Archive for the ‘News’ Category
November 2023 – Year End Ask
Category Family, Friends, Fun, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Photos, Spirituality
June 2023 Update
Category Family, Friends, Fun, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Photos, Scripture, Spirituality
November 2022 Update
Category Family, Friends, Fun, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Photos, Scripture, Spirituality
December 2020 Update
Category Family, Fun, Illini Life, Ministry, News, Photos, Scripture, Spirituality, Winter
January 2017 Update
Category Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Spirituality
July 2016 Update
Category Family, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Photos, Spirituality
Hello friends below you should find our update letter for July 2016, posted a bit late this time around.
February 2015 Update
Category GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Spirituality
College Students and Faith Trends
Category Blogs, Friends, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Spirituality
A good friend and co-laborer of mine, Alan shared this article with me. I found it interesting – not surprisingly because it’s a topic near to my heart and calling – college students and their faith journey. The article claims that college isn’t quite the “faith shredder” it’s been made out to be; claiming students are 2.7 times more likely to say their beliefs were strengthened in college rather than weakened. A researcher speculates why this might be:
Professor Smith observes three primary and very interesting reasons why the university is not the faith-shredder we imagine it to be:
1) The increase in presence and effectiveness of campus-based ministries like Campus Crusade, InterVarsity, and Young Life.
2) The increase of relativism and the decline of strict scientism, which allows for discussion of faith and spiritual speculation, similar to what Paul experienced at the Aeropagus.
3) An increase in committed evangelical and Catholic faculty at secular universities in America who can serve as an encouragement and balance for Christian students.
Point number one is the most affirming to Amy and I. The work we’re called to do and giving our lives to is making an impact. Campus ministry is to blame for strengthening the faith of those that come to college. Now we just need to see numbers on students coming to faith in college. We have our own experience to measure against but would love to see wider stats on what is happening on college campuses.
Men Failing to Launch
Category GCM, Illini Life, Ministry, News
I read a thought provoking article today. You can read it here. I recommend taking the time to read it.
While I’m sure there are things to disagree with and argue on the causes of the state of young men today, it certainly was refreshing to hear a number of different options rather than an over simplified “the economy is bad” reason.
If you know me, you know I’m passionate about discipling and mentoring young men – college aged specifically – hence the college missionary thing. This is a trend we’ve seen on campus for quite awhile and it certainly has shifted more-so to the porn soaked, video game addicted side of things since I was a student some 7 years ago.
Often Amy and I talk about a number of solid young women we know – both students and graduates – who are waiting for a man to show up rather than a boy. We can get sad for these women, and I am, but my heart stays with the boys. There is a discontentment in their spirit that is hard to pin down. The guys I’ve worked with over the years know there is more out there than porn and video games, drinking and hook-ups but they’re struggling to figure out what and how to get to it.
This is one of my primary passions as I meet with young men. I want to be a man that “stands up for the weak and disempowered” (a definition the article offers for a real man). In my circles that’s often the young men. In doing so, I hope to provide an alternative path for them, one that calls them up rather than to settle.
