Your Voice

Helping college students find faith that sticks

By Mike Nuss
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

As a first-generation college student, I left home and began my college years with little thought or preparation, other than knowing a college degree was the required “next step” to prepare me for the future.

That was almost 50 years ago. The college campus (and the world) was a much different place than it is today. 

I had no idea then that I would spend most of the next 50 years ministering to college students and college ministry leaders and trying to help guide students as they navigated some of the most critical years of their lives. 

As I think back on my days as a college freshman, I realize the advice I was given in 1971 isn’t much different than advice I would give college students and their parents today. 

I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same! So, here’s some advice for today:

Know what you believe — and stick to it.

Collegiate ministry leaders often tell me that today’s college students are basically biblically illiterate. 

Many cannot tell you the basic truths of God’s word, explain simple Bible stories or point others to Christ, even though these students grew up in church and have been shaped for years by student ministries. 

College students will face many challenges to their faith. I did. 

On today’s college campus, it’s never been more important for students to know the truth of God’s word, know what they believe, be able to articulate it and above all — stick to it.

Find a faith community — and stick with it.

Patterns established by college students in the first three weeks of school are likely to be patterns they stick with for the rest of their college experience. That includes study habits, sleep (or the lack of it) and especially friends or community. 

For the freshman away from home, church and family for the first time, finding a new community is essential to success. 

I joined a church in my college town the first weekend I was on campus. It was one of the best and most important decisions I made as a student. 

That faith community helped me integrate faith and facts, walked with me as I explored a call to ministry and was the place I found (and married) my wife. 

Find a church and your local Baptist Campus Ministry to help you continue your faith journey — and stick with it.

Pray and support your student — stick with him or her and don’t stop. 

There’s a cross-stitched saying on my mother’s wall that basically says, “Give your children two lasting things — roots and wings.” 

Parents and family, pastors and youth ministers, now is the time. 

Make sure they’re ready, make sure they have a strong foundation in life and faith, pray for your student like you’ve never prayed before and then let him or her go. 

Perhaps one of the great dangers facing our world today is the inability of today’s students to grow up, be adults, make decisions and live life on their own. This is clearly God’s design and plan. 

Yet we often hold them too tightly and fail to help them become productive, faithful young adults. They’re going to make mistakes. We all did. 

Give them roots and wings, encourage, equip and pray — stick with them and don’t stop. 

EDITOR’S NOTE — Mike Nuss directs the office of collegiate and student ministries at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. For more information or resources on ministering to college students, contact him at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 276, or mnuss@alsbom.org.

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Missions discipleship

Just as we want to prepare our children to become successful adults through school, we also want them to grow into disciples of Christ who live on mission. 

One way we do this is by teaching them at an early age what the Scriptures have to say about loving others and sharing the gospel. 

As leaders in our Alabama Baptist churches I hope you have included missions discipleship as a top priority for the upcoming ministry year.

Through missions discipleship children are taught biblical principles of God’s love and compassion for the lost. 

They experience missions through the eyes of missionaries, other believers and doing missions themselves. 

Missions discipleship groups help your church raise up the next generation of disciples who will live out the Great Commission. 

To learn more about this curriculum contact us at 334-613-2226 or visit AlabamaWMU.org. 

Or join us at our One Day training on Aug. 17. There are three locations: State Board of Missions Facility, Prattville; Central Baptist, Decatur and First Baptist, Satsuma. Register at AlabamaWMU.org.

—Candace McIntosh

EDITOR’S NOTE — Candace McIntosh is executive director of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union.

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Letters to the Editor

Thank you for overhauling TAB. It is very interesting, informative and faith strengthening. I congratulate editor-in-chief Jennifer Davis Rash and all of the TAB staff. The widespread coverage of Alabama Christian life is appreciated. We look forward to reading TAB each week.

Russ Smith
Chelsea, Ala.

I don’t get too much involved in things beyond Hopewell Baptist Church and Judson College, both in Marion. God has called me to these two ministries and I focus almost exclusively on them. 

My time beyond those is pretty much limited to the Cahaba Baptist Association. 

I keep up with other ministries such as the Alabama Baptist State Convention but do not have time to spend being too involved in them. 

I really appreciate that I have the ability to keep up with what is going on through TAB.  Keep up the good work.

Pastor George Washburn
Marion, Ala.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the larger print. What a blessing.                              

Sue Tidwell
Oneonta, Ala.

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Since the Bible is God’s love letter to us we should be reading it daily.

Jack Anderson
Associational missions director, Alabama Crenshaw Baptist Association

No matter how hard we try to keep everything the same, things will keep changing. Except for one thing. God will never change. He will always be here and He always has been.

Hannah Muñoz
The Rope blog

God has a character and a nature. Of that we are certain. But God’s ways in which he accomplishes his will and way are unpredictable.

Pastor Jerry Light
First Baptist Church, Selma

The local church is a tremendous gift. In the local church, college students can find multi-dimensional discipleship and be led by elders whose very role is to shepherd them. In the local church, college students can practice love and service in ways that set them up for a lifetime of faithfulness.

J.D. Greear
President, Southern Baptist Convention

When I read of Christian leaders falling morally or, in a most recent case, altogether abandoning the faith, my response — after intial shock and sadness — is always fear and trembling.

Jason Allen
President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Praying out loud can be helpful because it keeps you from getting lost in your head. It makes your thoughts concrete. But it is more than technique; it is also a statement of faith. You are audibly declaring your belief in a God who is alive. Praying aloud … is just another way of being real in prayer.

Paul Miller
“A Praying Life”

While we can escape the eternal penalty for our sin, we can’t escape the temporal consequences of it. We often do “reap what we sow” on this earth, and Jesus told us if we love Him we should keep his commandments. … Paul also taught us, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Otis Corbitt
Associational missions director, Covington Baptist Association

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From the Twitterverse

@ronniefloyd

In your life and church, prioritize reaching your town, city, state, nation and the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why? People need Jesus and people need Jesus now.

@pastortimmy1

Don’t go to church today looking for something wrong — go to your church looking for Jesus! And when you see Him — nothing will be wrong!!! Jesus will be @ClementsBaptist @Clements_HSV today!!!! I love my church!!!

@drjlskipper

The church is the only institution that exists for its non-members.

@DrDavidLAllen

Preachers, contemplate this: An arrow all feathers but no point is worthless. An arrow all point and no feathers is worthless. Delivery and content both matter in preaching!

@replantingrural

Many pastors in Nowhere, USA, are waking up this morning after a week working another job and juggling family and ministry stuff, probably even wondering if what little time they had left over to study was enough. It’s okay … give ’em Jesus, love on your people and then take a nap.

@sendrelief

“Foster families should never have to ask for help. They need champions from the church to recognize their needs.” Jedd Medefind of @OrphanAlliance

@SoSayWeAll7

“Mentorship doesn’t happen by accident … and it certainly doesn’t happen when each generation is pointing fingers over who’s to blame for societal issues around us.” We need to learn from each other, and older generations need to empower the younger … and let go of power.

@PriscillaShirer

Receive this. Believe this. … “For the Lord God is a sun & shield; The Lord gives grace and glory. … No good thing does He withhold from those who walk up rightly.” Ps. 84:11

A sun — to illumine

A shield — to protect

A generous Savior — giving good gifts and withholding the rest.

@bobgoff

We’ll know we’re growing when our love for people dwarfs our opinions about them.

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Dean, Beeson Divinity School

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Director of professional studies, Samford

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Production manager, TAB

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