Today is the beginning of the season that culminates Easter morning to celebrate the amazing resurrection of Jesus Christ from a cruel, unjust death. During these 40 days of the Lenten season, while tradition encourages believers to “deny oneself and take up the Cross,” perhaps the journey here is one of preparation for Jesus’ resurrection in the hearts of graduate students and faculty, and the whole of the university.
The challenge? Forty dreams for campus…
Forty dreams for what this new work at St Cloud State University might be. At a recent gathering of faculty and staff, who meet each week for a brown bag prayer lunch, this topic generated the first fruits of the challenge:
- Reach every (unconnected) Christian already present at the university
- Reputation as Christian faculty and staff who practice authentic care for our non-Christian colleagues
- Advocate for an admissions process that works to connect incoming students to campus religious groups
- Start simple social revolutions at Christmas and Easter by verbally professing Christ in our greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy Easter
- Call out a living tithe from among the campus… 10% committed to following Jesus personally and professionally
- Proclaim opportunities to infuse teaching (or studies) with relevant faith
- Create communities of believers that lovingly support one another both prayerfully and practically
What do you dream for God to do on campus? Do we dream big enough, wide enough, and audaciously enough to be amazed when God moves among the people, processes and plans of these institutions? Share your dream so that it might prayerfully begin to take shape as this new ministry works to lay a firm foundation for years to come!
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