Caring for College Students
There are lots of considerations for families when a college is chosen for the children. Program of student, cost, location are among the most important considerations. Even room and board factors into the decision-making process. However, many families neglect one of the most important things to consider: where will the student be cared for spiritually during these years?
The college years are some of the most exciting and challenging times for young adults as they make decisions and manage their time without their parents daily oversight. Quite often students are challenged in terms of their Christian worldview by professors. Congregations serve parents and college students well when they prepare them for the experience and connect them with congregations and campus ministries where they will be supported during those critical years.
There was a time when each of the state universities in Missouri would provide a list of all the Lutheran students to our campus ministries. Those days are long gone. It is up to others to take the initiative to help congregations and campus ministries to connect with the students. While it is great when the students take that initiative or even parents, congregations can also be helpful in this process. When my children went on college visits, we not only toured the college campus, but also the congregation and/or campus ministry where they would attend worship while there. Pastors or church leaders can meet with graduating high school seniors to talk about the importance of remaining connected to Christ during those years.
This issue of The VOICE of the Missouri District features an article about campus ministry. The Missouri District Campus Ministry Network is a tool to help connect the students and the local congregations/campus ministries in Missouri. Go to molcms.college to share contact information for students with one of over 16 congregations or campus ministries that are part of the network. If a student is attending a college outside of Missouri, use the LCMS website to find nearby congregations or go to LCMSU website to see if there is a campus ministry in the area. Taking the extra effort to support the spiritual life and care of young people during their college years is one of the most important things that congregations can do to help keep young adults connected to Christ and the Church!
Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan was born in Birmingham, Ala., and graduated from Concordia, Seward, Neb., in 1992. He holds both a Master of Divinity Degree (1996) and Doctorate of Ministry (2011) from Concordia Seminary. Hagan served as Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran in Concordia, Mo. (2002-2015) and was previously an Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Evansville, Ind. (1996-2002). He has been President of The Missouri District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod since June 2015. Hagan also served as Interim Director, LCMS Rural and Small Town Mission (2011-12), on numerous District Boards both in Missouri and Indiana, and during multiple Synodical Conventions as a delegate and on Floor Committees. He is married to Jill and they have two children.
