Over the last few months we have been working on a new idea that has the potential to change the way we impact our world. As a church, Cornerstone has decided to embrace our college community in an incredibly simple, but uniquely powerful way. The idea is simple: if you want to reach the next generation, then you have to love that generation. In addition to feeding students at College Lunches or providing desserts and snacks for Thursday nights or Study Days at the end of each semester, Cornerstone families now have the opportunity to invite individual students into their families through our College Student Adoption program.

The idea is incredible simple: love students. And the best way we love students is by inviting them in to our homes for a meal, having coffee with them to get to know them and hear their story or take them to breakfast after a tough week of tests. There is no program, no rules. This is simply a relationship with a student (or several if you decide to adopt more than one) where we, as the Church, get to say, You are valued, you are loved…and we’re here for you. College is a time of wandering, mistakes and figuring out just what in the world students want to do with the rest of their lives. The five to seven years after students graduate from high school are the most critical in determining the direction for their lives, and as older believers, we are called to train and raise up our younger brothers and sisters.

At a meeting this past Sunday night, I met with twelve families who are stepping out there with us and saying, Yes. My life is crazy busy, but I have the time and want to make a difference in the life of our students. You don’t have to look very far in this town before you see students who, whether they know it or not, are looking for a voice of love, of reason and of truth in their lives. For the next four years they will be here, living their lives in the town we call home. Our prayer is that, through the people of Cornerstone Church, even more will come to know Jesus as King, more will worship with us, pray with us, and live their lives as part of our families during this season of of their lives.

If you are ready, or just want more information on how you can change the life of a college student just contact me. You can send an email to Lee at lee@cornerstonebuzz.org.

Lee Cadden
Director of College Ministries