I am a Campus Minister serving at York University in Toronto, Ontario. In one sense, I am out of my Campus Ministry league here but I have been wondering about a question or topic that I hope Youth Ministers can help me with.
I think too much of our ministries function in silos and in separation from each other — I am thinking here of Youth ministries in churches and Campus Ministries in universities. There is very little connection, dialogue or communication between the youth pastors/workers of the local CRC churches in Toronto with me, for instance. Although I am trying to slowly change that. I got a Youth Pastor on my supervising committee and trying to network with other Youth Pastors in the area. I make myself available to speak to the Youth Groups on request.
I think there are good reasons for greater co-operation — to see campus ministry and youth ministry as part of a bigger team of developing our Christian youth into strong Christian disciples and eventually Christian leaders. Instead, I find we are two silos working independently of each other. And after the youth graduates from the local youth group — leave to a secular university, for instance — there's little follow-up or referral to the campus ministry. I, for instance, cannot remember when a youth pastor alerted me to an incoming student for me to connect with. I have been campus minister now for 10 years.
Now, I realize we can expand this question/topic beyond these two ministries — there's also the challenge/question of how I can co-operate better with churches in terms of referring graduating university students to local churches.
Do Youth Ministry folks think this is a good idea? Do you think that there should be greater co-operation between youth workers and campus ministers? If yes, how do you think that might look like? If no, why not?
