Tulsa Link Year is a gap year program with a unique location in the heart of a thriving city. Students spend the year walking beside youth and their families, and getting the guidance of some of our city’s best leaders. Students are in classes every week with other friends in the program who may have other internship sites here in the city. And they learn from each other about how to be the best they can, while discovering who God has made them to be. What follows is an interview with program director Chris King:
What is the mission of your program?
Chris: Tulsa link year is designed for students who decide that going directly into college after high school may not be the best personal, spiritual, or academic choice. It is aimed at students who want to make a difference right away, and discover the unique way God has wired them to contribute to His kingdom and His people. Centered around an active-learning, service oriented internship curriculum, students will earn 15 hours of college credit during Tulsa Link Year from John Brown University.
How many students participate each year?
Chris: We plan to serve 10, but are capable of serving many more as we have multiple ministry partners in the city to give students meaningful experiences at many different internship sites.
What are the basic elements of your program?
Chris: Live in community with discipleship leaders, education through JBU classes, youth ministry internships throughout the city, retreats, and a missions experience into a new culture.
Why are you passionate about your work?
Chris: Recent high school grads enter a time of life where the opportunity to receive investment that carries into a calling of lifelong service is huge. They also have the energy, creativity, and adventurous spirit that lends itself to the contribution to other lives on a massive scale.
Tulas Link Year connects these ideas in an experience that can be the most meaningful and educational year of one’s life. We love young adults and love walking with them through the adventure of transition. Isn’t it cool to be with someone when the light bulb goes off and they discover that they have a unique contribution to make? When they discover how much God loves all people and that perhaps that Jesus meant it when he said “What you’ve done for the least of these you’ve also done for me?”
We are excited because this work isn’t theoretical—we are with real people in a real city, dealing with real stuff. We get to learn about God and life by pursuing and interacting with people on a relational level- not a purely informational level which is the basis for most formal education.
What do you tell parents who might be reluctant to have their child take a “year off” before going to college?
Chris: I ask them if they believe it would have benefited them in the context of their own life. How would a year doing something like we offer influence their beliefs about God, others, and who they are? Would it impact your marriage, your way of raising children, your posture towards God’s people who may come from a different socio-economic status or context? We believe that this year is not taking a “year off” but enhancing the experience they will get at a university, a job, and even years down the road.
Why do you think most students are attracted to your program?
Chris: Our city may not be as sexy of a choice as a more exotic location, or a camp and conference center; however I believe that there is a generation of new high school graduates who want to learn about God’s purpose through helping others in a real-world situation. There are a whole lot of students who want this experience now, and their parents are happy to send them to a place like Tulsa, instead of a far off place like Uganda or Mexico. Plus, we are good at what we do and we’ve been blessed to have many years of great relationships with former students in similar contexts.
What do students who have completed your program say was the most meaningful part of the experience?
Chris: Well, this will be our first year to offer Tulsa Link Year. However, students who have completed our GPS Tulsa program (aimed towards local community college students) have claimed multiple growth points on a personal level including:
- coming to an understanding of life purpose,
- a more complete vision of God’s kingdom,
- better grades,
- a sense of having helped the people of Tulsa,
- a new understanding of people who are different than them,
- and a whole bunch of new friends that they love. (people very different from them, and that they may not have naturally gravitated towards.)
Learn more about similar gap year programs here.
Not sure if a gap year program is right for you? Read: “God in the Gap Year: The Benefits of Taking Time Off Before Going to College”
A new study by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce reveals the earning potential of different college majors. It turns out, not surprisingly, that people who major in engineering, physical sciences and business, make more money than students with degrees in the arts, education or psychology. The study also encourages students to pursue graduate degrees, with snazzy charts showing how much more money a person with a grad degree can make. The Center on Education and the Workforce has launched a helpful website with summaries, reports and graphs. It’s worth perusing. You can read the Full Report of the study here.
Inside Higher Ed published a helpful article about the research entitled “Major Decisions.” This quote from one of the researches really stuck out to me: “This is going to be the real course catalog for parents and students.” Meaning, families will look to this research when making decisions on colleges to attend and courses to take. Should that be the case? Here’s a good question: What is higher education for?
In a recent blog post, CPYU’s Walt Mueller reflects on the implications of this study, especially as a father of a soon-to-be college student. Walt reveals the tension that studies like these should produce for Christians trying to think and live faithfully when it comes to education. He writes:
“As a Christian, matters of unique God-given giftedness and calling should always be my primary motivator and foundation for my vocational pursuits. I want to use what I’ve been given to the glory of the One who gave it to me. We’ve already got loads of middle-aged people who are unhappy in their jobs, maybe because they launched the vocational endeavor from the wrong launch pad… If choices are made primarily on the basis of earning power, then we’re about twenty to thirty years away from seeing this generation of students suffer the consequences of living as square pegs trying to force themselves into round vocational holes.” (Come On… Is It Really Worth It?)
