Supporting Campus Ministry as a Pastor

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. (Mark 9:38-42)

In Mark's gospel the disciples are concerned for their own position and status. This effects they way they see 'rival' ministries. Jesus warns that if anyone tries to keep people out of the kingdom to maintain their own place it will be better for them to be drowned in the sea. Today's church ministers are guilty of all this.

Have you ever found yourself feeling jealous to hear that another ministry is going well? Have you ever tried to reason away the good results someone else is having (“oh that's because they are just...”)? You've just kept people out of the kingdom! You care more about your own patch! If you gave even a cup of water, you would have been rewarded. How much more if you gave your whole life.

Here then is the principle of supporting university ministry: 'whoever wants to save his life' and keep his place of honour will end up losing it, but whoever 'loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it' (8:35). We need to encourage our students to be a part of uni ministries while they are on campus. It's too good an opportunity to miss. It's is a season of life where evangelism, training and teaching them to live well in the world, can all be done in a way that directly applicable to them.

here is enormous potential for kingdom growth if we do. We need to encourage our students to be a part of uni ministries by commissioning them, praying for them and setting them free (from all kinds of ministry within the church). But it takes trust to let them go. It can feel like you are giving up a lot. How do you support uni ministry as a church pastor? Trust in God and give up your life.