I remember a seminary professor once said that 90 percent of ministry is just about showing up. Show up when they are celebrating. Show up when they are hurting. Show up when they are grieving. Show up when you don’t know what to say. Show up when you don’t know what to do. Just show up.
This is especially true for community college ministry. I remember one year, at one of my community colleges, we had a great fall semester. Our first meeting of the spring semester, however, had only one student to show up. She had a lot burdening her that day, so we just talked. Then she wanted to know if I would keep coming. Of course I would. The next week, the crowd was back. They had forgotten we were meeting on Mondays.
If you minster to students and especially community college students, remember, just show up. If you find yourself frustrated, just show up. If you don’t feel like you’re doing anybody any good, just show up. If you feel all alone, just show up. If you have no idea what to say or what to do, just show up.
Scripture is filled with examples where God blessed faithfulness. I am reminded about a boy with some fish and bread. Show up and give God what you have, and let Him work. He may not work in the way we expect. We may not even feel that anything is happening. But trust that God is working and that He will reward faithfulness. Just show up.
