Hot chocolate and iced-in cars, or: what is ministry?

Issue No. 3     Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009

The word “minister” is often used as a noun.  But I think the verb form and the word’s origin give a better depiction of what being a minister—Campus Minister or otherwise—is truly all about.  Here it is:

min·is·ter  |’minəstər|

1 (minister to) attend to the needs of (someone)

• archaic provide (something necessary or helpful)

ORIGIN ministrer (verb), from Latin minister ‘servant,’ from minus ‘less.’

~definition from New Oxford American Dictionary

Last weekend was a busy one for me, so Monday afternoon I took a short nap.  While I was napping I missed a phone call and a text message from MaryElise.  I woke up a little before 3:00, and I saw the text message.  Her car was stuck, and she needed a ride into Mt. Vernon to babysit at 4:00.  I called MaryElise, and asked if she still needed a ride.  She said, “Yes, and…I’m actually in your parking lot right now” (we live within walking distance from campus), so I invited her in.  I opened the door and asked if she was okay.  As soon as she got inside our door, she started to cry! 

I gave her a hug and asked again if she was okay.  She said she had pulled an all-nighter last night, and she was just stressed and emotional because of it.  Her car was stuck in its parking spot because of the ice (this is before the big melt we recently experienced).  She kept crying.  I asked if she wanted some tea or hot chocolate.  Through tears, she said she didn’t like tea.  So I told her I was going to make her some hot chocolate, and I made some for Kelly and me too.  Her mom called, and MaryElise started to cry more, feeling helpless; she talked briefly with her letting her know she was at our place.  We all sat down on the couches and started to drink our large mugs of hot chocolate.  She began to calm down with that.  “I can’t do another all-nighter…” 

“We can give you a ride there and pick you up, too.  It’s not a problem,” Kelly and I agreed.  But then MaryElise realized that she had to drive one of the kids to an afternoon commitment.  “I knew there was something more.  I knew this wasn’t going to be fixed so easily.”  She began to tear up again when she realized that she would need her car every day.  She said nobody had pushed it, but her tires just spin and spin when she tries moving it.  I said, “Let’s finish our hot chocolate, and go try to get your car out.  If we can’t, you can borrow our car this week.”  She let out a deep sigh.  “Okay, but this is a big mug,” she smiled, and kept drinking her hot chocolate. 

I put my boots on, and we got in our car and drove to hers.  She got in and started the car.  I pushed and she slowly accelerated.  Nothing.  “Is it in reverse?” I asked.  “Yes,” she replied, downhearted.  “Okay, this time accelerate a little bit more.”  I pushed, she accelerated, and the car was dislodged!  She thanked me, made it to babysitting on time, was able to drive the boy to his appointment, and she parked elsewhere back at Kenyon.

We didn’t discuss anything biblical or otherwise profound!  Now, Bible Studies and deep conversation is certainly a lot of what we do as ministry here at Kenyon.  But last Monday, we drank hot chocolate and moved a car…and that was most definitely ministry!  Her mom wrote me an email that night:  

Dear Jeff & Kelly,

Thank you SO much for taking such good care of MaryElise this afternoon. When she called me crying because she couldn't get her car out I felt so helpless. Once I found out she had made it to your house I knew she'd be in good hands. It must have been the hot chocolate that did it!     

Thank you again. She is lucky to have such good friends she is comfortable turning to in time of need.  

Jesus said that he did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:25-28).  Thank you for helping us to serve! 

Remembering and Expecting

Issue No. 2   Oct./Nov. 2008

In this time of Advent, followers of Jesus Christ remember and expect.  We remember God’s goodness and faithfulness to us.  This includes the blessings that he pours out specifically on individuals, as well as the “once for all” gift in his son, Jesus Christ (e.g. 2Cor. 5:14-15; Heb. 10:10; 1Pet. 3:18).  We also expectantly wait for Jesus’ return, and the consummation of the redemption of all things (e.g. Rom. 8:22-25; 2Pet. 3; Rev. 21&22) already begun through the fully efficacious sacrifice Jesus made (e.g. Col. 1:19-20).  With that in mind, I want to share some photos of God’s faithfulness and goodness this semester and a few expectant hopes for next semester!  

Remembering

Students at our apartment after SNF

Donald Miller at Kenyon, speaking about Faith and Politics before the election.

