Christ on Campus

Unfortunately, we have recently heard the news of the potentially tragic sale of another full time LCMS campus ministry facility, University Lutheran Chapel, in Los Angeles, CA (serving students at UCLA). ULC is also a Christ on Campus Chapter of Higher Things.

In short, the Pacific Southwest District of the Synod is seeking to sell this full time campus ministry in order to help pay down their enormous debt. This has opened up many wounds in the wake of the situation with University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis, and of course, is a cause for grave concern for all of us, especially for those who care for campus mission and ministry in SoCal.

News of this situation has already gone viral, perhaps even at a more rapid pace than the situation in MN, likely because everyone is already on heightened alert because of what has already taken place there. But we would like to urge everyone to exercise a bit of restraint, however, at least until we are fully aware of the situation.

We would like to assure you that we will do everything we can to defend, protect and support Pastor Jasa and his congregation at UCLA, just as we have with Pastor Kind and ULC in Minneapolis. We are all in this together!

We at Higher Things are extremely concerned about the actions that are taking place in both situations, and potentially others, even beyond our Christ on Campus chapter network. At the same time we are both hopeful for the future of campus ministry in the LCMS and thankful for the process that President Matthew Harrison and Rev. Bart Day have initiated through the new Office of National Mission.

Thank you for your continued concern and support for campus ministry. Please pray that the hemorrhaging will stop, genuine solutions will begin, and that if there is collateral damage, that it will at least not be the precious young people of Christ's Church:

"O God, Source of all abiding knowledge and truth, who through Your Word and Spirit both enlightens the minds and sanctifies the lives of the faithful; we implore You to look with favor on the campus ministries of Your church, especially both University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis as well as Los Angeles, and grant that they may faithfully proclaim Your Gospel on the campuses of our nation; that Your Word may shine both upon the minds and hearts of students everywhere and that these may be drawn by Your grace and calling to salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."

Kyrie eleison.

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

The first ever batch of Christ on Campus Care Packages are in the mail!

A special thanks to Rev. Jonathon Bakker and his students at Christ the King Lutheran Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, MI for assembling them. Check out the pictures from their Care Package Assembly Night! Thanks Chippewas!

It's not too early to order a care package for the Spring Semester. Learn more and order now!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

It is with a heavy heart that we ask the church to pray in earnest for the members and students of University Lutheran Chapel (ULC) in Minneapolis, MN, Rev. David Kind, and the future of LCMS campus ministry at the University of Minnesota and throughout our Synod.

In case you haven't heard, on 9/13 the Minnesota South Board of Directors voted unanimously to sell the property utilized by ULC in spite of the thriving self-sufficient congregation and the vibrant campus ministry that takes place there.

We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. The thought of bulldozers leveling a beloved campus chapel at a prime location across the street from one of the nation's largest universities with an enormous Lutheran student population in order to build an apartment complex should be unbearable to the church. Such cherished assets should not be for sale! No financial gain is great enough to counter the immeasurable cost of removing a pulpit, altar and font at such a place.

College students at the University of Minnesota can find other temporary places to live, but what they can't hear everywhere is the timeless and eternal Gospel!

We at Higher Things continue to stand by ULC and encourage your support in the following ways:

• Pray for our brothers and sisters at ULC, including Pastor Kind and all his students that they might not despair, and that God would give them strength.


• Stay tuned for news and information about ways to help at http://ulcmn.org.


• Support all the campus ministries of the Synod, which like ULC, serve young people at a very vulnerable time in their life and when so many fall away from the faith.

May God tenderly care for those most closely effected at ULC, comfort those who mourn this course of action, and grant all of us in these gray and latter days further resolve to support and defend the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments on our nations campuses.

Lord, have mercy.

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

We are pleased to announce Christ on Campus Care Packages!

These make perfect gifts to send college students from parents, grandparents, church youth groups, LWML circles, and others. So dare to care about your college students while they are away from home and feed them the Higher Things way!

Learn more and order now!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

Our Christ on Campus Chapter Challenge is in full swing this fall. We have not only reached a milestone of 75 Chapters, but we have surpassed that mark and are just getting started!

