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Campus Sub-Cultures, Part: 4
By Chuck Bomar
The Vocational
The vocational subculture has a very practical perspective on enrollment in school. They are seeking to gain skills and knowledge that directly assist them in what they want to do vocationally. They are searching for a degree that will help them get a better job and possibly make more money. These people will typically work at least part-time, frequently go to school at night and often attend community colleges. Many don’t have time, money, nor much desire for the social aspects of collegiate life. They tend to have a humble approach in learning yet are able to think through concepts for themselves and are highly motivated.
The identity issues requiring focus is in their hope for a prosperous career. This pursuit is where meaning is found. This person will tend to find their identity in their independence and personal pursuits. They won’t have time for much involvement in ministry or Christian community and will require you to really pursue them, often adjusting to their schedule. Like the rebel, our pursuit for a relationship is key in their lives. Their identity is strongly influenced outside of the body of Christ and you may be the only connection they have to the church. They likely won’t serve or maybe even come to church every week, but your relationship will greatly assist in keeping them connected to the body of Christ. Once they realize hope in a career doesn’t satisfy, you may be the only person they know to come back to.
Here are things I’ve found to be effective with the vocational:
[1] Focus on their spiritual identity. They are finding a tremendous amount of meaning in their pursuits of a job. It’s the pursuit that serves as the hinge for finding meaning and how they are defining themselves. When the job doesn’t work out the way they envisioned, they lose their identity and loneliness and searching begins.
[2] Pray that your initiating of this relationship will be perfect timing in their lives. Pray that you will call during the times of hopelessness and loneliness. There is much danger in finding identity in what they are going to do rather than who they are in Christ. Our role is helping them embrace their spiritual identity before their dreams in a career become a nightmare.
[3] Ask direct questions. What do you hope in? What gives you hope? These two questions alone can give you insights into their heart and provide very practical areas of focus in discipleship. The bottom line issue we need to focus on is what hope in Christ brings versus a hope in the world.
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