There is a great hunger for spiritual care

Trinity has great cause for rejoicing regarding our connections with students (and staff) at The College of New Jersey last Ash Wednesday. In conjunction with our campus ministry partners, Around the Table,* my associate, Adam Fairchild, and I imposed ashes on over 100 (mostly) students as they lined up outside the Brower Student Center in mid-thirties temperatures! TCNJ provided us a clicker to keep track, but the flow of students was so constant we know we missed counting a few at least!

Students were so eager to receive ashes, ask questions, be prayed over and listened to, there were hardly any breaks in the steady flow of connections. A reflective Ash Wednesday service was sparsely attended, but it was an excellent time of reflection and thanksgiving for those present.

As Adam and I attempted to wrap up a full and fruitful day, we were stopped twice by students who had tracked us down at the Spiritual Center but missed the service. One young man wanted to know if we would be offering services on a regular schedule, a possibility we will consider. Finally, Adam and I sat with a young woman as she cried for a half hour, grieving the potential end of her college experience (for now) due to lack of financial support. We were able to connect her with staff at the college who know what help might be available. I promised her that we at Trinity would hold her in prayer.

Please pray for each of the TCNJ people we touched. There is a great hunger for spiritual care to be made accessible to the University community. With your support, that spiritual care is being offered, and students are eagerly and gratefully responding to God’s invitation through our presence.

*Around the Table is an ecumenical, LGBTQ+ affirming, Christian campus ministry open to all which proudly proclaims, “God loves you, and you have a place here.” Trinity was a founding member of this ecumenical coalition in March 2022. More information can be found on their Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/aroundthetable.tcnj/) and at their Linktree (https://linktr.ee/aroundthetabletcnj).

Be well!

Jon Car Lewis.