Know any college students? Read this!

Hello, friends! Yesterday was kind of an exciting day: my aunt Laura and cousin Haley stayed the night at our house. They were just passing through on their way to Purdue University, where Haley is starting on Monday! I'm so excited for her, and I know she'll do fantastically at Purdue.

Haley's visit reminded me that most colleges and universities are starting soon. I know Pastor Jay in Tallahassee is probably finishing up the last meal he has to cook for Go Week right about now, and tonight is the FSU Luau. Concordia Wisconsin's Campus Ministry Leadership Team will leave for their annual planning retreat tomorrow. I may not be involved with any colleges or college students this year, but I urge you to be! For my blog today I'd like to give you the text of a presentation I made while in Florida.

What's going on in the lives of college students can be summed up in one word: change. Students are in a new place, away from home and all of the amenities that home provides, such as comfort. familiarity, parents, friends, and school. When all of these things change, a student's identity is in question. They suddenly have the freedom to make choices they couldn't make before. Their parents aren't there to check their grades, or make sure they're doing their homework, or call them if they're out past curfew. They're tempted to skip class, eat all junk food, and make friends in all the wrong ways. Students are asking themselves, "Who am I when my entire world is suddenly stripped away?"

Campus ministry provides a constant in the change of college life. It provides a place that feels like home, where students can find comfort, safety, Christian relationships, and answers to the tough questions they're asking themselves. Campus ministry also reminds students of their identity. They are a child of God. This is found in their baptism, and it never changes. This identity is something they can always rely upon. The problem is, it's easy for students to forget about their faith when they go to college.

That's where YOU come in! If you're a parent or aunt or uncle or grandparent or sibling or some other obscure relative or even just a friend, you can be there for your student. Before they leave, find the campus ministry at their school. You can do this easily at LCMS-U. Tell them about the campus ministry at their school, and tell the campus ministry at their school about them. (I include the second part because college students are not known for their memory.) And while your student is away, be that constant in their lives. Keep in touch; remind them of their home and their identity. Let them know you're still thinking about them and you still care. When they're home on break, get together with them and be that reminder in person.

The LCMS-U slogan is this: "College is tough. You need Jesus. We'll help." But in order for the campus ministries to do that, they need YOUR help, too!