Carson Newman Outreach
As a new school year begins for many of our teachers and
students, we are looking at some new programming to reach out to Carson Newman
students. This opportunity was
identified partly through information gathered from the “Congregational
Check-up”. I am excited to have the
chance to serve on a new Campus Ministry Team tasked to look at outreach to the
Carson Newman community.
Between the outreach committee, the session, and
conversations with some of our young adults from Carson Newman, several “new
ideas” have been identified:
Holy Hot Dogs! On
move in day, August 17, we will be serving hot dogs and popcorn on the lawn to
incoming students. As we have done in
previous years, we will also help the students move into their dorms. We will need lots of hands on this big day!
Post worship study – after worship, Rev. Whaley will lead a
session for college students with lunch included. We would like a few “young at heart”
participants in this class to facilitate discussion, but not so many as to
outnumber the young adults! We will also
need volunteers to arrange lunches.
Finals study – same as above, except we will provide coffee,
drinks, & snacks and stay open on finals week from 9pm – 2am. Night owls needed (December 6-12)!!
Once a month, an activity will be offered to encourage our
college students to get to know each other better, and us. A trip to Dixie Stampede and a Saturday hike
in the mountains are the planned events for the Fall Semester.
Why bother, you may ask.
We have tried to attract students in the past and it did not work. Through our studies, we have learned that
over 50% of adults under 25 have no religious affiliation. Most young adults are reluctant to
participate in “traditional church”. We
were told a story about a couple of students who came to our church by accident
one Sunday; they felt trapped because so many people went to greet them after
the service! Good intentions, just
overdone.
The idea is not to appeal to the CN body at large, but
rather a select number of students who may be seeking FPC as part of their
faith journey. Last year, we were
blessed with having Abby Bruce and Grace Carpenter worship with us and sing in
the choir, and they helped us to identify how a church like our could more
effectively reach out to students.
When students come to Sunday worship, if you are sitting in
front, behind, or beside them, by all means say good morning and ask them if
they are interested in the post worship college study group & lunch, learn
where they are from, and let them know that we are glad they have come to
worship with them. Be careful, however,
not to overwhelm them so that they are chatting in the sanctuary until dinner
time!
If you would like to serve in any of the capacities noted
above, please let Janie Gates, Ted Folsom, Linda Noonkesser, Darren Watson,
Rev. Whaley, or me know. A variety of
help, talents, and time commitments are needed. Jesus says that it is more blessed to give
than to receive. We never really know
how blessed our lives can be unless we reach out to the world around us with
the love of God.
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