Change a Generation with Campus Ministry

In Luke 5 we find the very familiar story of Jesus coming in contact with several fishermen who had been out all night fishing but arrived back to shore without any catch. Jesus, has the audacity to tell these professional fishermen to go back out and simply fish on the other side of the boat. Who was this guy to tell them how to fish? They were the experts! Jesus was a carpenter and a great teacher, what did he know about fishing? But these fishermen went ahead and humbled themselves, getting back in their boats, they headed out.

You know the rest of the story. They caught so many fish, on the other side of the boat, that they had to call for their buddies. Their nets were so full of fish that they began to break. They returned to shore amazed at this Teacher; and fell on their faces before the Master. Jesus answered their awe with a challenge: "...from now on you will be catching men." A follow-up of His challenge in Mark 1:17, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

Youth Ministers today are better educated, more talented, and have greater support from congregations and church boards than ever before. And yet we are further behind than ever. We are experts at fishing, but mostly we catch and release the same kids week after week in our services. It's like fishing in a bathtub. After 12 years of working with teenagers and fishing with marginal levels of success I was challenged to fish on the other side of the boat. This other side of the boat is called Campus Ministry.

My prior perception of Campus Ministry was:

The school doesn't want me there.
I don't know how to do it.
I'm busy enough trying to take care of my own kids anyway.

But the Lord exposed me to a whole new way of fishing and it's revolutionized my day to day youth ministry. Where I once never even considered fishing on the other side of the boat, now I almost look with disdain on fishermen who refuse to fish where most of the fish are! Do you know where fish swim? Fish swim in schools. Brothers and Sisters, how can we even call ourselves fishermen if we neglect the largest concentration of fish? Where the catch is almost limitless?

For many years the fishing season has been limited in the schools. Certainly, there are still separation of church and state issues that we must be aware of, but many of the remaining walls are simply the residual memories of restricted fishing in the past, and ignorance of the current rules and regulations.

If you want to change a generation, go after the kids. Lenin & Hitler knew that. Advertisers know that! You know it. That's why you're not a Senior Pastor! Our country desperately needs us. This generation desperately needs our kids. Your city needs you. Let's change the World together!

Mark Moder
Network Coordinator for Spokane, WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID
208.660.8000
www.reachthecampus.com
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