InterVarsity and the Local Church

The question, “How does InterVarsity relate to local churches?” is sometimes prompted by students wrestling with time commitments to the church and to the local InterVarsity chapter. At other times, this question comes from churches who want to partner with InterVarsity beyond prayer and financial giving. The most challenging times occur when denominational groups or churches question the legitimacy of organizations like InterVarsity.

In reflecting on all this, I’ve become increasingly convinced that partnership between InterVarsity and local congregations is vital. In so many ways, we need one another for grounding, renewal, and partnership in the mission God has for the church.

Some of the ways we’ve experienced partnership in the past include: InterVarsity staff teaching in weekly church services, Sunday school classes, and at retreats—with churches providing retreat facilities, prayer, and financial support. Partnership also occurs when InterVarsity alumni, who have grown in character and faith during college, share what they’ve received with their churches. InterVarsity staff are deeply grateful for churches that become homes to alumni we grew to love during their college years.

Nevertheless, we’ve longed for further expressions of partnership and discovered two ways that have been huge blessings both to congregations and our fellowships.

The first blessing begins when students get to campus and we invite them to our five-week Church Tour. On the tour we take students to a handful of local churches, introduce them to church leaders, and invite them to consider settling down at one of them for the time they’re in college. Students and churches continue to rave about how helpful this has been in establishing good relationships early in the year.

We’ve also been deepening our partnership with churches after students come to faith. InterVarsity has committed not to baptize students. Instead, we encourage them to get baptized in the context of a local congregation. As we’ve done this, we’ve experienced tremendous joy as our ministries come together to celebrate the life that students are finding in Jesus.

We’re so grateful for the fruit we’ve seen as we work together.

______________________

A pastor shares some reasons why churches should support InterVarsity and other ministries on campus.