GLORIETA, N.M. — John Moore is Lifeway Christian Resources’ national collegiate ministry specialist. Moore coordinated the Collegiate Week event at Lifeway Glorieta Conference Center Aug. 7-11.
Following the event, Moore answered five questions for Lifeway News about collegiate ministry:
1. Collegiate Week has more than 2,000 attendees and you had to turn away some groups. Why do you think it’s such a consistently popular week?
Moore: I think it is so popular because students come expecting to hear from God. They are open to His leading and they come looking to hear from Him. During the week, He always speaks to their hearts.
2. Does Lifeway’s collegiate ministry area host any other events besides Collegiate Week?
Moore: Several. We have a NOW Conference webcast scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. It is designed for young adults, including college students. It is a series of 20 minutes messages that have a missional emphasis.
We also have a live NOW Conference April 13-14, 2012, at Brentwood Baptist Church in suburban Nashville, Tenn.
We also coordinate a beach ministry each spring known as Beach Reach. The dates for Beach Reach are March 3-9 and 10-16, 2012.
One other event just for collegiate leaders is our Collegiate Workers Summit scheduled for May 2-4, 2012, at Lifeway in Nashville. This meeting is designed for anyone who ministers to college students in any capacity – as a campus minister, church minister or even a Sunday school teacher. This event only happens every three years, so we always have a good turnout.
People can email me at [email protected] to get more information about these events.
3. Missions seemed to be a huge thrust at the year’s Collegiate Week. Why?
Moore: Missions has always been a major thrust for Baptist collegiate ministry, and it continues to be. However, this generation of students has a much more challenging mission field. Because they are so mobile and open to God’s calling, they have a special interest in understanding the missional call for their generation. They are sold out in their enthusiasm to make a difference in the world with their generation.
4. How long have you been involved in collegiate ministry? Has it always been your ministry passion?
Moore: I have been in collegiate ministry more than 30 years and, yes, I have always had a passion for reaching the next generation of leaders. This generation is very unique because they seem to be much more open to the opportunities God is presenting them to change their world. I just love this generation of students!
5. If you had the opportunity to give collegiate ministers one parting piece of advice to get them through the year, what would it be?
Moore: I want them to remember that college campuses are the largest mission field in this country. Although they may have lots of students involved in their ministry, there are many more on their campus who do not have a relationship with Christ.
by Polly House, Communications Department
