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BY LAURA LEE MORGAN

United Methodist Campus Ministry is one of the most vital mission ministries of the church.

Why would I make such a bold statement? I was privileged to serve 18 years on campuses ministering to students, faculty, staff and administrators. God called me to be the earthen vessel assisting students to become the next generation of Christian leaders. I served four years part-time at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) as the Coordinator of Religious Life.

Upon leaving, I was appointed full-time to the Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware for the next 14 years. Sharing some stories may help you understand why United Methodist Campus Ministry is essential on our campuses.

+ While many students spent their spring break partying, students connected with campus ministry spent their spring break on mission trips. For the Wesley Foundation at the University of Delaware, our spring break trip was to Lumberton, N.C., to serve the Lumbee Nation and others in the community.

Before our week of service began, we had a day of play at Myrtle Beach. One particular year, Holy Week was spring break week. On Palm Sunday we gathered on the beach to have worship. The service included a baptismal renewal liturgy. One student spoke up and said, “Wait! I have never been baptized.”

I was surprised because of her faithfulness and her willingness to serve God in many ways. We had had many talks about God and God’s son. Before I could complete whatever I was saying, she enthusiastically asked, “Will you baptize me now?”

+ “Of course I will with much joy!” Into the Atlantic Ocean we went. As I looked at her and she at me, the rest of the students followed into the water forming a circle around us. She was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit surrounded with the circle of love from her peers. Today, she is a leader in her local church.

+ A knock came on the office door. The door opened before I could acknowledge the knock. Before he sat down, he announced, “I have had it! God is pulling at me so strongly. What do I do to go into ordained ministry?” This student is currently serving in the Susquehanna Annual Conference as an elder in full connection.

+ I remember another student sat in my office and told me of her stepfather’s verbal abuse. She started to cry, “I can’t go home and face that again. I only get peace when he is gone. I need help to find a place to live here for the summer. I have a summer job. Help me, please.” She and her husband are now youth leaders in their local church.

+ The phone rang at 8:30 am. The assistant to the president of the University said, “the president wants a service at 1 p.m. today. Can you do it?” This was after the most horrific event our country had experience – the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

We created a vigil that was broadcast on campus TV and broadband. There were more than 8,000 students and faculty on campus who attended or watched on their computers or the TV screens in the student centers. That year the president’s Christmas card showed several pictures of the vigil including the campus spiritual leaders.

These brief memories touch only the edge of my campus ministry tenure. My experience of ministry in higher education was rooted in the teachings of Jesus the Christ, where all were invited and welcomed to be a part of the community of faith and accepted unconditionally.

Campus ministry is the church in the midst of a secular community, and its spiritual leaders provide biblical hospitality through sharing the grace, love and forgiveness that God has freely given. I was the catalyst empowering and enabling the campus community to search for God’s initiative in their lives.

I was a teacher, mentor, a counselor and preacher. I was called to be a faithful learner while nurturing faithful minds for faithful service. I was called to set the example by leading and enabling others to bring their faith to life through serving our community, the community-at-large, and the global community by offering my gifts, my skills, my talents and my love for all God’s people.

I was called and I said “yes!” I served God, the church and the campus making disciples for Jesus the Christ as we shared in transforming the world in his holy name.

The Rev. Laura Lee Morgan was recently inducted into the denomination’s Campus Ministry Hall of Fame.