As you can tell, I've been WAY too silent thus far this year. C and the Leadership Team have so many activities going on (even above and beyond last semester) that I haven't been able to set time aside to write out what has been floating around in my head. However, I am going to try my best to remedy this over the coming weeks.
When C and I were students, I didn't really take notice of which event topics drew the largest crowds, but then again, I wasn't doing head counts at the time either. One thing we've noticed this year is the topic which seems to draw the largest crowds is - drum roll please - Relationships.
Now, some of you may say "Wow, did he really not expect that?", but I just didn't realize how many students would take time out of their pre-Spring Break Mid-Term mayhem to show up for a Wednesday Student Night. Our average attendance for one of these at this point in the semester is around 25-30, and 40 were here the week before Break!
We have been blessed this semester with a wonderful series of speakers and discussions focused around relationships in their many forms, beginning with an INCREDIBLE speaker the week before Valentine's Day who had 50+ students so engaged in serious discussions mixed with moments of laughing-to-the-point-of-crying, that no one noticed his 1-hour talk had turned into a 2 1/2-hour dialogue!! It was the most open, direct, and free-flowing exchange of ideas I have ever experienced with such a large group, and the fact that he addressed friends and family before talking about dating, marriage, etc. told me just how in tune he is with the needs of college students as they search to find themselves and their place in the social web of those around them.
Everyone who came to that Student Night left with much to think about, and the dialogue our speaker started continued the following week when our Faith Over Food discussion revolved around his talk and a video titled "Ache of Singlehood" by Jackie Francois, a Catholic musician from the West Coast. In this message, she speaks about the longing many young adults feel to be with another person and explains why we must place this in the hands of God and trust Him to steer us on the proper path. It is a very well-spoken reflection, especially for its length (just 6 1/2 minutes). And, by the way, this was the largest Faith Over Food this school year with about 20 students there (usually 8-10).
The Wednesday before Spring Break, we were blessed with a married couple who came to speak about the joys and challenges of marriage across faiths. Once again, we drew a large crowd and were able to get the students engaged in discussions about their beliefs and how to actively live their faith.
It makes C and I so happy to see students with their hearts lit afire, taking ownership of their faith and carrying it with them throughout their daily lives! This is the reason she does campus ministry, to help the students to embrace and live their faith, to get them to answer the questions "What is it that sets you afire?" and "What is it the Lord asks of you?"
Sometimes they're surprised by the answers...
No comments:
Post a Comment