I am Grateful for Campus Ministry

In order to build awareness of the joys and struggles of the past and future of campus ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) current moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow has invited other bloggers to write about campus ministry.  You can read Bruce's post over at his blog. 

I was intrigued by the idea of writing about campus ministry for at least two reasons.  My experience of campus ministry, as a student, was very different than the average Presbyterian student--but more about that in a minute.  Campus ministry then and today are important moments on my journey of faith. Bruce's invitation to write about campus ministry appeared around the same time I preached a sermon at the Ash Wednesday service at Eckerd College here in St. Petersburg.  I was invited to preach by my friend, Rev. Mona Bagasao.  She is Director of the Center for Spiritual Life and Chaplain of Campus Ministry. Knowing that I was recently called by the Presbytery of Tampa Bay to be a new church development pastor, she knew that some Eckerd students would possibly be interested in our new faith community. 

Earlier, Mona had introduced me to Rev. Andrew Black.  He is the Associate Chaplain at Eckerd and recently ordained by the Presbytery of Santa Fe.  We met each other while both of us were attending a lecture by Rev. James Forbes held at Eckerd College last Fall.  This introduction led to a new friendship resulting in Andrew introducing me to more Eckerd students.  Some of the students joined with us as we marched in the Dr. King Day Parade in St. Petersburg in January and again on a Peace Pilgrimage this past weekend.   Andrew first spoke to me about the Peace Pilgrimage months ago.  Last weekend, we walked with Eckerd students and others for over 15 miles journeying from Tampa to Wimauma where we worshiped at the Beth-El Farmworker Ministry on Sunday morning.

I was deeply changed by this Peace Pilgrimage.  It was a transformative experience to walk around Tampa Bay viewing Mac Dill Air Force Base, Tampa General Hospital, St. Pete Times Forum, Channel Side, cruise ships, Ibor City, gasoline storage and distribution areas, rail cars carrying acid and other chemicals and many other locations along the bay walking toward the farm worker ministry.  During the pilgrimage we discussed war and peace, fair trade and wages, health care, torture, nonviolence and other important concerns.  It was a journey that included moments of meditation, contemplative prayer, fellowship, communal worship and silent reflection.  As pilgrims, we journeyed inwardly reflecting deeply upon what it means to live a life of love, justice and peace in in our world today.  My perspective on the world was transformed by the hours of walking, praying and talking with the students.

As I think about campus ministry, I also think back to my experiences at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. I had a very different experience with campus ministry than most college students.  Growing up, not Presbyterian, but as a junior soldier in the The Salvation Army, I participated in The Salvation Army  Student Fellowship at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY.   The picture to the left clearly shows that my experience of campus ministry was quite different than the average college student in the late 1970's.  Growing up in The Salvation Army is little like being Amish or an Orthodox Jew-- you are a part of a tight knit faith community wearing distinctive clothing.  I've been AWOL from the The Salvation Army for over 25 years.  (I believe God called me to my present work, so it's OK!)  

At Asbury College, our campus ministry advisers and sponsors were a great influence on my life. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to participate in our campus ministry. God seems to use all of our life experiences weaving them together for ministry in the present moment.  

My recent experiences with students at the Dr. King Parade in January, the Peace Pilgrimage last weekend and at other events suggest that God is doing something new and creative in our midst.  The present context for ministry demands an alternative way of being the authentic church and students, and others, are helping us to discover that new way of being faithful in ministry.  I remain grateful for my experiences in campus ministry as a student, and, I am grateful today for new friends in our local campus ministry.

Comments

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