Student Life Philosophy

We believe it’s essential for parents to know the philosophy that drives Student Life. This philosophy is our co-curriculum. It addresses the reality that what happens outside the classroom can complement what happens inside the classroom. We want you to have confidence that we are aware that both are essential. In other words, we understand that if what is taking place in the classroom does not get translated in real time, in real life, to what’s going on outside the classroom, then classwork just becomes information. We want to create an applicational environment where the students are not just hearers but doers (James 1:22-25). Please take a moment to consider the following. We hope that giving this to you in advance may be a catalyst for discussion with your student about spiritual responsibility and growth.

Our Attitude

Serve! If we can, we will. … And, if we can’t, you will know we really tried!

Our Mission

To equip and train Christian disciples to be God glorifiers, Gospel ambassadors, and Kingdom influencers.

Our Goal

Heart Transformation and Biblical Sanctification. To help and support young adults in becoming dependent, loving, and thoughtful free standing moral agents with established biblical convictions that will endure after they leave campus wherever in the world God may take them.

Ministry Pillars

1. Our Ministry is based on Divine Authority. Jesus is Lord, and the Bible is true. They have authority over you.
2. Our ministry must be motivated and executed out of love (1 Cor. 13). If not, it damages.
3. Our ministry priority is intentional discipleship: to lead students to trust, follow, obey, and become like Christ. To enter into the mission of the Master (Mt. 28).
4. Our ministry mentality is relational: life on life influence (1 Th. 2); we recognize that the force of positional authority is not as impactful as a relational ministry.
5. Less is more. Our ministry philosophy is to establish essential guardrails (to prevent catastrophic loss) and remove unnecessary props so students can learn to think and mature in the context of a truth-based biblical community as they learn to exercise their growing decision-making freedom.
6. Rules should be:
   • Biblical
   • Common-sensical (“of course”).
   • Practical/Doable
   • Clear
   • Enforceable
7. Discipline is science and art. Rule-breaking consequences are to be remedial, consistent, and, where possible, personal (1 Th. 2:11).
8. Institutional, not departmental. Values and expectations must be campus convictions, not just Residence Life convictions.

Our Approach

Remedial and Biblical (1 Th. 5:14).

1. For the “out of line” and unruly: Face-to-face conversation and exhortation. (Admonish through instruction). Appeal to the mind by supplying biblical, doctrinal, and spiritual substance. This approach seeks to exert positive pressure on someone’s logic and reasoning, urging them to choose the best path and God’s best!
2. For the “faint of heart” and little of soul (weak in conviction and courage): Side- by- sSide eEncouragement. “para + mutheomai” = encouragement with words!
3. For the “weak” and unable to stand: Carry on your back! (“anti+echo”). Help and hHold up spiritually. I have you, and I am with you!
4. For “all”: Prayerful pPatience! Trust God and let Him work! Give tTime and oOpportunity. Transformation is not instant, and rRepentance mMatures.
5. And when necessary, rRestorative and supportive. (Gal 5:25-6:1-3) Live by the Spirit and gGive life by the Spirit. Get “in step” with the Spirit. Don’t lift up yourself, and don’t put someone else down.
6. Pick them up.
7. Fix them up.
8. Bear them up.

Our Concerns

1. That we will have rules without relationship that misrepresents Christianity.
2. That there will be conformity without sincerity that promotes hypocrisy.
3. That we will inadvertently promote compliance and human performance instead of shepherding through thoughtful convictions and total prayerful dependence on God, which promotes the truth that real change is God’s work, not ours.

Our Prayer

Students will experience and express real Christianity! They will know what it is and what it is not.

Please join us this year in praying for the entire TMU community that this great work we have been entrusted with will be successful and pleasing to God, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ in every way and at all times.