by Rev. Blane Young || Executive Director, DCXA
Defining “This”
We invite students at American University and Georgetown University to participate in Chi Alpha, and we try to cast a wide net as the saying goes. However, once we get to know you, we do our best to have a conversation about choosing one campus ministry and getting involved on the weekend in a local church. Even if we don’t have this conversation with everyone personally, you might’ve heard us mention it in a sermon, Life Group discussion, or on our social media.
We believe (and have since 1999!) that in order to grow deep spiritually and learn to live missionally while in college in DC, that you need both a campus ministry and a local church. It’s not one instead of another, it’s both!
However, we’ve also needed to bring clarity over the past few years that this means choosing one campus ministry and choosing one local church. Although we know that FOMO can be real, this is vital for us and this blog series will strive to define why.
Not all the reasons may resonate with you, and that’s okay. We have five (and a bonus one!) coming soon to this very blog. Keep reading and digging in. We do hope you get a clearer picture of our heart and some of the reasons behind how we choose to minister in this particular area. But also know, as we lead this ministry, we aren’t always looking for the approval of those around us (students or otherwise) but to stand before the Lord and be able to say we did what He asked of us on campus.
(1) Walking in Wisdom
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Hebrews 13:17 NIV
We hope that as you trust us to teach you about Jesus, walk out discipleship on campus, and learn to abide in Jesus — that you can also trust us to lead the community / organizational side of Chi Alpha.
It’s kind of like that person that’s been going to the same church for 30 years and loves + trusts the pastor to teach them about salvation, justification, missions, etc. but then somehow doesn’t trust the pastor (or church or God) with their financial offerings. Something isn’t right. Something is disconnected!
Now, I share that verse because it applies to all of us.
Even for me and our staff, we as leaders are also followers. We have those in authority over us: they invest in us, encourage us, and hold us accountable.
This is a sidebar, but if you ever join an organization where a leader isn’t following someone (or being led themselves), that’s probably a red flag.
Our current staff team of four has over 35 years of combined ministry experience at a total of five campuses and four churches across multiple states. We not only love Jesus and care for each of you (yes you!), we have been given the opportunity to have learned some things along the way about this work we’ve been called to.
→ It’s always been our view that the wise student gets involved in one campus ministry and one local church. Any less is less than what you need (and what we believe God is asking!) and any more leads to sideways momentum, confusion, and a lack of time for the lost (among other things).
◆ Can I be honest? I often have this conversation with young men at American University and 80% of the time they don’t choose Chi Alpha! They choose the other campus minitry they were also part of! Is that painful? Yes! Is it awkward? Kind of! But it’s still a win.
→ I don’t know any long-term, veteran (trained), full-time campus ministry staff (of any organization or group) that think it’s ideal or beneficial for students to be engaged in multiple campus ministries at the same time.
Yes, we are all on the same team (with different jerseys, as I always say!).
Yes, I am friends with all the leaders of these other sister/brother organizations.
However, we are on parallel paths of calling. Different paths.
And that’s okay!
Especially when I remember that my primary calling isn’t to be collegial with ministry colleagues, but to help students fight for biblical unity in my Life Group and in the ministry that I lead (Chi Alpha).
An unengaged and lost campus doesn’t care that my friends lead campus ministries like me. No, they need a demonstration of God’s love. And each ministry can do that in a unique way!
The most fruitful and sometimes most challenging part of discipleship is committing to walking in wisdom and also, doing so when our personal opinions may differ from the wisdom being shared by those that lead us (see: Proverbs 2:1-7, Proverbs 28:26b).
I hope you know that I desperately want my friends at Every Nation, Cru, etc. to succeed in reaching those far from Jesus and discipling current believers. And I want that for Chi Alpha! But a vital way that happens is when we cheer each other on, but also keep our hand on the plow that the Lord has asked us to use on the soil he’s directed us towards.
Thanks for taking time to read this, over the next few days, we’ll have 4-5 more blog posts published in this series.