The Case for Campus Ministry

Pastors are invited to speak to InterVarsity chapters on a regular basis. They bring a fresh voice to campus and speak with spiritual authority. As a matter of policy, InterVarsity encourages our chapter members to be active in a local church.

Recently Tim Deatrick, pastor of Ashworth Road Baptist Church in West Des Moines, IA, spoke to the InterVarsity chapter at Drake University. He not only shared a message with the students, but afterwards shared with the readers of his weblog some reasons why churches should support InterVarsity and other ministries on campus.

Here are his first three reasons:

1. Campus ministries have unprecedented access to students. They are able to efficiently serve the students of their campus because they “belong.” They are able to work freely in the environment of the campus because they are insiders.

2. Campus ministries have a continuous presence. They don’t come and go. They possess an air of permanence which gives students unprecedented access to ministry. Students don’t have to wonder where to go for ministry or leave campus. (Don’t forget, not every college student has a car!) It’s available right there on the bottom shelf.

3. Campus ministries are able to focus on the students. Ministry is designed for the students with their needs in mind. In the case of InterVarsity, students are encouraged, trained, and involved in leadership.

Read the rest of pastor Deatrick’s blog at TimDeatrick.com