Perfect Picture of what College ministry

I was reading an article today about Joe Paterno Head Football coach @ Penn State University and what keeps him going at his age and still able to coach.  This is what he said one day as he was walking with his own son, also an assistant coach on the team:

“You’ll understand, once you have kids, that life changes. You’ll find that your happiness is defined by your least happy child. You’ll understand. Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it’s our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world.”

This about sums up the whole purpose for college ministry.  People have entrusted you, us, the school with their child, grandchild or whomever and it is up to us (through God of course), to help them be “intact and ready to face the world.”

The whole idea of College is this transition from childhood – yes I said Child, 17 year olds, still a child – to adulthood.  From the freedom to choose how they manage their time, who their friends will be, the consequences of every decision made will affect you, and others and all the other things that go along with College/young adult life.  As a pastor to this demographic we have a tremendous responsibility.  Youth ministry is great, I have done it for year, but I argue that the greatest time of change and adjustment is not in the middle school/high school years, but rather the 18-25 year old range.  And how much less resources is given to people ministering to them?!

After college the world will slap them upside the head like a 2 x 12!  College loans, family, kids, work, taxes, bills, bosses, friends go separate ways and so much else.  God has charged us “and it’s our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world.”

So to Jo Pa, I say, AMEN!!!

College Ministry

Dear Diary.  Ok, I never really understood that, you’re writing on a piece of paper, and you’re acting as if it’s a real person.  Anywhos, it’s been a good couple of months.  I have been at the Church as the college and career age pastor, and have had some good discussions, and some pretty obvious hurdles.  But that’s all they are, and I ran hurdles in high school, so it’s ok, albeit, not very good, but that’s not the point!  A while back I had a conversation with a young man who really felt God asking him to start a bible study, but wasn’t sure what or when or where.  So we met and talked and started to work through some of that.  A while back I contacted the Dean of the College.  For me, this is where it starts.  To build bridges with the college faculty, staff and such to make connections, support, and introduce myself and learn how I can serve the campus.  To my amazement, this man was all for anything!  He said there will be space available, resources available, anything!  I will use him as my point of contact, and he went so far as to give ideas and encourage me to get things going!  This was a huge surprise on my part!  A good one.  But I wasn’t prepared for that, so now, it’s a matter of getting things in place and starting to get things coordinated for some things to happen on and off campus.  I didn’t think we were going to be to this point for another 3 months or so.  But here we are.  It’s awesome!  I then had a colleague of mine call and said there were some guys who heard about what we were doing and want to be a part of it, again Go God!  We have a small group and all I did was talk and spread the word (at least that’s how I look at it).  It’s so cool to see how God works when you say “yes” to Him.

I just got off the phone with a guy in Kansas who is doing college ministry, and we had a very good discussion.  I got the chance to talk ministry, life, struggles etc.  He had some great insights and a wonderful heart!  I will definitely keep him in my prayers.

College ministers are so few and far between in that regard, it’s great to dialogue and build some circles.  There is a guy named Benson Hines, who is doing some great stuff as far as bridging some of these circles and opening peoples eyes to college ministry.  Check him out here.  He is driving thru and I really hope he has time to stop by, I’d love to talk with him.

More and more College Ministry my thoughts and understanding of college ministry are being either confirmed or moving and growing.  Where is the Church in this age group?  We pump millions of dollars into youth ministry every year just to send them off to college with nothing (except a book we gave them at graduation).  College is the biggest and most influential time in a persons life.  They are away from their parents, aspects of life are much more acceptable, accessible and experimental.  So we send off our high school grads with the idea that ‘we’ve given them the foundation they need to get through the next four years.’  Who are we kidding?!  Adults, without support and guidance will typically fail in one are or another, I know I do all the time if I don’t stay connected or deliberate in my personal growth.  Why do we think an 18 -25 year old is going to be any better?  Then we think, ‘they’ll go to college and spread their wings, when they’re done they’ll come back to the Church.’  Some will even add, ’sure they will, I did.’  We’re fooling ourselves.  They’re not coming, they’re not bringing their young families, they have NO idea how their faith is really relevant to their every day life, and we forget about them for 4-8 years while in college anyways.  Where is the Church!?

And College ministry is NOT just another youth ministry, and we can’t expect it to be.  It is a missions field!  College students have a ton on their plate, and they are the ones that choose what they will be involved with.  And guess what it’s not Church anymore.  Why would establishing a mid-week or something youth groups for college kids work?  Except for those few students who made it through high school with a faith strong and ready to be involved.  But that is like 1 out of every 10-15 kids in your youth group.  The rest are either on the fringe or just don’t care.  College Ministry is a missions field!

