Recently at a prayer summit I came across this astounding statistic which stated that, “As many as 80% of Christian students say that they have lost their faith after four years in college.”
[It’s generally a good idea to be a bit skeptical of statistics that come from unknown sources and research, but even if this statistic is inflated to an extent (and maybe it isn’t) it is still MIND BLOWING.]
Parents, vacation bible schools, summer camps and youth pastors invest into student’s life for 18 YEARS only to have it eroded during four years of college. How tragic!
This is one reason why I believe college campus ministry is so hugely important.
Campus ministry in the U.S. is not only an opportunity to tell those who have never heard the gospel – though it is that. It’s also an opportunity to help bring to fruition, during a key stage of transition and maturation, the deposits of truth and faith that have been made by countless others in a young adult’s upbringing.
When asked where his brother was by God, Cain said, “Am I my brothers keeper”?, implying that it wasn’t his responsibility to keep track of his brother. However, it was his responsibility. Similarly we can dodge the responsibility that we have to the younger generation.
It is our responsibility to reach out to this hurting generation studying on college campuses.
If we ignore students, they will continue as a generation to slip away.
I pray this statistic stirs your heart as it did mine, and spurs you to prayerful action.