We are pleased to announce that we have recently added fourteen new Christ on Campus Chapters in the last three weeks, eight in California, two in both Illinois and New Mexico, and one in both Colorado and Nebraska.

There are now seventy-seven Christ on Campus Chapters in twenty-nine states, with bragging rights still going to California, now with a whopping SEVENTEEN chapters. Anyone in the Midwest feel challenged?

The newest Christ on Campus Chapters include:

• Faith Lutheran Church, Capistrano Beach, CA
  (Saddleback College; Concordia University - Irvine)


• Faith Lutheran Church, Seaside, CA
  (CSU-Monterey Bay; Naval Postgraduate School; Defense Language Institute)


• Faith in Christ Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, NM
  (University of New Mexico; Central NM CC)


• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA
  (CSU-San Marcos; Palomar College)


• Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, NM
  (Central NM CC; University of New Mexico)


• Grace Lutheran Church, San Diego, CA
  (San Diego State University; Univ. of San Diego and others)


• Grace Lutheran Church, San Mateo, CA
  (College of San Mateo)


• Immanuel Lutheran Church, Orange, CA
  (Chapman University; CSU-Fullerton; Fullerton College)


• Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Denver, CO
  (University of Denver)


• Our Savior Lutheran Church, Salinas, CA
  (Hartnell College; Naval Postgraduate School; Defense Language Institute)


• Peace Lutheran Church, Hastings, NE
  (Hastings College; Central Community College)


• St. John's Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
  (Concordia University Chicago)


• Trinity Lutheran Church, Whittier, CA
  (Whittier College; Rio Hondo College)


• Wittenberg Lutheran Center, Normal, IL
  (Illinois State University; Illinois Wesleyan University; Heartland CC)

Learn more about our Christ on Campus Chapter Network and step up to the challenge!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

We at Higher Things have been dedicated since 2006 to supporting a network of faithful campus ministries through our Christ on Campus Chapter program. We are thrilled that after five years we are now partnering with sixty-three chapters in twenty-eight states.

However, we realize that there are many more places that could be ripe for campus outreach throughout The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and many, many more congregations that may be interested in partnering with us in this way.

• Are you looking for ways to expand your congregation's outreach in the community?
• Is your congregation near a four year college or community college? (Over half of all college students in the U.S. attend a community college)
• Are you already engaged in campus outreach and would like to become a part of our chapter network?
• Do you want to explore starting something from scratch at a local college or university?
• Would you like to send a signal to college students that if they attend a college near you that your doors are open to them?

If any of the above applies to you, we would like to dare you to accept our CHALLENGE and dialogue with us about how you might become a Christ on Campus Chapter of Higher Things for a college campus near you.

Please learn more about how you can become a Christ on Campus Chapter here.

Is your congregation up to the challenge? Let's talk!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

We are pleased to announce that we have recently added eight new Christ on Campus Chapters, four in southern California, two in Nevada, and one in both Colorado and Virginia.

There are now sixty-three Christ on Campus Chapters in twenty-seven states, with bragging rights going to California, now with a whopping NINE chapters. The West Coast is certainly representing!

The newest Christ on Campus Chapters include:

• Bethany Lutheran Church, Pueblo, CO
  (Colorado State University-Pueblo)


• Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Carson City, NV
  (Western Nevada College)


• Concordia Lutheran Mission, Lexington, VA
  (Virginia Military Institute; Washington & Lee)


• Grace Lutheran Church, Henderson, NV
  (College of Southern Nevada; Nevada State College; UNLV)


• Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Pasadena, CA
  (Pasadena City College; California Institute of Technology)


• Redeemer Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, CA
  (Golden West College; UC-Irvine)


• St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Long Beach, CA
  (Cal State University - Long Beach; Long Beach City College)


• University Lutheran Chapel, Los Angeles, CA
  (UCLA)

The interest in the Christ on Campus network and our Chapter program continues to grow daily, even as we are preparing to launch a fall Christ on Campus Chapter Challenge! More information coming soon!

But if you just can't wait, please click here to learn more about all our Christ on Campus chapters.

