Soldiers on Campus
How to support and steward the veterans on your campusby John Jordens
This Christmas season we can’t help but remember the sobering reality of war. Everywhere you turn, there seems to be another front-cover article, or newspaper editorial or a talk-show focusing on the thousands of young American men and women deployed into harm’s way in the Middle East and Central Asia.
As moving as these stories should be, I sadly admit these reminders have done very little to move me toward compassionate action. I even had a college ROTC buddy of mine killed in Iraq, but even then (embarrassingly), my concern and involvement faded over time.
But thankfully this fall, while serving on the campus, God provided a new and very powerful reminder for me that I seemed to need; they were flesh-and-blood, walking reminders called student veterans. This fall, thousands of young veterans across North America transitioned from the battlefield back into the classroom, creating exciting ministry opportunities for us all. To my surprise, even within our small InterVarsity chapter, I knew of at least six students who just returned or just deployed or were waiting to deploy. This included our “would-have-been” chapter president, now stationed in Kuwait. “Wow,” I thought. “I’ve had these live reminders right in my midst. Why has it taken me so long to see it?” As a former US Army officer who experienced a short deployment to Haiti back in the mid-1990s, I should have understood a little bit about deployments and the stresses that are involved, but somehow I missed the clear opportunities God had given me to demonstrate compassionate action.
Thankfully, it’s not too late, for both you and me to take advantage of two clear opportunities I would like to share. First, to serve and support these men and women as they go through this time. And second, to steward the gift that they are to the campus.
Serve
As part of the body of Christ on campus we must be ready to take action with the opportunities God gives us to care and serve these veterans – to know them, befriend them, pray for and with them, and to help them adjust back to civilian life. As the church, historically we’ve done a pretty good job of caring for our returning missionaries. I believe we can take the same approach and principles and apply them to these returning soldiers.
When a soldier goes from experiencing daily mortar attacks or constantly scanning roadways for bombs to an environment where their classmate’s main concerns are homework, tests or what to do on the weekend, there’s going to be some major adjustments and struggles. Many universities, understanding this reality, are setting up “transition centers” right on campus to help the veteran navigate back into college life. Unfortunately, this is still missing on most campuses.
This is where InterVarsity and other Christian groups can step in and minister to a unique people group. Let’s not wait for them to step foot in our group before we start looking for and seizing the opportunities all around us to share the love of Christ by getting to know them, thanking them, loving them, listen to them and sharing the hope we have in Christ.
Although they may not attend an InterVarsity meeting, many are spiritually open and eager, asking and wrestling with life’s toughest issues. They have seen things most of us will never see in our lifetime. This does something to the soul and many will often turn to God in times like these. Will we be ready to engage this new people group on our campus? I hope so.
Steward
We also have an opportunity to steward a gift: the student veteran. God has a way of using the events of history (such as war) to bring about His purposes in the world. I believe God wants to use young veterans’ experiences and training for His glory right here on campus.
He has done so in the past. In the first years after WWII, over two million war veterans enrolled in the college and universities of the U.S., bringing with them to campus rarely seen maturity and experience in leadership. The growth within the InterVarsity movement was staggering. Within a single year more than 150 new chapters had been formed.
With their life skills and experiences, this new wave of students could be valuable in building God’s Kingdom on the campus. I’ve already worked with students who, because of their service, have learned how to serve, sacrifice, and lead in ways I never expected from students. The military has taught them a strong work ethic, team work, a sense of mission and the willingness to take responsibility.
Our challenge then, is to help them see how God wants to use their time and valuable military experiences for his purposes. Will we be ready to receive them and encourage them towards that end? This, I believe, is a stewardship issue that God wants us to be mindful of.
Although the war is “over there” the opportunities are “right here.” We have these flesh and blood reminders all around us, calling for us to get involved. So let’s pray, just like Paul asked the church at Colossae to pray, that we would make the most of every opportunity. Let’s be found faithful to care for these service men and women and to encourage them to be part of building the kingdom on campus!
John Jordens is on InterVarsity Campus Staff in Wisconsin.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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