Koinonia hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner for over 50 Kenyon Maintenance and Custodial Staff

Expecting

In the last newsletter I wrote about the Lighthouse Statement for the student leaders.  It focuses on commitment to each other to be better disciples of Christ including loving God and loving others.  This necessarily involves intentionality. Whether they know it or not the student leaders impact their peers’ lives.  I expectantly hope that next semester, by God’s Holy Spirit, we would be able to focus on being aware of how they already can and do impact their peers, so that they would intentionally love their peers better as they serve Jesus. 

Last Semester I did a “Seekers Group” book study of Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz.  I met with two students weekly to discuss this memoir of Miller’s life and faith.  I hope to do another “Seekers Group” next semester, looking more specifically at the life of Jesus.  Jesus changes people’s lives, and I expect him to move powerfully next semester, transforming more Kenyon students’ lives! 

Lastly, God has provided for us over these past years.  We trusted his call to this ministry, and we believe that he has not called us here without knowing how he would provide for us.  That being said, we’ve always had a goal of $2000 per month. Out of God’s goodness to us through your generosity we have been able to continue God’s Kingdom work here at Kenyon, but we have never had 100% of our monthly goal through pledges.  From time to time, we receive a full paycheck, but more often than not we do not. 

I wait in hopeful expectation that this coming semester, THROUGH YOU, God will fully fund this ministry every month!  Once we receive 100% in pledges, we will be able to better focus on serving Kenyon students, and less about monthly bills; we will be able to offer the students more resources (e.g. books, music, experiences, etc.) to help them grow.  If you are interested in partnering in this ministry, please contact us or begin sending gifts (see below for both)!  This is an opportunity for you to minister to Kenyon students and to us.  I thank Jesus and you in advance for the support I know he will provide through you! 

The Story of Many Disciples and One Lighthouse

Issue No. 1    Aug./Sept. 2008

Despite the words “Christian” and “disciple of Jesus Christ” being synonymous biblically, Rev. Dr. Greg Ogden has found that many today give these different meanings.  He addressed the CCO last April about discipleship, and one of my co-workers and friends reflected on that comment, saying, “‘Christian’ implies a one-time transaction requiring no further action, whereas ‘disciple’ implies an active, ongoing course for one’s life.”  Because the word “disciple” appears nearly 300 times in the Bible and “Christian” only appears three times, and furthermore because Jesus calls his followers to “make disciples,” Kelly and I hope to focus this ministry on making “disciples of Jesus Christ” instead of simply making “Christians.”

 

This is the beginning of our third year ministering at Kenyon College.  When we first started two years ago, we were continuing a ministry already established; we inherited two Christian Student Organizations, four weekly Bible Studies, and twelve student leaders.  During the first year of ministry, we wanted to get our bearings and begin developing relationships with Kenyon students, particularly with the Christian student leaders.  Kelly and I attempted to meet with all of the student leaders individually on a regular basis for discipleship (i.e. meeting them where they were spiritually to walk alongside them, and lovingly challenging them to live out their faith in every area of life).  It was not possible to schedule twelve one-on-one meetings in addition to our other responsibilities.  We managed to meet with most of the leaders regularly, but there were a few we met with irregularly and a few more we were never able to meet with for discipleship!  

At the end of the first year, I discussed with the leaders the possibility of creating a covenant between them, because so far there were no clear expectations for what it meant to be a leader in the Christian community.  Some were very excited, some were wary.  By the end of the Fall 2007 semester, though attempts were made, we still had no covenant…but God still did wonderful things in and through the Christians at Kenyon, of course. 

Last semester I talked with the leaders to address their concerns, and to ask about why the covenant-making process fell apart.  One student proposed a shift of language.  We wanted a brief statement that was intended to be something that we could look to for bearings as well as something to illuminate our surroundings—a Lighthouse Statement.  Based largely on the CCO’s fourth Core Value and a biblical model for discipleship as proposed by Greg Ogden, in late April the students and I composed a rough draft that focused on discipleship. 

During the first week of this semester the leaders and I (finally!) agreed on a Lighthouse Statement!  It is an intentionally broad statement, which we will hold to through meeting together in small discipleship groups, instead of one-on-one.  So although there are now fifteen student leaders, for the first time Kelly and I will be able to meet with all of the student leaders regularly, as we all journey together, as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Here is our Lighthouse Statement; I hope it is illuminating for you! 

We believe that faithfulness is pursued together, therefore: 

We commit to being disciples of Jesus together—holding one another accountable to this discipleship in Christian love.  Discipleship means actively pursuing our teacher, Jesus Christ, together—instead of stagnating or being distracted from this course—learning from him and permitting the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like him and to better live out the Greatest Commandments per Luke 10:27.

Therefore, we covenant to be in relationship with each other in order to pursue our relationship with God the Father and our neighbors.