Minute for Mission: College and Young Adult Sunday

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It’s often hard to imagine what Presbyterians were like 60, 75 or 100 years ago. The world was a very different place in 1925 than it is in today, and there were very different things going on in 1950 than in 1965.

But what each of these years has in common is that Presbyterians were inspired to invest financially and spiritually in the spiritual, intellectual and emotional formation of young adults on college campuses across the country.

The Koinonia Center at the University of Oregon in Eugene will celebrate its 100th anniversary this November. UKirk Tallahassee, originally begun as a Westminster House, will celebrate their 75th anniversary in October. The United Campus Ministry at the University of Arkansas celebrated 60 years in their building last fall, and over 75 years of ministry at the university. And UKirk TCU and UKirk Maryland will each celebrate their first anniversaries this coming academic year.

Presbyterians then and now still believe that nurturing the faith and development of young adults during a pivotal season of life when they are discovering their place in the world — and the church — and discern their future careers, develop lifelong friendships and often choose who they will marry is vitally important, not only for the young adult but also for the world that God so loves. On behalf of the PC(USA), the national UKirk organization connects, equips, and empowers this ministry so that local collegiate ministries and the broader church can help young adults experience and explore God’s inclusive love and be empowered to live for the flourishing of all Creation.

College and Young Adult Sunday is a day set aside to lift up college students and young adults in prayer, bless their journeys, and commission them to discover the gifts God has given them to serve the church and the world. Let us give thanks for the many ways God has made an impact in the lives of college students over the past 100 years!

The Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, UKirk Collegiate Ministries

Let us join in prayer for:

Sarah Sullivan, Assistant General Counsel, Legal and Risk Management, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Carla Sutton, Operations Administrator, Presbyterian Foundation 

Let us pray:

Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always! Amen. — Ephesians 3:20–21 (CEB)