The Princeton Review ranks Rider 19th in the “least happy students” category.
This statistic reflects the “vibes” we get on campus daily. Many Rider students has no idea why they are in college, or what they should live life for. There is a great sense of shame, confusion, and low self-esteem. We see a low degree of commitment, motivation, and success. Most students are happy with C’s.
At first, this was frustrating for me, a new staff hoping to swoop in and begin a small revolution for Jesus. I wanted to find leaders and strong Christians and send them out. But instead I found hurting student after hurting student; wounded at home, lost at school, and being swept along with the current of peer pressure and shallow culture.
Then it hit me. That’s why we’re here! The light of Christ needs to shine brightly in Gee Hall. The hope of Christ needs to permeate Daly’s. The love of Christ needs to cover the Bart Luedeke Center. The healing power of Christ needs to flow in Mauer. And the purpose, value, and life Christ gives us needs to seep into the college students.
I desire to stir to awakening these unhappy, lifeless students. I want to be a spiritual alarm clock, that students’ souls would come alive with the Holy Spirit, find cleansing in repentance, and find purpose following Jesus.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is the only evangelical student witnessing movement at Rider University. Will you consider a gift to the staff work I do at Rider University, so that InterVarsity Christian Fellowship can continue to bring Jesus these unhappy students?
Invest in the Vision! http://www.intervarsity.org/donate/to/jenna_garrison
Tags: college, intervarsity, intervarsity christian fellowship, Jenna Garrison, Jesus, purpose, Rider University, students
