By Mel Cruikshank
National University Ministry Leader
For the past three years I have had the privilege of helping lead Baptist Student Ministries across Canada. This ministry has led me on journeys from the University of British Columbia on the west coast to Memorial University in Newfoundland.
I have been blessed to see God at work on our campuses all across this amazing country. He is leading wonderful men and women in a variety of ministries, using many models to reach students for Christ, and to call out leaders.
If you check the web you will find one definition of the word “model” is a description of a complex entity or process. When it comes to describing the various types of collegiate ministries we have across Canada, “complex” is a good adjective. God is using many models of ministry to accomplish His Kingdom work on campuses across Canada.
I shouldn’t be surprised that there are many ways of effectively ministering to college and university students. God has always been more creative than we can ever imagine. In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the “varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and the varieties of ministries, and the same Lord” (1 Cor 12:4–5). In Revelation, chapters 2–4, Jesus gives messages to seven very different churches, all of them being loved by Christ.
“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4–5 NASB).
The Canadian National Baptist Convention is reaching our student population through a number of different models of ministry. It is common to find more than one method being used on an individual campus. We have come to find value in all these models of collegiate ministry:
Christian Student Group/ Club Ministries: These clubs go by various names, including Baptist Student Ministries, Lifeline, Dive, Hope Christian Ministries, Born for More, etc.
University Community Churches. Churches planted on or near campuses: These churches have some pretty unique names. eg: The Point, The Bridge, Impact Church, Celebration!, etc.
Chaplaincy ministries: We have appointed chaplains on a number of campuses, participating in Chaplain’s Associations. These associations typically include ministers from a number of denominations and faiths.
Church sponsored ministries to students: Many of our churches have identified college and university students as part of their “mission field” and have effective church based ministry on campuses.
I have recently started a blog: canadianbsm.blogspot.com/, with the intention of sharing stories of what God is doing in these college and university ministries across Canada. I hope that this will also encourage other churches to discover ways of reaching young adults. Please share your student ministry stories with me: mcruik@telusplanet.net.
Now it’s off to campus for the beginning of a new term!