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

A quick shout out to all of the green shirted CCV's and their Managers for their commitment and hard work at this summer's recently concluded CORAM DEO Conferences. The CCV's, and their managers, are all listed below.

In short, every year, you college students demonstrate that you are simply the best! Thank you for your personal sacrifice, your devotion to Higher Things, and above all, your love of the Gospel!

Rev. Jonathon Bakker, CCV Coordinator

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"


CORAM DEO CHRIST ON CAMPUS VOLUNTEERS
LAS VEGAS CCV'S:

• Anna Baseley (Wayne State University)
• Marie Bolin (University of Nebraska)
• John Brose (Sheridan College)
• Elizabeth Hedstrom (Front Range Community College)
• Andrew Konradi (Indiana University)
• Sarah Rosenberger (Colorado State University)
• Ashleigh Sheldon (Colorado State University)
• Manager: Rev. Ian Pacey (University of Arizona)

BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL CCV'S:

• Jennifer Baldwin (University of Illinois)
• Aaron Brandt (Grand Valley State University)
• Stephen Brynestad (Del Mar College)
• Amy Fleming (Hillsdale College)
• Michelle Holowach (The University of Southern Mississippi)
• Bekah Kohlmeier (Concordia University Chicago)
• Kayla Kutz (Valparaiso University)
• Steffan Maiwald (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
• Heather Meseke (Illinois State University)
• Kathryn Opperman (Illinois State University)
• Katharine Scharff (Truman State University)
• Martha Scharff (Truman State University)
• Ashleigh Sheldon (Colorado State University)
• Zachary Stegman (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville)
• Manager: Rev. Marcus Zill (University of Wyoming)

ATLANTA CCV'S:

• Jessica Anderson (St. Olaf College)
• Keith Bullinger (Kansas State University)
• Amy Diehl (Midwestern State University)
• Jesse Flascha (Colorado State University)
• Beth Guebert (Southeast Missouri State University)
• Chelsey Shultz (Kirkwood Community College)
• Anna Warnke (Thomas Edison State College)
• Mary Warnke (Thomas Edison State College)
• Manager: Deaconess Shaina Mitchell (Ball State University)

Dear everyone,

We had a tremendous Christ on Campus Conference in Boulder in late May! Thanks to Pastor Burhop, everyone else at ULC and Rocky Mountain DP (Rev. Randy Golter) and 1VP (Rev. Allen Anderson) for joining us and preaching.

Now it's time to hit the road. 'll be at all three summer Coram Deo Conferences, so track me down, say hello, stop by the table, etc. If you are interested in starting a campus ministry or learning how to join our growing network of Christ on Campus Chapters, let's find time and talk! Safe travels to everyone!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth." - Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV

A blessed Holy Week to all of you!

As many of you have perhaps heard, the property associated with one of our Christ on Campus Chapters, University Lutheran Chapel (ULC) in Minneapolis, is being recommended to be sold by the Minnesota South District, in spite of the fact that ULC is one of the oldest and most respected LCMS campus ministries and is nearly self-sufficient.

ULC has served as a beacon for all of the rest of us doing campus ministry for countless years. Its influence and campus ministry legacy is simply legion.

We at Higher Things stand by ULC and encourage your support in the following ways:

• Pray for our brothers and sisters at ULC, including Rev. David Kind and all his students that they might not despair, and that God would give them strength.


• Get familiar with all the source materials and information about ways to help at http://ulcmn.org.


• Support all the campus ministries of the Synod, which like ULC, serve young people at a very vulnerable time in their life and when so many fall away from the faith.

Though we are all grieved by this recommended action and we pray it does not take place, may we all turn our focus to Christ and His Word especially during the remainder of this most holiest of all weeks. That is what ULC is all about. It is what campus ministry should be about, and it certainly is what Christ on Campus and Higher Things is about!

May God sustain Pastor Kind and all the faithful at ULC and may He be with all of you who seek to confess Christ on campuses everywhere in these gray and latter days.

Let us not forget that our gracious God has a blessed habit of turning such things (all things) into good. This week, quite literally, is the ultimate reminder of just that!

Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus

"Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517"

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth." - Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV