Last week I was given the opportunity to see the affect of Collegiate Ministry in the rest of New England. On Monday we headed to Boston for a Church Planting/Collegiate Ministry panel at MIT. It was interesting. While I wouldn't say that I agreed with everything they said and at times it did feel like maybe they had no idea what they were talking about, they were excited about church planting and collegiate ministry both which gave us a positive feeling.
Later that week Hannah and I had ventured up to Worcester, MA to spend the day with one of the Collegiate Ministry leaders at Becker College. It was a very encouraging and informative day for us. We were able to see what a ministry looked like that was being pioneered and in it's 2nd year on campus. Even though there were not many students in the group, their commitment and the perseverance of the campus ministers to the growth and spread of the gospel on campus encouraged me greatly. A campus ministry is like a child. You just can't except it to be fully bloomed after a year. It takes time, care, and nourishment. It gave us a glimpse of what to prepare for when we try to begin a bible study at another campus in a couple months.
Some of the best hot chocolate ever.
That weekend we spent in Lowell, MA with the Christian Student Fellowship at UMASS Lowell. Hannah and I were "spying" on their On Campus Retreat for ideas to bring back to Johnson & Wales to facilitate one of our own.
The idea of an On Campus Retreat is actually fantastic. If you think about it many times a school's first retreat is a Fall retreat that is usually away from campus and it would be a freshman's or transfer students first time away. If they are not fully involved yet or don't know many people, how likely is it that they are going to attend that Fall Retreat. By having an On Campus Retreat first it gives the students and opportunity to get to know each other more and connect on a personal level. They wouldn't be traveling anywhere and it would help them to get involved. We spent the day Friday hanging out at local coffee shops (Brew'd Awakening) and cafes (The Bite). We spent the remainder of the weekend hanging out with friends and fellow ministry partners. I learned how to play KanJam, which is a new favorite of mine, and I also had Chick-fil-a for the first time in my life. Was it amazing? It wouldn't say that, but it was the best fast food I have had.
All-in-all it was a very busy, but encouraging week. It was great to see all the work that has and is continuing to be done on the college campuses throughout New England to further the Gospel and make the glory of God known.
Later that week Hannah and I had ventured up to Worcester, MA to spend the day with one of the Collegiate Ministry leaders at Becker College. It was a very encouraging and informative day for us. We were able to see what a ministry looked like that was being pioneered and in it's 2nd year on campus. Even though there were not many students in the group, their commitment and the perseverance of the campus ministers to the growth and spread of the gospel on campus encouraged me greatly. A campus ministry is like a child. You just can't except it to be fully bloomed after a year. It takes time, care, and nourishment. It gave us a glimpse of what to prepare for when we try to begin a bible study at another campus in a couple months.
Some of the best hot chocolate ever.
The idea of an On Campus Retreat is actually fantastic. If you think about it many times a school's first retreat is a Fall retreat that is usually away from campus and it would be a freshman's or transfer students first time away. If they are not fully involved yet or don't know many people, how likely is it that they are going to attend that Fall Retreat. By having an On Campus Retreat first it gives the students and opportunity to get to know each other more and connect on a personal level. They wouldn't be traveling anywhere and it would help them to get involved. We spent the day Friday hanging out at local coffee shops (Brew'd Awakening) and cafes (The Bite). We spent the remainder of the weekend hanging out with friends and fellow ministry partners. I learned how to play KanJam, which is a new favorite of mine, and I also had Chick-fil-a for the first time in my life. Was it amazing? It wouldn't say that, but it was the best fast food I have had.
All-in-all it was a very busy, but encouraging week. It was great to see all the work that has and is continuing to be done on the college campuses throughout New England to further the Gospel and make the glory of God known.
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