Today marks the start of my 10th year of being on staff at
Church of the Canyons. It’s amazing how
time flies. I absolutely love what I
do. Ministry to college kids is still so
very exciting to me. It is one of those
times in their lives that you can help walk them through decision making, the ups and downs, and the joys and
challenges of life. I got asked just the
other day by a student if I was going to do this the rest of my life. Who knows (except God of course), but I’d
love to. I’ve got so many memories of
this stage in my life. Here are some of
my favorite things that I love about college ministry:
·
I love seeing students graduate and move on to
different places all over the world with a goal to make a difference for
Christ. Being at a location with several
colleges, you get a lot of transition.
While that might be a bummer, it is also a blessing as they move on and
plug in elsewhere.
·
I love the college leaders that I’ve worked with
over the years. Often, they come in as
students and then come on board as college leaders. It’s been a blast having great leaders who
love God and learn how to serve in a ministry.
Some of my best friends are from those who have served on college
leadership with me.
·
I love seeing people grow in their spiritual
life and develop their gifting. It’s
always a joy to see people develop and grow and then to be used in whatever God
calls them when they move on from college ministry.
·
I love it when God brings
in someone as a young college student and they stick around for years, growing
and serving and becoming my close friend.
I’ve watched God bring in people that I began to shepherd and then watch
them grow up to be my peer. That is such
a cool thing to see that transition. I’ve
watched people fall in love and get married in the college ministry and then
move on to have kids and serve elsewhere.
I’ve watched people move on to serve in other churches. It is such a blessing to think back over the
years and see God’s faithfulness in their lives.
·
I love the staff and elders I have the pleasure
of working with at COC. I continue to
learn so much from them. I have been so
blessed to have godly men help shape me in what it means to be a shepherd. It is so amazing to see their hearts in desiring to
invest in the next generation.
·
I love to see the next year’s group of
people. Transition is the name of this
ministry. Each year brings with it some sadness
as we say goodbye to people who have stayed at COC for a number of years. Yet each year also sees a new group of
students come in and plug into the ministry.
Having done this ministry for this long, it’s fun to think back to each new
school year and think about who God has brought us and how that has shaped the
group.
So those are just a few things I am thankful for in these
last 9 years and starting my 10th.
I wonder what the “next ten” will bring!
