July Update - CoLaborers, Not Competitors

Summer on campus means Freshman Orientation Fair, a great chance to meet incoming students. Almost everyday in June and July we set up a booth in the student union and hope to meet and talk with as many new students as we can.

Our booth sits alongside many others. Intramural sports, vegetarian students, fraternities and sororities, and many other groups are trying to get interested students involved. Some of the booths represent other Christian groups on campus.

There are many devoted Christians working in ministry here at the University of Minnesota. I’ve met people from many different denominational backgrounds and ethnic groups. I’ve seen many different strategies and programs employed to reach and disciple students.

I’m sometimes tempted to measure what we are doing at CSF against other groups. The truth is, the other campus ministry groups are not our competition. They are co-laborers in Christ, serving the same Lord, and carrying out the same Great Commission that we are. The victories of all the campus ministries are ours to share because we are playing on the same team!

The gospel writers tell us about a time when Jesus’ disciples told a man to stop driving out demons in the name of Jesus because he wasn’t one of their group. Jesus tells them not to prevent the man from ministering in His name, “for whoever is not against us is for us” Jesus says (Mark 9:40).

All of the Christian groups on campus share a common goal—to reach every student on this campus with the good news and love of Jesus Christ. I’m learning that an important part of my work here is to befriend and encourage the other workers God has placed alongside me in this mission field. Working together, we can accomplish a great deal more than we could alone. Maybe even more importantly, we can show forth the love and unity God’s children enjoy in His kingdom. Perhaps then we will become known for our extraordinary love.

The CSF staff hosts monthly Friendship Lunches to build relationships with those who serve other ministries. Guests at this lunch were from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Living Springs Church (Wesleyan), and Calvary Church – Roseville (BGC).