The United Methodist Church is in a real crisis. We know that we need to be in mission to the students on our nation’s college and university campuses, but we don’t know how to begin. We’re overwhelmed and intimidated by organizations like Campus Crusade, Navigators, or Intervarsity who have decades of momentum on campuses, yet we can’t shake the feeling that our voices are needed there as well. The Wesley Foundations that do work – like Texas Tech, University of Georgia in Athens, and Auburn – almost defy explaining except for a success string of good appointments that moved the ministries beyond humble beginnings to the powerhouses they are today. We are also stuck between a coming departure of leadership and the near emptiness of where a new generation of leaders should be. These are desperate times – each step we take could either save us or bury us. We have a lot of catching up to do.
This new blog seeks to chronicle the beginnings of a new campus ministry called Yellow Door Ministries out of Central UMC in Kansas City, MO. My hope is to encourage others who are following God’s Spirit back to the campuses we gave up on so long ago.
I have had the privilege to serve at two fine institutions – Southern Methodist University and the University of Kansas. But I believe every campus mattters – not just the big ones. I find myself taking on a challenge in that I am will be serving three, urban universities from a local church context. The challenges are huge, but so is the potential.
So come along. I’m going to get a bunch of different voices to speak into this – I hope your’s will be one of them. We are going to learn from their successes and mistakes while adding our own. I’m going to bring in colleagues from other ministries and denominations to kick the tires. Who knows – we may even do a “new ministry tour” and name a Rookie of the Year or two.
But here’s what I’m banking on – you and I are not the first people to care about the college and university campuses across the street. Our God has been seeking out these students long before we showed and will pursuing them long after we are gone. I see my job over this next year helping my team find where God is already working and hurry to catch up with Him.
