# 7: “Not Loving College Students”

That is crazy you say, “I wouldn’t be in college ministry, if I didn’t love students!”

But, is your love conditional? Do you love them whether or not they participate in your ministry or always do right?

College students sometimes act selfish, immature and disloyal. One of our fine arts teams had been in a church one weekend. After they had returned, I heard thru the grapevine that they had been a little hard to deal with—especially with the man who had done the sound. I got his number and called to apologize.

He was wonderful. He said, “Hey, they’re college kids and I don’t expect them to have it all together yet. I didn’t act just right when I was their age.”

Wow! The guy had never been to Seminary and he knew a lot about doing college ministry. There is a student that my wife and I had in our home and fed meals to. A year or so later he dropped out of our ministry and when I would see him on campus he would not speak to me or pretend he did not see me. I had to remind myself he still needed me to love him.

Yesterday was a very busy day in our office. Reports were due. A big newsletter was in process and behind on assembly, a grad student involved some with our program came in alarmed. She was flying to her home for a long holiday weekend. The student who was to drive her 75 miles to the airport had called with a lame excuse. One of us remembered that our job is to love college students and dropped everything to drive her to the airport.

Are you doing your ministry or are you also loving college students in spite of them?