New Campus minister for FCC?

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Is there anyone else out there that find the fact that FCC has hired a campus minister more than a little disconcerting? Shouldn't the students and professors be an assembly of ministers?

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999

Answers

Well thats news to me.... I'll have to think a second about it.

Ok. I'm done. First of all it sounds like you are assuming that somehow if a campus minister is hired, the professors and others will slack off from there "ministerial" duties. Don't think so.

After all, in the local church, we hire a preacher, but we keep reminding the congregation that everyone is a minister.

Students will gravitate to the faculty member they "click" with when they need counseling. And remember, the students themselves are not necessarily "ministers" in the sense you are using it--rather, ministers-to-be.

When we think of campus ministers we usually have a picture of someone who exerts a "Christian influence" at a pagan university.... offering those fellow Christian students guidance and direction in a non-Christian environment... So it may seem odd at first that one would be needed in a Bible College...

But then I thought back to my days at FCC (and CFBC) when the Student Life committee had more than its share of disciplining the "worldliness" of some students... perhaps a campus minister at that time would have been a good thing...

I mean, we had Noble Tribble to hand in our Christian Service hours to, and our chapel diaries... Lyle Bundy was always their to counsel us, as well as the other professors... but nobody specifically designated as "our minister".

So I think it could be a good thing... not knowing his job description, it's hard to make the call...

But I have no reason to be disconcerted... I trust that those who have made this decision have done it with forethought, purpose, and prayer.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999


A campus minister at FCC? Where do I send the resume? Or is he/she already hired? Wait I guess that's just "he" unless the job description includes preaching chapel. Actually a male for the male students and a female for the females would be ideal. But one is a good start. JK about the resume - I'm happy where I'm at.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999

My concern.....is that you misspelled "alumni."

Ha....just kidding....just kidding.

If you really have a concern.....go straight to the source and try to get someone to answer your questions. Doesn't always work....but it is worth a try.

I don't want to see this page become a place for the airing of grievances with the school.

Respectfully, FCC Blacksheep

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999


I've been around FCC (CFBC) since 1978 including my years as a student and the 3 1/2 years I worked at FCC and I think that it is a good decision to bring on a campus minister for the following reasons:

1) Some of the young people who are coming to FCC are bringing some serious problems, habits, sins, and "baggage" with them when they arrive on campus. I could not believe some of the garbage that the Dean of Students would have to deal with on a regular basis. Adding a Campus Minister will free the Dean of Students to be the A Campus Minister will have the time to get to know these students and, hopefully, help them in their spiritual walks. 2) The faculty and staff of FCC are extremely overworked and that is the only "disconcerting" thing about this whole issue. I can't tell you the countless hours our faculty spends helping students with their problems. They are godly men and women who give all they can for the students of FCC, but they have lives off campus and ministries to fulfill. Their exposure to the students is limited. A Campus Minister will devote all of his time to Ministering to the students. This will be a big blessing to the students. 3) Since we have apartments (as opposed to dorms) students can become isolated. This can lead to depression, discouragement, and sin. A Campus Minister is going to spend his full-time ministering to students where they are and becoming a spiritual guide for them outside of the classroom.

4) Sadly some students do not plug themselves into local congregations. They float from place to place and appear to avoid any form of accountability. Yes, the College requires them to attend Church and get involved, but still some simply go through the motions. A Campus Minister will be in a good position to find those students and direct them to a local congregation.

I don't know who you are (oh brave anonymous soul!), but I think you should not be so critical of the College. They have done a courageous thing. Yes, they will be criticized by the naive, but not by those who have spent any time trying to minister with/to this generation on a Christian College campus.

Walk a mile in their shoes and you will realize that they have done the right thing in hiring a minister to focus on the 200 young Christians who eat, sleep, work, study, struggle, and live at Florida Christian College.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999


Greetings. One thought ... about the "un-Christian" atmosphere at secular universities. As the Campus Minister here at IUP, not only do I work with "un-Christians" but i spend a considerable amount of time working with Christian students. It's amazing the nubmer of believers you'll find on the university campus. Not all of them head off to Bible college. Campus minister at FCC ... great idea!

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999


Okay, so I can't spell. Nonetheless, thank you to all who responded. My purpose for writing was not to anger any fellow supporters of the college or to use the bulletin board as a place to defame it. I truly love FCC and what I learned in those four years. I was concerned about an issue and wanted other people's opinions -- specifically the opinions of fellow alumni. As one of you put it, I was concerned that the Campus Minister hired would be along the same lines as a secular campus minster. This alarmed me because our campus is not a secular campus.

