Editorial

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Editorials | Send mail to The Voice Are Student Ministry Labs Worth the Extra Time? Many Multnomah Bible College students agree: "Student ministry labs are not for me." With students engaged in many different pursuits and responsibilities, their time becomes increasingly valuable. Cutting out an hour of their schedules to talk about others' ministries is tedious, nonsensical and simply unnecessary. But why do labs feel so unnecessary? Students need to see a clear purpose in their labs. A junior MBC student commented, "Labs need to clarify their purpose to make them a more effective use of time for the students." If a clear purpose is given to us, the hour students believe to be spent or lost instead will feel like an hour invested and gained. Students need to know that the principles lab leaders recommend are relative, based on the lab leader's limited knowledge of the situation. A senior said, "Lab leaders seem to add principles to go by, and yet every situation is different and hard to fit into a box." Students need to hear from experts on specific issues because by in large, this is what is important to students. A freshman said she'd like to see more experts drawn from on-campus or off-campus ministries and integrated into the labs, not just students leading other students. Labs feel thrown together and lacking direction. However, director of student ministries, Jim Saemenes asserts, "Lab serves as a time to learn from one another, to network with others and to get a broader scope to share their ministry heartbeat." Because students are so enveloped in classes throughout the day, they expect someone to teach them in a very structured environment--an incorrect expectation. Labs are a requirement, but they are not a class. Ron Draper, assistant director of student ministries, said, "Lab leaders are not there to teach but rather to facilitate, relate and dialogue with students." Lab leaders are volunteers, involved in ministry and investing their time in others. Students have a responsibility to communicate and participate in the direction of their labs. One means for communication is the semester evaluations. These evaluations provide an opportunity to make a difference and own your labs. Do you want to own your lab? Be honest and tell the student ministries department what you want. If it means getting rid of labs entirely, so be it. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Editorials | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2005 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.