This book is the fruit of over eight years experience of the author as a university youths chaplain, as well as the youths' social worker and animator in the United Nations Refugee Camp in Oru-Ijebu, Ogun State Nigeria.The University involved has over 120 thousand students while the refugee camp had refugees from virtually all the war zones in Afrika.This work is a compilation of all the Talks, counselling sessions, workshops, social and spiritual direction and guidance of youths. As Vice-President of the Conference of Chaplains of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, the author held workshops organized to initiate inexperienced chaplains into the youths' animation and administration.The work is christian based, and particularly catholic oriented. The Strategy could however be applied to youths' animation anywhere on the globe.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. SUGGESTED APPROACHES TO CAMPUS MINISTRY
1.1 CHOICE OF UNIVERSITY/TERTIARY INSTITUTION CHAPLAINS/PASTORS
1.2 ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND MOTIVATION OF CHAPLAINS
1.3 CHAPLAINCY PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES
1.3.1 SPIRITUAL PROGRAMMES
1.3.2 MONTHLY PROGRAMMES
1.3.3 ANNUAL PROGRAMMES
1.3.4. SOCIO-CULTURAL PROGRAMMES
1.3.4.1. N.F.C.S BAND MEETINGS (WEEKDAYS)
1.3.5. MONTHLY/ANNUAL PROGRAMMES
2. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
3. CHARACTER AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF CAMPUS YOUTHS
3.1 DOES THE BIBLE PERMITS US TO FOUND A CHURCH?
3.2 MORNING PRAYER AT HOME; IS IT ENOUGH?
3.3. HEALING EXERCISE: DO IT YOURSELF
3.3.1. COURT CASES
3.3.2. ENEMIES (VICTORY OVER THEM)
3.3.3. BUSINESS SUCCESS, PROMOTION, GOOD JOB, SUCCESS
3.3.4. SATANIC OPPRESSION, MERMAID AND WATER SPIRIT ATTACKS, DEMONIC DREAMS, WITCHES BULLYING
3.3.5. DISEASE, EPIDEMIC, DISABILITY, PREGNANCY, CHILD LABOUR
3.3.6. CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT ALL LEVELS: LAND DISPUTE, FAMILY, KINDRED, VILLAGE CONFLICTS AND CHIEFTAINCY TUSSLE
3.3.7. JOBLESSNESS
3.3.8 SEARCH FOR A LIFE PARTNER (SEX, DATING, COURTSHIP, FIANCÉESHIP, MARRIAGE, CAREER, VOCATION, TOASTING, CHOOSING, CHOSEN)
3.3.9 EXAM SUCCESS; READING WITH COMPREHENSION; BETTER STUDY TECHNIQUES
3.3.10 WHEN TEMPTATIONS MULTIPLY, WHEN LIFE’S PROBLEMS BECOME UNBEARABLE
3.3.11 LATE DELIVERY; MISCARRIAGES WITHOUT END; INFERTILITY; NO MALE ISSUE
3.3.12 BAD AND STUBBORN CHILDREN (THERE ARE FIVE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, BUT THERE IS NO CHILD, I HAVE THREE BROTHERS, BUT I HAVE NO BROTHER. I HAVE FOUR SISTERS BUT I HAVE NO SISTER)
3.4 SATAN VERSUS GOD: DARKNESS VERSUS LIGHT
3.5 DON’T BUILD CHURCHES, BUILD HUMAN BEINGS: DON’T BUILD STRUCTURES, FORM GOOD CHARACTERS
3.6 TRUTH AND SINCERITY VERSUS LIES AND DECEIT
3.7 CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS: GOOD MANNERS FIRST BEFORE HOLINESS
3.8 SHARP PRACTICES AND SHORT-CUTS
3.9 AGGRESSIVE OFFERING
3.10 RELIGION AND LIFE
3.11 AFRICAN INITIATION RITES
3.12 “SMOKING MAKES ME FEEL HIGH AND GOOD”: TRUE?
