By Kyle Austin
•
28 Jul, 2020
Fall semester is coming rapidly! It is always an exciting time of the year with the energy and excitement of many incoming students. Each new year brings numerous opportunities for ministry. Unfortunately, Fall 2020 is feeling a little less exciting and more on the nerve-racking side as we try to discover and navigate the COVID-19 guidelines and how these will impact campus ministries. It seems that most campuses are mandating masks everywhere on campus. This will make engaging students in conversation very difficult. A couple schools we have heard from will not be allowing any inside or outside outreach events during the fall semester. Schools that are allowing weekly meetings have stated that room space will be limited in size and availability. Some schools are even limiting the amount of students that will be on campus. With these guidelines and all the unknowns, it is going to make ministry difficult this semester. The office of Dean of Students at one school stated that they are extremely concerned about the well being of students for this upcoming semester. They also expressed worry about being able to connect with these students in order to help due to all the distancing measures and fear students will have. As a positive note, this same office added that they are relying heavily on the campus ministries to reach out and interact with these students! One thing is for sure, ministry will be harder but more needed than ever! Student's hearts will be open in a way like never before. Do we just pause ministry for this semester due to the hinderances? No, difficult times force us to incite creative ways to continue doing what we are called to do. We have to get creative in engaging and reaching students! I do not have all the answers by any means. We are praying and thinking through different methods to engage the student body that we will share with you soon. What we do have as a network of CFC ministries is a resource to share and pool ideas together. Please let us know what you may be trying so we can share with others. I pray that we can truly seize this unprecedented moment before us to reach more college students for Christ!