1). It was where Jesus first drew me unto Himself, so I thought I’d go back to the “scene of the crime” per se. I think this world would look a lot different if Christians went back to where they first started to follow Jesus rather than retreat from that demographic immediately. No one knows the culture or demographic better than the one you just came out of.
2). There is no better place to talk about Jesus than on a college campus. It’s a place where everyone is trying to figure out what they believe, everyone is searching for truth, and everyone is painfully becoming aware of how them as the lord of their life isn’t working (which was me my sophomore year). Also it’s the marketplace of ideas and the front lines of the academic world. One of the biggest things I’ve missed about that is the classroom discussion. It was so fruitful, robust, and educated. Outside of college it seems everyone just resorts to name calling and getting angry.
3). It’s fun and it’s fresh. Everything is new to a lot of the students (the academics, the freedom, and the friends) and so there is this freshness in the air. You never know what you are going to get (in fact I’m sure that’s exactly what some of my peers thought when me and my friend dressed up as a banana and a gorilla and ran through the library during finals week, but we won’t talk about that incident).
4). I still thoroughly enjoy Ramen Noodles and I know I won’t get judged on a college campus.
5). I think it’s the best time for viral discipleship. Life happens whether you like it or not. Think about it, when you go to college you are in close quarters with thousands of other people. Most freshman guy dorms are borderline sardine cans. If you are living for Jesus, people WILL see. No better time to show the Christian life than the four years thousands of your peers are right next to you.