3.13 THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
3.14 THIS MASS IS DULL THAT MASS IS LIVELY
3.15 MIRACLE! MIRACLE!! HEALING, SIGNS, WONDERS: DO THESE SHOW GOD’S SUPPORT AND APPROVAL?
3.16 TREKKABLE DISTANCE
3.17 THE PROBLEM OF A CATHOLIC YOUTH IN CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER
3.18 COVERING OUR NAKEDNESS (WEARS) DECORATING OUR BODY (MAKE UP)
3.19 AN IDEAL CATHOLIC STUDENT
3.20 DOES THE BIBLE PERMIT US TO FOUND A CHURCH?
3.21 THE CATHOLIC ORDER OF MASS (BIBLICALLY FOUNDED) (WHY WE MUST ATTEND MASS EPH. 6: 14 -19)
3.22. HOLY COMMUNION; HOLY EUCHARIST THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST AND THE MASS
3.23. CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM IN NIGERIA: MUTUAL GRIEVANCES
3.24. ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOUR
3.25. ON FOOD AND DRINKS: SAY NO TO FALSE ASCETICISM
3.26. CELIBACY AND FRIENDSHIP
3.27. MARY’S ASSUMPTION INTO HEAVEN
3.28. A PRAYER YOU MUST SAY
3.29. WAS MARY A VIRGIN ALL THROUGH HER LIFE? HAD SHE OTHER CHILDREN? WAS SHE CONCEIVED WITH OR WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN? DOES SHE DESERVE OUR VENERATION?
3.30. IDOL WORSHIP OF TODAY
3.31 PERSONAL IDENTITY
3.32. PEER MINISTRY
3.33. SQUANDERMANIA AND PRODIGALITY
3.34. DEATH, JUDGEMENT, RESURRECTION, PURGATORY, HEAVEN, HELL, DEATH
3.35. DEATH, JUDGEMENT, RESURRECTION, PURGATORY, HEAVEN, HELL JUDGEMENT AND PURGATORY
3.36. DEATH, JUDGEMENT, RESURRECTION, PURGATORY, HEAVEN, HELL RESURRECTION
3.37. HEAVEN
3.38. DEATH, JUDGEMENT, RESURRECTION, PURGATORY, HEAVEN HELL
3.39. THE MARK OF THE ANTI- CHRIST
3.40. BULLYING, INTIMIDATION
3.41. MODERN SLAVE TRADE
3.42. STEREOTYPE & PREJUDICE
3.43. THE ESSENCE OF TRUE RELIGION
3.44. DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE
3.45. SEXUALITY AND BEHAVIOUR
3.46. PENITENTIAL EXERCISE/PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION
3.47. WORSHIP OF STANDING, DANCING, AND SHOUTING; IS IT ENOUGH?
3.48. PERPETUAL BABY
3.49. DIGNITY IN LABOUR
3.50. FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT
3.51. FOOTPRINTS ON THE SAND OF LIFE
3.52. HOW MUCH ARE YOU BOUGHT?
3.53. OPEN AND SECRET ENEMIES
3.54. RELIGIOUS PROSTITUTION
3.55. SERVICING RELATIONSHIP
3.56. SHIFTING STANDARDS
3.57. SOLIDARITY AND TOTAL SURRENDER
3.58. THE BIOGRAPHY OF MR U-NKO
Book Objective and Topics
This work aims to address the challenges facing Christian youths in secondary and tertiary institutions, focusing on the critical need for robust moral and spiritual formation. It seeks to equip campus chaplains and youth leaders with practical strategies to counter negative societal influences, such as cultism, materialism, and religious misinformation, while fostering a deeper, authentic Catholic faith among students.
- Effective organizational and spiritual strategies for campus ministry.
- Methods for fostering character development and moral excellence in students.
- Addressing the rise of sectarian influence and the importance of solid doctrinal grounding.
- Practical approaches to conflict resolution and building a community of faith on campus.
- Guidance for youth navigating personal identity, career, and relationships from a Catholic perspective.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. MORNING PRAYER AT HOME; IS IT ENOUGH?
