Campus ministry makes a difference

By Pebbles Cloninger, member of Philadelphia, Dallas

I don’t remember much about my high school graduation—that was 35 years ago in June—but I do remember that about a week before I left for college, I received an invitation to a “Welcome to Campus” cookout sponsored by Lutheran Campus Ministry at the local Lutheran church. My parents were thrilled to know that the Lutherans knew I was headed their way and, obviously, encouraged me to attend. Along with all of the important papers I would need for that first week or so, I packed the invitation (with no intention of attending…I was 18, after all) and headed off to college.

When the time came, thankfully, I did attend and even took along a few new friends from the dorm. (Free food is always an easy way to evangelize! And, of course, campus ministry became an important part of my college years, especially after a couple of summers on staff at Lutheridge. Lutheran Campus Ministry was an obvious place to meet up with camp friends, worship together, and share a meal on most Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Ten years after college graduation, I found myself on the staff of a Lutheran congregation with a full-time campus pastor and an active, vibrant campus ministry program, so I experienced campus ministry from a non-student perspective. That congregation fed the students weekly, prayed for them daily, provided space for hanging out and for studying, allowed long-term parking at the church, and more; however, the congregation received as much from the students as the congregation gave the students. It was a joy and privilege to worship, work, play, and serve alongside some amazing young adults!

In the NC Synod, we are fortunate to have 12 active campus ministries.

Krissy Thompson and Sarah Anderson both freshmen at UNC-Chapel Hill were planners for their Lutheran Campus Ministry Winter Retreat this year. Krissy shares, “Since neither of us were at UNC last year to attend the winter retreat, we did not have any idea of what exactly the winter retreat entailed. The only request was to include some “mountain yoga” in order to reminisce on the antics of last year’s retreat. With help from both Pastor Mark Coulter (campus pastor) and Charlotte Grush, Sarah and I organized a weekend centered on mindfulness. Mindfulness is a peaceful practice that focuses on the individual and his or her relationship with God in that particular moment. With the help of acrostic poems and coloring sheets, the twenty or so LCMers who ventured to West Jefferson, NC, defined mindfulness in our lives and learned new ways to practice and experience our faith. As scared and stressed as Sarah and I were for the retreat, a bit of mindfulness and a whole lot of faith made the weekend one of fellowship, love, and unforgettable fun. The weekend was a peaceful reminder to me and all of LCM to slow down and be present with God within our hectic lives.”

Pastor Jennifer Manis currently serves as the Campus Pastor at Holy Trinity, Raleigh, working with Lutheran Campus Ministry-Raleigh (serving students at NC State, Meredith, and other schools in Raleigh), and she is an alumni of Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC-Chapel Hill. Pastor Jennifer understands that “busy, grateful, anxious, excited, grieving, depressed, curious, joyful, and growing college students, need to hear Jesus tell us again and again, ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today’ (Matthew 6:34), so, every Thursday, LCM-Raleigh gathers at 6:34 pm for Bread and Belonging.” Bread+Belonging is enjoying a home-cooked meal, praying, and pondering big and little life questions. Pastor Jennifer and several of the LCM-Raleigh students just returned from an alternative spring break trip to Germany.

Whether it’s experiencing the world through alternative spring break trips, gathering for weekly meals and worship, developing leadership skills, or retreating to the mountains or the coast, Lutheran Campus Ministry offers something for everyone. This spring, I have two young friends who are graduating from high school and heading off to college in August. I’ve wondered about what to get Maggie and Thomas for graduation; do I purchase something practical for dorm living or do I give them money for books, pizza, or laundry? I think the best gift I can give them is to connect them to Lutheran Campus Ministry at their college or university. Oh, I’ll still get them a gift, but I’m going to sign them up now for Lutheran Campus Ministry!

Use this link for schools across the country, or click here for schools in NC.

Your Mission Support dollars support our 12 campus ministries, but not at the level that we would like. As Mission Support increases next year, campus ministry will be among our first priorities to fund at a more significant level.