“Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so” – Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China

Mission Fields

Our college campuses are mission fields, whether we acknowledge it or not. The next generation—our own children—stands in desperate need of the Gospel. Campus ministries are not merely an option; they are the frontline of modern evangelism, where we must boldly proclaim the truth of historic Christianity to a generation that has drifted far from it.

Over the past few weeks, I have immersed myself in the community surrounding Michigan Technological University (MTU), meeting with members from a dozen local churches to diagnose the spiritual ailments plaguing our youth. The findings are sobering: we have neglected our own for so long that many no longer recognize the true Christian faith. Allow me to share some stark examples.

The Way Matters

In conversations with non-Christians raised in Christian homes, I encountered a troubling belief: that a loving God saves everyone, regardless of their faith or actions. They dismissed the Church as irrelevant, pointing to the hypocrisy of those who fail to live out the Gospel they profess. To some extent, their critique holds weight. Many churches have failed to teach the pursuit of righteousness, instead promoting a defeated theology that assumes believers are perpetually enslaved to sin, incapable of transformation. One father and son shared how their church taught they would never escape the bondage of their flesh—a teaching that is alarmingly prevalent.

Another couple, raised in a Lutheran tradition, argued that churches are useless and that those who “love” (however they define it) are blessed by God, with all ultimately destined for heaven. This universalist error is a direct result of weak teaching and a failure to proclaim the exclusive truth of the Gospel. These examples underscore the urgent need to reach our youth with the authentic message of Christ.

Being Born Again

Another pervasive issue is the misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian. Many believe that intellectual assent—merely “hedging your bets” or accepting Christianity as “probably true”—constitutes saving faith. Yet Jesus declares in John 3:3, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” True salvation is not a mental exercise or a breaking point; it is a supernatural act of God, where the Holy Spirit transforms a humbled heart that confesses its utter inability to save itself.

I met a man who could not grasp this truth. He viewed God as a malleable concept, shaped by personal preference. When confronted with the reality of hell, he recoiled, saying, “If that’s God, I can’t believe in Him.” This rejection of biblical truth reveals a generation unmoored from the anchor of historic Christian doctrine.

Biblical Illiteracy

Perhaps most alarming is the widespread biblical illiteracy among students. One student I met with this summer had never been taught that God’s grace restores and transforms us, conforming us to the image of Christ through sanctification. They believed God has no active role in their spiritual growth, resigning themselves to a static, sinful state. This is not the Gospel of historic Christianity, which proclaims that God is at work in His people, methodically shaping them into vessels of His glory.

The Mission to MTU

The mission to MTU is a clarion call to reclaim students who have wandered from the faith due to false teaching, to equip them to evangelize and disciple others, and to demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not a new revelation but a pressing necessity. We must divert resources, energy, and prayer to campus ministries, boldly proclaiming the truth of historic Christianity. Our youth are not lost causes; they are the mission field entrusted to us. Let us rise to the challenge, faithfully preaching Christ crucified and resurrected, that they may know Him and the power of His salvation.