Editor’s Note: Back in August, Kyle framed discipleship around the perspective of an estuary, urging us to disciple students in diverse contexts where they can benefit from the wisdom and experiences of a wide variety of people. Today, Karin gives us a practical way to put that into practice.
For everyone in college ministry, one of the key goals is to disciple students. We want to help them follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. We desire that they will in turn make disciples who make disciples.
College is such a unique time of life where students can learn how discipleship is a way of life, not just a weekly event. I am not downplaying the importance of large group worship, daily Bible reading and prayer, evangelism or serving together as part of the disciplemaking process. Those are all of the utmost importance, but I would like to draw attention to the “as you go” aspect of discipleship – inviting students to be a part of your everyday life.
I admit, this aspect of discipleship did not come to me naturally. I am an introvert at heart. I love to be with people, but I need alone time to re-energize. I have had to surrender my alone time to God and learn to not be selfish with it.
One of the things I enjoy most and best fits my personality is to work alongside a student on a project of some sort. I have found that this lifts the tension that might be there and allows students to talk freely about what is going on in their lives. If our hands are busy and the awkwardness of eye contact is lifted, words pour forth!
This can be anything from preparing our weekly large group meal together, organizing a storage closet, working on landscaping, and even grocery shopping. There is a connection that naturally happens when you achieve something together. It opens up communication and trust. And not only does this open the door for spiritual conversations, but it gives you the chance to teach them life skills as well – how to drywall, paint, sew, shop for groceries, budget for ministry, roof a house, enjoy nature, share the gospel, help others and so much more.
It is also important to teach students how to rest and use their hobbies as ministry. During the Covid lockdown, I purchased a kayak and began kayaking at our local lake. Soon after, I purchased a second one with the intention of inviting others to go out with me. I have had the opportunity to take several students out with me, and we get to explore God’s beauty together as we talk about life. It has been such a neat way to connect with students and have an adventure at the same time.
This doesn’t just apply to students but is a unique way to connect with your own children as well. My youngest daughter and I have become partners in a small jewelry-making business. We sit and talk for hours as we make earrings, bracelets and necklaces. It’s been a great way for us to connect and even make a little money as we set up our booth at the local farmers market. It is amazing how easy it becomes for your children to open up about what is going on in their lives when you connect with them in something they are interested in. It’s been a lot of fun to see my teen’s confidence grow as she expresses herself through the creativity of jewelry-making. She is learning so many life lessons through this as she budgets her money, buys supplies, interacts with customers and works hard to achieve her goals. It also allows us to have deep conversations and work through issues as they come up in a natural setting.
3 Simple Steps for Inviting Others into Everyday Life
My encouragement is to begin small as you launch your discipleship this semester, whether you are a college minister or a student leader. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Think about something you either enjoy doing or projects you need to do. Begin to invite others to join you. It might be best to just start out once a week. If you like to walk around campus, invite a student to go with you. If you need to work on projects around the building or your house, invite students to be a part of it. If you have homework to work on, invite a peer to go study at the coffee shop with you. If you need to make a trip to the laundromat, bring along someone from your building.
- Be intentional about asking them questions and delving into spiritual matters. Sometimes those conversations will happen in surprising abundance. Sometimes your time together won’t involve any deep talk. Just be intentional with your words without trying to force them to open up..
- Remember that it’s not about the activity or work progress; it’s about investing in students and loving them well.
Wherever You Go, Whenever You Go
“As you go” discipleship simply means inviting people to be a part of your life as you go about your daily tasks. If you do this intentionally for a while, it will soon become natural to you and a way of life.
As you go, make disciples.
