Have you ever heard something so often that you become numb to it? It’s like watching the local crime segment on the news. We hear about bad stuff so regularly that we become desensitized to it. But the fact remains, no matter how many times it happens we should still grieve over these things and seek ways to foster change as we are able.
One of the things you’ve heard from me many times before is the troubling statistic that 70% of young adults leave the church for at least a year between the ages of 18-22. For them to “leave” the church means that they were once a part of the church. You and I have both witnessed the dropping out of members that were not just part of the church, but vital members of the church. But we can do something to change that.
When Paul writes his letter to the Ephesians, he was writing to combat weariness in the readers’ commitment to the gospel. They were discouraged, which led to moral compromise with the surrounding culture. In response he writes these words, “Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (1:15-16).
In the same way, we can make a spiritual impact in the lives of our college students. Many of them are wrestling with their commitment to the gospel and the lure of moral compromise. This can be especially hard for those that are away and no longer have the same spiritual guidance and accountability. One way for us to change that is by encouraging them and praying for them from afar. We started the College Encouragers program for Eastmont to keep those connections and to keep investing in their lives.
Would you commit to writing our students, praying for them, and serving them while they are away? To become a part just contact Karen or Gene.