Strengthen and encourage students, faculty and staff i

1
Ministry Needs and Opportunities at "Commuter
Colleges and Universities

• Noel and Joyce Caldwell
• CLM Faculty Affiliates
• Columbia, SC

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Commuter Schools

• Today, many of our institutions of higher
  education are essentially commuter schools
• Typically, these schools are located in or near
  a metropolitan area
• Most of their students are employed
• Also, many of their students have family
  responsibilities

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Commuter Schools, (Contd)

• As a result, most of their students are on campus
  just long enough to attend classes
• These schools enroll many non-traditional
  students. Age statistics Mean - 30 Median -
  25 Mode - 19
• In most cases these schools have no need for
  dormitories

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Commuter Schools (Contd)

• Thus, they have essentially no residential
  students from which the nucleus of a student
  ministry can be drawn
• Student ministry staff are not attracted to these
  institutions (our observation)
• These schools are very likely to be without
  student ministries

5
Commuter Schools (Contd)

• Among these institutions in the US are over 1130
  two-year Junior, Community, and Technical
  Colleges plus a number of senior institutions.
  Ref American Association of Community Colleges,
  1995 -1996
• These colleges and universities typically have no
  full or part-time ministry staff for faculty or
  students
• Two-year colleges alone, among commuter colleges,
  enroll 44 of all US undergraduates - 10.4
  million(52 credit, 48 non-credit)

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Commuter Schools (Contd)

• Obviously, there is a great lack of Christian
  based ministries in a large segment of American
  higher education - our commuter schools,
  especially at the two-year college level
• Such ministries are greatly needed even though
  not as attractive as at residential schools
• An opportunity for CLM? YES!

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Ministry Opportunities at Commuter Schools for
Christian Faculty

• They can sponsor not only a ministry to faculty
  and staff but a ministry to students, also
• In the absence of ministry staff, there is
  usually a need for a faculty sponsor to initiate
  and maintain a student organization
• Faculty support with some degree of involvement
  is essential

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Ministry Opportunities at Commuter Schools for
Christian Faculty (Contd)

• Faculty sponsors do not have to do all the work
• They can initiate a student ministry, help
  oversee it, and recruit others to help with the
  on-going operations of the ministry
• On-campus help may be available from other
  Christian faculty and professional staff

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Ministry Opportunities at Commuter Schools for
Christian Faculty (Contd)

• Off-campus assistance may be acquired from
• Crusade or other Christian staff at nearby
  schools. They might gladly provide on-going
  assistance a few hours each week
• Bible college/seminary students seeking field
  ministry experience

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Ministry Opportunities at commuter Schools for
Christian Faculty (Contd)

• Off-campus assistance (contd)
• Pastors
• Youth ministers
• Other mature, capable Christians
• Wherever there is a will, there is a way! This
  is Gods business and will HE not help us?

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Advantages of Offering both Student and Faculty
Ministries at the Same Institution

• Access to various campus resources (campus mail,
  facilities, newspapers, bulletin boards, AV
  equipment, etc.) is usually available and free to
  officially registered student organizations
  (This may not be true for faculty ministries)

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Advantages of Offering both Student and Faculty
Ministries at the Same Institution

• Some presentations and events provided by either
  ministry can minister to both faculty and
  students
• Certain special events can be a combined effort
  of both ministries. Christian faculty and
  ministry students can work together to make all
  arrangements and advertise events
• Personal interactions between members of the two
  groups can yield positive spin-offs

13
Faculty and Student Ministries at Midlands
Technical College, Columbia, SC

• Background
• In 1971 Noel left the Lockheed-Georgia Company as
  God led him to go to Midlands Technical College
• Noel, serving as Chairman of Engineering
  Technology, employed a local Bible college
  student (former engineer) as an adjunct teacher.
  Together they started a Bible Club in 1972. In
  1989, the name was changed to Campus Crusade for
  Christ

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Faculty and Student Ministries at Midlands
Technical College, Columbia, SC

• Background (contd)
• While involved in a Christian business mens
  organization Noel started planning a similar
  ministry for college faculty and staff
• Noel was introduced to Phil Luther who led him to
  attend the 1989 CLM conference at Colorado State
  University
• The Association of Christians in Education (ACE)
  organized in October 1989

