Now is the time to sign up for our Summer Softball League. What does is cost? Nothing. Almost nothing. If you’re new to the team, a jersey is about $10. And you’ll need a glove (it is a sport, btw). Do you have to be great? No. But we’ll work on it with you. Games are Tuesday afternoons with our first game on May 25. To sign up email Jen Rodgers or sign up on Sunday morning or anytime in the church office or reply to this post. Get your rally caps ready!

The variety of affinity groups is astounding as well. It’s easy to connect with someone over a common interest. (At UW, there’s even a Fried Chicken Club.) The options are endless.

Arguably the strongest connection, however, is life stage. Most students are experiencing radical changes in their lives, including unharnessed freedom, real responsibility, solidifying worldviews, and an increasing pressure to “get it together.”

The college years are an amazing time to be on mission, reaching your friends with the life-changing good news of Jesus. How? Here are some ideas, in no particular order:

1. Know non-Christians

It seems like common sense, but too many campus ministries are set up to babysit nice, moralistic, hypocritical youth group kids and create a bubble around them. As Christians, we have to be outwardly focused. As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends us into the culture. It’s so much easier to share the gospel if you belong before you ask people to believe (John 20:21).

2. Think about where you will live

Make your living situation missional: meet new friends and build relationships to see students meet Jesus instead of secluding yourself with people who all act and think the same way you do. Grab a Christian friend and move into the wildest apartment complex in the neighborhood. Don’t conform, but be a movement of change in an area where it’s desperately needed.

3. Join the Greek system

There’s instant community established by living in the Greek system, and people in sororities and fraternities know everyone. Once you’re in, you become really well connected and are able to be on mission in an extreme environment. Yeah, I know: they sin a lot. So does everyone else in college (1 Cor. 9:19–23).

4. Get involved (not just at church)

Join a club related to your major, hobby, or interest. Stop saying yes to every church obligation and begin seeking how the gospel can apply to all areas of life. Build relationships by playing intramural sports on a team without all your Christian friends.

5. Start a small group in public

Instead of meeting in a house or apartment, start gathering in a coffee shop or study hall. This will not only allow you to support the local community, but it might also allow somebody else to eavesdrop on a worthwhile conversation.

6. Serve the community

Get involved with a local non-profit or service center. By serving the community alongside non-believers, you’re doing the work that Jesus calls us to do by being missional not only to the populations you’re serving, but also to the people you’re serving alongside.

7. Practice radical hospitality

College students aren’t known for being the most financially well-off or generous people around. Buying a classmate coffee or lunch is a small sacrifice that can speak volumes and make a huge statement in demonstrating grace. This could also mean driving the drunks home from a party and sharing the gospel with them the next day as you take them to get their car.

You have a few short years to reach people who will scatter throughout the world and live for something or someone. The key to being a missionary on a university campus is believing Jesus is worthy of every student’s worship, for his glory and our friends’ eternal joy!

:: Matt Jensen, pastor at Mars Hill Church

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college :: finals week is upon us! this is the last week of classes for Lycoming, and next week is that  last week of classes for Penn College. we want to hook you up for finals week – this Sunday and next, stop at one of our Info Centers at the church to pick up a Finals Week Survival Bag – yeah, it’s even free!

wednesday :: no First Night dinner or children’s ministry; youth open gym & FUSE*student ministry will still happen
thursday :: Holy Thursday service @7pm in Stryker Hall (Life Center)
friday :: Good Friday service @7pm in the Sanctuary (Evangelical Center)
sunday :: Easter services @8am & @9:30 (Sanctuary, and @11am (Life Center) – you do not want to be late for the @11am!