Why Reach The Campus With The Gospel?
The Church needs to communicate with individuals who would not otherwise encounter our churches. A high percentage of those being won to Christ in Chi Alpha have no previous exposure to the Gospel or the Christian church before coming to Christ.
The Church needs to work in our world’s most influential institution, the college and university campus. The social, scientific and spiritual theories of today’s campuses will become the accepted norm for tomorrow’s grade schools, businesses and television programs. What America is and what it will become is directly related to what happens on its university campuses. As a nation’s young leaders go, so goes the future of the nation.
The Church needs to serve international students, a core missions calling for the people of God. Historically, we see the increase in the blessing of God when we focus on influencing the peoples of the world. More than 700,000 international students and scholars from almost every nation are studying on American campuses. George Barna says international ministry is “an opportunity of a lifetime.” International students speak English, want to make an American friend, and want to learn about our culture and our religion. These students are at our doorstep.
The Church needs to protect the investment that it has made in our youth. We believe an education at a Bible College or Christian College is an excellent choice for many students. However, the reality remains that a significantly larger number of Christian youth will choose a secular college or university. The Church invests too much time, money, and prayer in its youth to not protect and empower that investment during the critical transitions from home to campus and the campus to the marketplace.
The Church needs to contribute to the fulfillment of Revelation 7:9. It says “…I looked and before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before and in front of the Lamb.”
We must prioritize the young. Psalm 78:4 “We will tell the next generation of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Chi Alpha Campus Ministries is developing a team of students, alumni, clergy, churches, and missionary staff to influence more college students towards becoming Christ followers. It’s about changed lives because of the impact of God’s message of reconciliation. It’s about the Church taking seriously the command of Jesus to share His message of forgiveness with all of the nations. It’s about students catching a vision for personal involvement in the greatest rescue operation of all time.
We see a Spirit empowered, diverse community of believers on college and university campuses throughout America, declaring in word and lifestyle their faith in Jesus Christ, equipped to fulfill God’s global plan. Can you see that?