning in eternal things? How do you help them focus their zeal on Christ-like causes?
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