Some of the big things on my heart and mind right now are:

Career.  We knew that this place is a transition place, but maybe it isn’t…we’re really not sure.  I’d like to have some clarity by late winter.

Friends.  Some friends of ours are struggling, and have been for a while now, with their family planning.  I really hope they get some answers soon.

There is also some friends that have recently found out that they will be parents after many years of waiting out the adoption process.

Work.  Right now I am working at a restaurant, i’m in the army national guard, i am the college pastor and am considering taking on another job to help pay some bills and put some money away.  It’s a lot going on, but it’s all with the idea that it’s hopefully temporary until the spring.

Family. Some very good things and some hurt.  Either way, i’m looking forward to seeing everyone.

Wow

Ok, it’s been awhile.  We have finally made it to Wyoming.  I’m sorta getting settled in.  I have a job offer at Applebees as a server and I have accepted.  Right now it’s the only thing that’s come up, and I need something.  I start that saturday morning.  I also start my army career in the guards next month after labor day.  I’m pretty excited about it, it will be interesting to see how all that works out.  I am still working through the process of enrolling in seminary at Bethel in St. Paul, MN pursuing a Masters of Arts in Christian Thought (Philosophy and Apologetics).  I’m pretty excited about it, but nervous about the whole online thing.  I think I may to the “dimensions of faith” online stuff through Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.  It’s a totally free series of courses.  It’s all seminary level classes and such, you don’t get a degree, but hopefully it will help me get in the mind set of doing school online and the such.  Check it out sometime.  I’m coming to recognize within myself that some of the pain I have from some past events are bigger than I originally thought, I guess that’s what happens when you seperate yourself from them.  I want to work through it and move on, but there is always something that seems to pop up and open up a wound again, and it probably won’t stop for a while.  But I digress…

Football season is starting!  My 49ers are looking pretty good, especially in a week NFC west.  So that’s exciting, now if only Michigan would get things turned around…oh wait they have Rich Rodriguez…never mind.

I have a meeting tomorrow with the Churh we’re worshipping at to talk college/young adult ministry, pretty excited about that, and the possibilities there.  I’m not really sure what to expect there or what it will look like, but we’ll see.  Either way, it’s what i’m supposed to be doing, so it will be a HUGE learning experience.

I still need to find my stupid external hard drive!!!!!!!!  GRRRRRR!!!!!!!  I know the box and it had some important items in that box, and I cannot seem to find it.  Frustrating.  Anywhos.  That’s enough rambling for now.

can never do things slowly

So we’re in the home stretch of our time in Mitchell and we’re busy little beavers getting everything lined up.  Last week we purchased a “new” car. It is a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica.  It’s a nice vehicle and we really were feeling crunched in our other vehicle.

We also haven’t really started packing, i’m not too worried, we’ll just crash it the last week we’re here, much easier.  Have to get a moving truck and trailer.  I have applied at Starbucks Coffee for a job, that should be good for connections and flexible enough to get the time off I need for school.

Along with that, I am still working on all the application stuff.  The catch is I need to know what I will be doing at the Church as a volunteer before I can fully enroll.  So we’re plugging away at that.

And then today I went down to the local Army National Guard recruiter and started the process of re-enlisting in the army.  I will join a Public Affairs unit for a year or so and then transfer into the Chaplain Corp upon registration into seminary.  This has been a crazy week and it will only get better, with the packing, loading and oh yea, I have to take the middle schoolers to Missouri on the 31st for the weekend.  We also have a 3 week old little girl.

It never fails in our family, we don’t do anything small or one at a time.  When we moved to Mitchell our son was about the same age as our daughter is now, we were trying to sell a house, I was starting something new, and all sorts of other craziness.  I love it though.  I like to have things mixed up, I get super bored when it becomes routine and mundane.  In fact I lose focus quite a bit.  So this is good for me, this is when I do well.  It kind of annoys some people though (see: she who must be obeyed), because I get so “busy” and always going to get things done that I don’t slow down too much until the evening hours.  Either way, it’s an exciting time in our lives and family and we are very excited about it!

3 months ago when I resigned from the Church I didn’t have a job lined up, no where to go afterwards, a baby not yet born and so many unaswered questions that people thought, and probably still do, we were nuts!  We firmly felt that God was calling us to move on to the next stage in our lives.  So we took a leap of faith and it’s been fun to see how God is working it out, we have not really been stressed or concerned because we know this is what needs to happen for our family.  So til next time!  Probably be writing from Wyoming.

12 Reasons for College Ministry from Transformers 2

Thanks to Benson Hines for this great example of college ministry and the need for it!  He’s doing GREAT things, check him, and his FREE book about College Ministry!  He is putting into words pretty much everything (and more) that has been in my mind and heart for about 8 years now!  I’m stoked that there are more people out there that see the incredible need for this age group.  Hopefully Churches will see not only the value in it, but the fact that it CANNOT be compared to or evaluated the same way as a youth or children’s ministry.  Keep it up Benson!!

