Creating Community [Case#3] - Growing Pains

For our InterVarsity chapter, this past year was filled with growth—and all the growing pains that come with it. As we saw a lot of new students fill our small groups, social gatherings and worship meetings on Friday nights, some of the older students began to wonder how this would affect their pre-existing community. Thus began the challenging process of reconciling our own personal desires for intimate community with God’s call to reach our campus.

Our key phrase became “Trust God.” A very familiar verse worked as a powerful anchor for us: “. . . but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33, NIV). We were reminded that our heavenly Father knows each of us intimately, including our needs, passions, and the desires of our hearts. And if we are willing to set aside our own agenda to seek his will on our campus and in our lives, he has promised to bless us with the things that we truly need. For us this has meant reaching out to new students and welcoming them into our community, trusting that God will provide the love and intimacy we ourselves so desperately desire.

As we began the year we found that many of our students just rubbed each other the wrong way. But as the year went on they began to realize that they shared the same fears and doubts that were causing many of their resentful feelings toward one another. By talking and praying about their struggles with self-esteem and their fears of fitting in, they have since developed wonderful friendships founded on vulnerability and honesty. And now they enjoy hanging out together and meeting one another’s needs.

The students have also taken some very bold steps toward accountability in our community. They hold each other responsible for failing to include new or old students and are watchful against developing cliques. Calling each other on important issues has led to some enriching times of forgiveness and repentance.

Last spring the older student leaders worked hard to embrace and welcome the new student leaders into the team. They were genuine servants throughout the process. They were able to hold on to their existing friendships while making some new ones as they took new students under their wing.

Although this road of growth has been a rocky one, it has been rewarding to see new, quality friendships spring up throughout the chapter. We’re ready for the new people God will bring into our community this coming year.

—Tony Archer is in his fifth year on staff at the University of Wyoming where he lives with his wife Mellany and their cats Tiger and Springs. He is an avid musician and enjoys writing and leading worship music.