Missions Focus
As I’ve mentioned, I was at a week of camp. This was a week at Little Galilee Christian Camp outside of Clinton, IL (my hometown!!!). I was invited by the Dean of the camp to be the Missions Focus and a counselor for the camp.
Each week at camp, there is a missionary that the kids get to hear from about a specific ministry as well as give small offerings to support them. It was such a blessing for me to be the focus.
Of course, the particular week I was at was with Jr. High kids. How on earth do you communicate to Jr. High kids that college ministry matters? It’s not a place they’re thinking they’ll go and it’s not a far off land that has great physical needs.
I consulted a teacher friend of mine (thanks, Ash!) and was given some great ideas. The time started with them filling out a worksheet. I had a few questions:
- Do you know anybody in college?
- What is their relationship with you?
- From tv, movies, music, or your friend, what do you know about college?
- What questions do you have about college?
- Are college students kids or adults?
On the back, there was a word search to keep the kids that breezed through the front busy.
We then talked about the questions and brainstormed about college. Is it a good place, or a bad one?
We ultimately, (of course, with my guidance) arrived upon the conclusion that college is spiritually neutral. It could be good for you, it could be back for you, or you could go through the exact same as you go in.
I then explained to the kids that this is why I do college ministry. I want to help people not just stagnate or drift, but to draw them closer to God. I want people to make the decision to have college be a positive place spiritually. It may be in the midst of sin, but it’s choosing God and repenting.
When it came time to explain to them who I work with, I was struck (as was a pastor at that week of camp). Nobody knew what the Great Commission in Great Commission Ministries came from. So we cracked open our Bibles and looked at the words in Matthew 28. Then we talked about the names of the churches they go to. I pointed out that many of the churches had the name of the community they reach in it. Then I told them about Illini Life Christian Fellowship and how we reach the Illini students.
Finally, when we got to the question about kids or adults, many of them were savvy enough to say “it depends.” One gave an answer that I absolutely loved though. She called them “kids with privileges.” It felt perfect for exactly why I love walking students through to adulthood and relationship with Christ.