The spiritual war is so intense that we must not fight alone or in the comfort of our home. We must go out to a lonely place or a place of prayer. Jesus himself would make it a habit to leave the house to go to a quiet place of prayer for recharging of his spiritual power (Luke 4: 42, mark 1: 35). In (Matthew 4:23) we are told that after sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. ‘In times of spiritual difficulties and decision-making he would make for a place of prayer. Jesus, as he realised they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, fled back to the hills alone’ (John 6:15).
St Paul realises that one needs God most in times of spiritual battle for left on our own alone the devil will devour us. As a result he enjoins us thus: ‘So stand your ground, with truth as a belt round your waist, and uprightness as a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil one. And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God (Eph. 6: 14-17).
God himself commended us to prayer as our only avenue of telephoning and communicating with him. We should visit our friend and chat with him. We are not good friends if our only intention for befriending someone is just to gain something from him. God’s wisdom far surpasses our own, and he knows really when sense of religion is merely profit-oriented.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The author discusses the investment of churches in youth education and the subsequent rise of Pentecostal churches reaping these results through prosperity gospel, while outlining different youth groupings based on faith commitment.
1. SUGGESTED APPROACHES TO CAMPUS MINISTRY: This chapter provides practical guidelines for the effective selection and motivation of campus chaplains and outlines various spiritual and socio-cultural programming ideas for students.
2. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA: This section presents a model constitution defining the name, membership, responsibilities, and structure of the national conference governing Catholic chaplains.
3. CHARACTER AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF CAMPUS YOUTHS: This extensive chapter offers detailed guidance on numerous topics including prayer, conflict resolution, dealing with temptations, and defending the Catholic faith against competing ideologies and sects.
Keywords
Campus Ministry, Youth Formation, Spiritual Warfare, Catholic Chaplaincy, Religious Education, Moral Character, Prosperity Evangelism, Discipleship, Faith Development, Conflict Resolution, Prayer Life, Sacramental Life, Nigerian Tertiary Institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This book focuses on the moral and spiritual formation of young people within secondary and tertiary academic environments, specifically from a Catholic perspective, to protect them from external negative influences.
What are the core themes addressed in the book?
Central themes include the role of campus ministry, the necessity of solid character formation, the challenges of modern culture, defending traditional doctrine against contemporary sects, and practical guidance on leading a Christian life as a student.
What is the main objective of the author?
The author's goal is to provide a comprehensive guide for chaplains and educators to establish virile, faith-based campus ministries that help students maintain their identity and moral compass in the face of societal pressures.
Which scientific or methodological framework does the author apply?
The author combines theological reflection with organizational principles for religious institutions, drawing extensively on biblical scripture, Church teaching, and practical observation of the Nigerian socio-religious landscape.
What is the main topic of the book's long central section?
The central section covers the 'Character and Spiritual Formation of Campus Youths', dealing with various real-life issues students face, from finding a life partner and exam success to dealing with spiritual attacks and personal identity.
Which key terms describe the essence of this book?
The work is defined by terms such as Campus Ministry, Spiritual Warfare, Youth Formation, and Christian Identity in the context of higher education.
How does the author characterize the 'Lukewarm' group of youths?
The author describes them as having lost their appeal and enthusiasm for the faith, often due to societal changes and the invasion of foreign cultural values, making them susceptible to being poached by other religious groups.
What does the author propose regarding the establishment of new churches?
The author argues that the uncontrolled founding of new churches, often motivated by selfish desires, leads to the dissipation of Christian resources and in-fighting, rather than genuine evangelization.
Why does the author emphasize 'Good Manners'?
The author asserts that 'grace builds on nature', meaning that balanced spirituality cannot exist in an unkempt or undisciplined person. Therefore, personal hygiene, orderliness, and social etiquette are foundational to a holy life.
- Quote paper
- Ikechukwu Aloysius Orjinta (Author), 2011, Campus Ministry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/167716