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Combined Goals of the Faculty and Student
Ministries at Midlands Tech

• Lead students, faculty, and staff to Christ
• Encourage Christian faculty and staff to take a
  public stand on campus as a Christian
• Strengthen and encourage students, faculty and
  staff in their Christian faith, and teach them
  how to effectively minister on campus
• Defend the Christian faith and refute error
• Provide Christian fellowship and help link new
  Christians with a good church

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Activities and Events Used in Support of the
Goals of the Two Ministries at Midlands Tech

• Monthly prayer breakfast for faculty and staff
• Special speakers, presentations, and events - on
  and off campus, CLM helps. Some events
  piggy-backed on large educator conferences
• College newspaper ads with names of Christian
  faculty and staff, with CLMs help
• Placement of posters and flyers on bulletin
  boards and office doors, with CLMs help
• Campus Crusade for Christ Club activities - Bible
  and topical studies, videos, etc.

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Activities and Events Used in Support of the
Goals of the Two Ministries at Midlands Tech
(Contd)

• Special fellowships BBQs and at Christmas
• Place (loan or donate) books and videos in the
  colleges libraries
• Special mailings to all faculty and staff.
  Example A Christmas greeting from a list of
  Christian faculty and staff. The real meaning of
  Christmas was described along with the message of
  the gospel. Offer of free book, More than a
  Carpenter, included
• Tactful, one-on-one ministry oriented engagements
  with individuals - A KEY

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Closing Comments

• It seems that commuter schools, especially the
  1130 two-year colleges, with their students,
  faculty and staff have generally been slighted by
  campus oriented ministries
• These schools offer a somewhat different but a
  great field for ministry to faculty, staff, and
  students
• Compared to residential campuses, ministries at
  commuter colleges can be trying and discouraging

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Closing Comments (Contd)

• Nevertheless, Paul says in his letter to the
  Galatians, Gal.69, let us not grow weary while
  doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we
  do not lose heart.(KJ)
• If we ask and trust Him, perhaps God will give us
  keys to more effective Christian ministries at
  commuter type colleges and universities
• The Bible indicates that many will be saved
  during the Tribulation period. Perhaps much of
  what we are now doing is sowing seeds in the
  lives of millions who will eventually come to
  Christ - even as Tribulation Saints

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Closing Comments (Contd)

• It warms our hearts as we look back over the
  years and recall various members of the Midlands
  Tech community who have received Christ into
  their hearts and lives
• Faculty and staff members have prayed and
  received the Lord at home, in offices, in
  restaurants and in other locations. (Several of
  these have since gone on to be with the Lord)
• Students have committed their lives to Christ in
  faculty offices, the student commons area, and at
  student ministry meetings,such as Campus Crusade
  for Christ.

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Closing Comments (Contd)

• Two former participating students, from several
  years ago, have married and are now applying to
  go on staff to serve in Campus Crusades high
  school ministry. They first met after praying
  for the campus with others around the flag pole
  early one fall morning
• Lets be faithful in campus ministries and commit
  the results to God. He often surprise us in what
  HE does!

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Appendix --About Us

• Married 41 years as of 2/14/99
• Have two adopted daughters
• Cared for and reared three nieces through high
  school
• Currently have two grandsons
• Active involvement in local churches throughout
  our lives

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Appendix -- About Noel

• Son of minister received Christ very early in
  life with help of parents
• Grew up in Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, and South
  Carolina
• BS from USC and MS from MIT, both degrees in
  Civil Engineering. EdD from USC
• Registered Professional Engineer, SC GA
• Professional experience -10 years engineering and
  28 in higher education, administration
  teaching.
• Started student and faculty ministries at
  Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC. Others
  assisted.

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Appendix -- About Joyce

• Received Christ early in life through influence
  of Christian friends
• Attended Emmanuel College and the University of
  South Carolina
• Has 23 years of Business Administration and
  Research Development experience with five
  colleges Emmanuel College, MIT, Georgia Tech,
  Kennesaw College, University of South Carolina
• Has 20 years of Business and Technical experience
  with three major corporations General Electric,
  CSX, and Policy Management Systems (PMSC)