Arron, I have always been impressed with your agruments and you did not let me down this time. All of us recognize the fact that the faculty of FCC is overworked and tired. I also realize that many of the student do not feel comfortable opening their souls and sins to people who they hold in such high esteem. I, also being a recent graduate, have seen the depravities that have occured on the campus of, yes, a Bible college. The premarital sex, the cheating of a senior in a Doc Smith class, the out and out lying to roomates -- I have seen it and I have prayed for those people. Perhaps, I am a weaker brother or sister that needed to be convinced of why this is such a great idea. Believe it or not, the brothers that have written and possibly writing this response have convinced me that this is in fact a wonderful idea -- if the students will take a part in it. Although we did not live on a secular campus one problem still remains between the two -- SIN. The person hired to do this job will do an outstanding job -- I am sure of it. (This was never about him in any way.) I think that all of us should be in prayer for him -- for this is not an easy job to undertake.

Forgive me for wanting to keep my name a secret, but I can sense that I have ruffled some feathers, so to speak, and would rather be spoken to over the computer than face to face. Call me a coward if you wish but please pray for me, this decision, FCC, and FCC's new Campus Minister. If people pray for those things this whole thing has not been in vain.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 1999


Dear Concerned,

To be honest, when I heard the news about FCC hiring a campus minister, I did raise an eyebrow. It kinda caught me offguard. I guess when I think of campus ministry, I've always thought of it on a secular campus: strengthening those who faith would be tried because of all the garbage they would hear and to encourage them because their faith would be tested. Also what incredible evangelistic opportunities- so many students searching for something in life- and a solid campus ministry in place could offer them what they really needed.

But a campus minister on a Christian campus? Whoa! Wait a minute! If anything, shouldn't the students at a Christian college be the ones starting up or involved in the work at the secular campuses? Aren't these kids coming to Bible college because of their zeal for the Lord, because of the fire in their bones to dedicate their lives to service. Sure they need encouragement, they need to be ministered to, they need to be challenged. But if you have a faculty and student body with such boldness and love for the Lord- with such a passion for the gospel- they WOULD be getting all that (and then some- and giving some!!)

But then someone told me one Sunday something that has really changed my perspective "whether or not a Christian college should have a campus minister is not really the issue- the issue is that one IS needed!" And about that I have no doubt. Some of these kids are coming from incredibly broken families- some are struggling with major issues- some are coming to Bible college for reasons that don't necessarily measure up with what we would expect from people wanting to go into the ministry (this is very obvious from the dropout of the freshmen class each year). The professors are swamped with the things they are doing for the Kingdom and these young lives need to be fed.

I would like to paint a different scenario, but it wouldn't correspond to the reality we are immersed in. We live in a disintegrating culture and it is affecting us from the white house to the church house. When Josh McDowell can do a survey of evangelical youth and come up with #1 problem plaguing these kids to be the lack of objective truth (not clearly seeing the difference between right and wrong), then we have a crises within Christianity and our society of incredible proportions(btw, those youth surveyed are now entering into our colleges- religious and secular).

If one man or woman on a Bible college campus can help ignite the flickering flames in our young people and possibly even spur on some revival for our Lord- then let 'em at it. Possibly they will help equip the saints in such a way that they will work themselves right out of a job: possibly I can help equip my weak brothers and sisters on the secular campus and work myself out of a job- wow- what a thought! (at least my job there- then I would move on of course :-)

In closing, let me say this- the bigger issue here is not the idea of having a campus minister on a Christian campus- but rather the state of affairs in our culture in general and our churches in specific. And unfortunately, we have fostered the situation somewhat ourselves by the whole concept of who we are and how we do church. It is high time for us to quit going to church and start being the church!

Imagine "the priesthood of all believers" really coming alive in our brotherhood -wow, what a concept- if only we could truly instill such a notion within our churches- maybe this whole clergy/laity thing would fall to the side and the saints would all stand up and do their part. Are they to blame? We to blame? Our culture? Our Bible colleges? Our secular universities? The fact is that all of it factors in... but I'm on a tangent now... and probably am close to losing you... so another topic for another time!

Take care- Keep the faith strong (whether on the Christian or secular campuses!)

Jeff McDowell- Campus Minister/UCF

-- Anonymous, August 27, 1999


No, I am not a FCC student, but if anyone is listening… I firmly believe that all “Bible” Colleges that have sought out and received accreditation have taken a turn “south” a long, long time ago :(

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2002

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