ND Lutheran Campus Ministry
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A Lutheran Campus Ministry StoryThe Lutheran Campus Ministry at Minot State University sponsors a spring break trip every year so students can have the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity is a faith-based non-profit organization that builds homes for low-income families so the quality of their lives may be better. And during spring break, the ministry usually travels somewhere in the southern U.S. where the weather is a little warmer. This last March, we took 12 people to a Springhill, Louisiana – a little town in northern Louisiana right on the Arkansas state line. Only two of the students who went along have been active in the Lutheran Campus Ministry and had gone on this annual trip before. Three of the students are active in the United Campus Ministry and their campus pastor went with us on the trip because the their campus ministry did not have a mission trip lined up this year and they wanted to take part in our annual experience. All of the other students who went along volunteered because they wanted to use their spring break in a more constructive way and help people in need. We had a couple of organizational meetings before the trip and we put on a fundraiser so we could build up our community identity, but the real community building took place on the trip. We lived together for nine days. We ate together, laughed together, prayed together, went sightseeing together, slept in the same facilities, and worked together for nine days. And during that week, several of the students who had never done construction work put up electrical wiring, insulation, dry walls, doors, and windows in the house. And they worked with the future owners of the house as well. After the trip was over, we continued to be a community. A couple of the students who had never been a part of the campus ministry became more active. Several of the students go out of the way to greet each other when they see each other on campus. Some of the students already are making plans to do more fundraising for next year’s spring break trip. And all of them are telling other people about their experiences and encouraging other students to consider going on the trip. But ultimately, this is what campus ministry is all about. It is a Christ-centered community grounded in Word and Sacrament that gives students the opportunity to build community with other people of faith, to work ecumenically with others, and to develop leadership skills so students are better equipped to love and serve the Lord and one another when they leave the university. Campus ministry reaches out to students who worship with us and to students who don’t worship with us. We are the church of Jesus Christ for all people. Tim Eighmy, campus pastor Lutheran Campus Ministry Minot State University |
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