And there is the tension, isn’t it? On the one hand, we want to make wise decisions about college, not over spending and accumulating debt for something that isn’t worth the money. I’ve watched too many students and parents go into crippling debt to obtain a degree that may take a lifetime to pay for. On the other hand, followers of Christ are motivated by different factors when it comes to work and career and live life based on a very different definition of success. In losing life, we find it. A life well-lived is in service to God and neighbor.
My advice would be this: keep both of these factors in tension. Make wise financial decisions about college, avoiding debt as much as possible. And, be attentive to God’s lead, asking good questions about the motivations of your heart as you decide on a college and a major. And, as followers of Jesus, as with all decisions, we must always be willing to count the cost.
WalkAbout is an intensive gap year Christian discipleship program for students 18-24 years of age located in Rock Springs, Texas. This residential program takes place at the Camp Eagle campus, where students live, learn, and serve in community. The program runs from mid-August to mid-May.
What follows is an interview with former program director Jason Knott.
What is the mission of your program?
Jason: The Walkabout program at Camp Eagle is a nine-month Christian discipleship program for 18-24 year olds. Our mission is to inspire Christ-like change through outdoor adventure, authentic relationships, and biblical truth.
How many students participate each year?
Jason: We just graduated fifteen students in the 2010-2011 program. Due to a time of expansive growth, we will have close to thirty people in the program this next year.
What are the basic elements of your program?
Jason: We focus on four basic elements in Walkabout: sojourn, study, service, and community living. (1) Sojourn. We believe in the transforming potential of journeys that are fun and also take people out of their comfort zones. We take seven multi-day trips during the nine-month program. This includes two backpacking trips, a five-day kayaking excursion on the Pecos River, and a rock-climbing and caving trip. The students also undergo a simulation where they experience homelessness for a weekend. On other trips we visit world-religion worship centers in order to defend the Christian faith. We also experience life and ministry on a military base, work with inner-city ministries, fix houses in poor communities, meet with a human trafficking taskforce, and serve handicapped people. These trips are very life shaping. (2) Study. God calls people to love him with their minds. Due to a recent partnership with John Brown University, students have the option to earn 15 college credits while in Walkabout. We believe in a holistic approach to study that transforms the head, heart, and hands. Classes include How to Interpret the Bible, Systematic Theology, Wellness, Career Planning, Christian Leadership and Service, Intercultural Studies, Masterpieces of Film, the Wise Use of Money, and Aerobic Walking and Jogging. We also do life skill classes that include things like how to budget, cook meals in a home setting, and change the tire on a car. (3) Service. It is our belief that serving others is a powerful character development tool. We train our students to help serve over 3,500 retreat guests at Camp Eagle. We equip them through a lifeguard certification and training to effectively run our rock-climb, rappel, and zip line sites. They also help prep meals and clean for guests. (4) Community Living. The students in Walkabout walk away with lifelong friendships. They live on-site and in a small community. We are very intentional about helping them create and maintain a safe and loving community where friendships can blossom.
Why are you passionate about your work?
Jason: I am passionate about my work because I have rarely seen a ministry approach be so effective. The amount of time we get with these students in nine-months is equal to a student who attends church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night for a period of over six years. This amount of intensive work, in such a short period of time, and in a community setting leads to amazing opportunities for life change.
What do you tell parents who might be reluctant to have their child take a “year off” before going to college?
Jason: I have two kids of my own, and desperately want them to succeed in life. Since a college degree can be a key to opportunities, I understand how taking a “year off” before college may be frightening to parents. The biggest fear is wondering if your child will complete their college education.
However, careful research shows that this fear is unfounded. Gap/Link Year programs that have intentional components lead to students who successfully graduate from college on time. Due to this, universities like Princeton and Harvard are pushing Gap Year programs. If a student is unsure of their choice of college major, a Gap Year program can provide students time to mature, explore options, and understand their passions. Instead of switching majors multiple times and spending extra semesters or years in college, a student who completes a Gap Year program has a higher chance of graduating on time. This not only saves your pocketbook, it can also lead to greater confidence in your child.
Secondly, many graduating high school seniors need a different focus. They have pushed so hard on activities and academics that the demands of college sometimes lead to burnout and dropout. Gap Year programs provide an opportunity to focus on something new. Most importantly, it is a unique opportunity to set aside intentional time to grow in their relationship with God.
Why do you think most students are attracted to your program?
Jason: All who come to Walkabout see the program as an incredible opportunity to focus on their relationship with God. For some, it is a special time to prepare for the future. They hope to discover their passions and gain clarity on future decisions like college major or career choice. Others are attracted to the experiences that Walkabout provides. They understand that no other time in their life will allow them to do a program like this. Finally, some come to ease into the demands of college credits and learn the discipline it takes to be successful in college.
