Do Universities Erode Christian Faith? New Insights into an Old Question

One of the "narratives" commonly told in our Christian culture is the story of how secular universities destroy the faith of many young Christians. It is a fascinating question that should not be answered to quickly or with too simple of an answer.

For many individuals (including myself, my wife, all four of our now adult children and their spouses, well, at least for the three now married, one's yet to marry), the college years at state universities provided a time of significant growth and development in the Christian faith. Forty plus years of involvement in campus ministry has demonstrated that it does not have to have an adverse effect.

But there is more to the story than my personal experience.Sociology confirms it.

Earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Christian Smith, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, speak on the sociological data regarding this question. Fascinating results.  Though I took notes, my ability to keep up with the speed of the presentation limited their value in reproduction.

However, now Glenn T. Stanton has done the favor of reproducing some of the findings on a Gospel Coalition blog: FactChecker: Does College Cause Young adults to Lose Their Fatih?

It turns out, that not going to college is more detrimental than going to a secular university. In fact, attending statistically results in more students identifying a strengthening of their faith vs a decline.

One of the reasons for the trend: the "increase in presence and effectiveness of campus-based ministries like Campus Crusade, InterVarsity, and Young Life."

Well that is an encouraging finding for those of us who have invested lives in campus ministry.

Thank you, Lord!

cru - A New Name for CCCI

Campus Crusade for Christ is in the process of changing its name. Here is the background of the process in a Christianity Today article, "Campus Crusade for Christ changes its Name to Cru".

A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir

Nanci and I are enjoying the reading the early chapters of Hansen & Woodbridge's, A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir.

What difference can it make? Here is a glimpse...

Chapter 8 "First Comes War, Then Comes Revival: Evangelical Boom, 19402 to 1950s, North America" includes a section on the birth of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Thanks, John, for sending me a copy!

Chilean Miner T-Shirts

You may have noticed on the news coverage of the trapped miners that many emerged wearing a tan t-shirt over their coveralls. If you didn’t notice, then at least CNN did. Here is an “investigative” article about it:

The Story Behind the Chilean Miners' Jesus T-Shirts

But we already knew the backstory, because the shirts were part of a gift from CCC in Chile. Here is a fuller picture of how it happened:

Chile Ministry Helps Trapped Miners

Isn’t it amazing how God works?

Wouldn't you love to hear even more of the stories of how God worked in individual lives in the mine and beyond?

Resources Galore @ CrupressGreen

Here is an announcement from our friends at CruPress Green (that is, Rick & Neil).

CruPressGreen.com has launched, offering nearly every chapter of every CruPress resource for free to download. You can instantly download materials like Cru.Comm, The Compass, publicity posters, teaching and training videos, classic Campus Crusade talks, and so much more. It’s easy to use, pretty to look at and just what you need to accelerate Movements Everywhere. Visit CruPressGreen.com and start downloading resources for your ministry.

If you are doing campus ministry, you might find the poster section particularly helpful at this time of year.

Cru Video from Texas Tech

Wonder what campus ministry looks like in the 21st Century? Here is a great video glimpse of the Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) Ministry at Texas Tech.