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United Campus Ministry papers, 1970-1972

1971-01-25 Ministry In Higher Education: Priority of Periphery Page 2

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If people want to make an investment in youth, this ministry holds a priority spot. I use the term investment deliberately, because we need to see the priority that way. As a matter of fact, it needs to be seen as a long term investment. I have questions, however, as to how many people really want to make an investment in youth.
In a rapidly changing society and world, the ministry in higher education provides an excellent resource for the church in understanding the future. While ministering in the midst of the next generation, there is much that can be learned which the church needs to know. I believe the church has not availed itself of the resources available in its campus ministry. As a matter of fact, from the kinds of inquiries made of campus ministers by the church, one wonders if this is not precisely the information not wanted by the church.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the problems of each culture tend to show up in exaggerated form on campuses. This is sometimes what we mean by the generation gap. But when in the process of education, a young person is driven to seek greater self-understanding as he lives in this world, he frequently lifts up the contradictions in the culture in which he lives. What a tremendous resource for the church. A priority item is ministry in higher education. 
Lastly, it is abundantly clear that what the church has to offer, if it can somehow be understood and appropriated to various life styles, is very much at the heart of what youth search for. The offering of evidence could take vast amounts of space not available here. But ministry in higher education is certainly a priority on the basis of need.

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- 2 - If people want to make an investment in youth, this ministry holds a priority spot. I use the term investment deliberately, because we need to see the priority that way. As a matter of fact, it needs to be seen as a long term investment. I have questions, however, as to how many people really want to make an investment in youth. In a rapidly changing society and world, the ministry in higher education provides an excellent resource for the church in understanding the future. While ministering in the midst of the next generation, there is much that can be learned which the church needs to know. I believe the church has not availed itself of the resources available in its campus ministry. As a matter of fact, from the kinds of inquiries made of campus ministers by the church, one wonders if this is not precisely the information not wanted by the church. It is becoming increasingly clear that the problems of each culture tend to show up in exaggerated form on campuses. This is sometimes what we mean by the generation gap. But when in the process of education, a young person is driven to seek greater self-understanding as he lives in this world, he frequently lifts up the contradictions in the culture in which he lives. What a tremendous resource for the church. A priority item is ministry in higher education. Lastly, it is abundantly clear that what the church has to offer, if it can somehow be understood and appropriated to various life styles, is very much at the heart of what youth search for. The offering of evidence could take vast amounts of space not available here. But ministry in higher education is certainly a priority on the basis of need.