12 Reasons We Need College Ministry, as Revealed by Transformers

1. Students need help dealing with the relationships they’ve left at home (e.g., parents, favorite cars, and Megan-Foxes).

2. Parents need help letting go of their students.

3. The party scene.

4. The computer-geek-conspiracist scene.

5. Crazy roommates (e.g., kitten-calendar magnates, mentally unstable room-trashers).

6. Aggressive hotties!

7. Aggressive bullies!

8. Pompous professors (who look like that one guy on that one show…).

9. Know-it-all classmates.

10. The dangers and opportunities of traveling abroad.

11. Co-ed dorms!

12. College freshmen might just turn out to be heroes – they just need help (from awesome robots or senior adult robots or college ministers) to get there!

She’s here!

We have a new baby girl!  She was born June 25th at 8:39 am; weighed 8lbs – 2 oz; length 19 3/4″  Name is Elizabeth Anne!  Everyone is doing well and mom and baby come home today!

Arcade Game for sale

I have an upright Arcade Game for sale.  It is called “Air Busters” it is a one or two person horizontal shooter.  You fly through shooting other ships, collecting power ups, and defeating the boss’ at the end of the level.  It is a ton of fun and works perfectly!  It is a simple enough concept that the kids can play and enjoy!  I have recently replaced the monitor in it, so the picture is good.  It is wired so you never need to use any money to play or keep track of!  I’m asking $800 obo!  Enjoy the classic feel of the arcade!  Please contact me via my “about” page.

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day Dad! I’m doing a children’s message today about the 3 B’s of a dad. Belt, Ball, and Bible. Thanks for all 3…even though the discipline part was NOT fun at times, it has helped to make me who I am.

back at it.

We got back from our work camp yesterday.  It was a good week, we went down to Parkersburg, IA with Rise Ministries and our regional denominations work camp.  It was a good week all in all, we got to help do some repair and stuff in the community.  It was tore up pretty bad from the tornado 2 years ago.  The teens were great, they learned a ton of stuff about how to use tools, interact with people they don’t know and heard a great couple of messages!

I was really blown away one night during our uth group time with one kid.  He told me he was mad at me and didn’t even want to go on the trip, because he didn’t know/understand why I was leaving.  Now this is a kid who is the jock, the one that told me flat out, he doesn’t do uth stuff except for summer and regular uth times.  And he never has talked about his faith at all.  When I started to explain why, and answer his questions, he started to get choked up.  Now I know there will be people that were affected by my presence here at the Church, but to be honest, I didn’t see this one coming.  He’s a really great kid, with a good sense of humor (he has to, he’s a Denver Broncos fan), but I got the impression that Uth and myself were just “something to do”.

Either way, not only him but all the teens here, have had a tremendous impact on who I am, and my ministry.  They will always be in my prayers and thoughts.  I have learned a lot from them as well.

On a different note, I learned that the degree I want only starts once a year in June.  Bummer.  I was planning on starting in the fall like any normal school year.  So now I have to wait a full year before I start.  It’s ok, really.  I get the first pop at scholarships, I can really focus on this new baby, moving and all that jazz.  There is also a FREE online course you can take through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary called “Dimensions of the Faith”, it is 100% free!!  It isn’t a degree program, although you do get a certificate of completion.  But it is grad level classes, and it may give me a good prep for the actual school work I would do online next year.  So I will probably do that along with working…somewhere.

That’s probably the coolest thing about my whole resignation thing.  I have been at total peace about everything!  I know that God is asking us to move on from where we are, and into a HUGE unknown, but we knew we had to take the leap of faith and just go.  So we did, and it’s been incredible to see how God has this all laid out for us, well we can’t see it all, but things fall into place, and it’s super!

So on goes the adventure.  Marco…

summer 2009

Well it’s my last summer here in Mitchell and at the Church.  So far so good.  I have quite a bit of time between now and when I am officially done, almost 2 months.  But it is pretty busy.  I just finished playing paintball with some high schoolers next week middle schoolers.  Then off to Iowa with some HS kids for our work/missions trip, back from that, and one final paintball with college/young adults.  Then baby due, into VBS and then to Missouri with the Middle Schoolers then it’s time to go.  And in the midst of all that we have middle school city wide youth group wednesday nights and high school on sunday nights.  So I don’t have a lot of “down time”, which is good.  A lot of people were surprised why I submitted my resignation so early.  However I remember how long my process took, and a bunch of other stuff, I wanted to give the Church enough time to get their thoughts together.  But it’s a busy summer, and so far a great one weather wise.  A great summer to bid farewell.