What do students who have completed your program say was the most meaningful part of the experience?
Jason: Students most often say that “community” is the most meaningful part of the Walkabout program. The students live, study, serve, and take trips together. They become “family” and learn what a true Christian community looks like. They learn conflict resolution skills, the value of accountability, and how to build and maintain true friendships. For others, they highly value the learning and life change that is facilitated through trips, mentoring, class-times, and service to Camp Eagle guests.
Learn more about similar gap year programs here.
Not sure if a gap year program is right for you? Read: “God in the Gap Year: The Benefits of Taking Time Off Before Going to College”
The Kanakuk Link Year is a foundational college experience for High School graduates, located in Branson, Missouri. The program provides college credit, individualized mentoring, focused discovery of spiritual gifts and identity, spiritual growth and Biblical training for college, and encouragement toward world and community impact.
What follows is an interview with program director Adam Donyes:
What is the mission of your program?
Adam: To empower future leaders to impact the world for Christ.
How many students participate each year?
Adam: 26-40
What are the basic elements of your program?
Adam: D.R.I.V.E. This is what drives our program: Discipleship, Relationships, Identity Development, Vision for Life, and Empowering future Leaders.
Why are you passionate about your work?
Adam: I’ve seen too many students who I have taught through their High School years fail miserably at college and I’m tired of it. I want students to impact college campuses in a positive light, rather than college campuses impacting students in a negative light. I believe that post-high school years are our most formidable, and I get extremely passionate about playing a small part in those formidable years.
What do you tell parents who might be reluctant to have their child take a “year off” before going to college?
Adam: This is one of the reason we changed the name from “Gap” year to “Link” year. I don’t consider it a year off, or gap. I view it as a successful link from High School to college. I ask parents to envision placing their students in a catapult for a year that will strengthen both their I.Q. and E.Q., speak into their strengths, identify areas of growth, supply them with life-long skills, and then we will release the catapult and launch them into college campuses confident in their faith and who they are. As a result, their college years will be more focused, driven, and successful had they not taken a year to discover more about who they are and their strengths.
Why do you think most students are attracted to your program?
Adam: This generation, (generation iY as Dr. Elmore refers to them) is longing for community. Authentic, no fluff, tell you how it is community. The link year is offering this type of community. It is an open invitation to students who don’t know what they want to do with their life. Who does at age 18? The thought of traveling, having community, discovering personal strengths and identity in Christ, and experiencing new things are the main things I believe are attracting students to our program.
Learn more about similar gap year programs here.
Not sure if a gap year program is right for you? Read: “God in the Gap Year: The Benefits of Taking Time Off Before Going to College”
My good friend Byron Borger of Hearts & Minds Bookstore has written a very nice review of Make College Count. His words are so kind and thoughtful that I’m not sure what to say! I can say this, without reservation: without Byron and his friendship this little book would never be in print. For many years, Byron has challenged and encouraged me in my work. He has prayed with and for me. Most importantly, he has kept alive my passion for life and learning. Here are a few quotes from his review:
Mr. Melleby, in Make College Count, thinks more foundationally; without seeming at all high-minded or overly serious, he winsomely invites students to think about the things that matter most of all. There are seven questions that Melleby has discovered to be important for students to ask themselves, most usefully, before they get to State U, or at least early on in their college experience…
Melleby is a fine and at times funny writer, and after each chapter, where he takes up one of the primal questions, he does an illuminating interview with a young woman or man who has recently been out of college. He invites them to look back over their shoulder and tell their story, how their identity and sense of calling was shaped by their university years…
I am confident that this little book—offering a way to discover a path to true success at college and beyond (as it says on the back cover)—is the best thing we’ve seen like this in 30 years of book selling. There is simply no other book that asks these very basic sorts of fascinating questions and offers such solid counsel about such good stuff in such a brief, colorful, (and likely to be read) format…
Make College Count is perfect in tone, fabulous in content, great in appearance and price. We cannot recommend it any more highly; we think it will be used in the lives of emerging adults at this key transition point in their lives…
Read the entire review here: “The absolute best gift for (college-bound) high school graduates: Make College Count.” Thank you, Byron! (Read more of Byron’s book reviews by following his Booknotes Blog.)
Also, the April/May 2011 issue of ENGAGE: THE E-JOURNAL OF YOUTH CULTURE FROM CPYU is now available. It features an excerpt from chapter 1 of Make College Count: “Following Jesus During the Critical Years.”
You can also read the complete table of contents, foreword (by David Kinnaman) and introduction here.
Located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, IMPACT 360 is a 9-month residential adventure for students 18-20 years of age. This program is designed to be an interactive and experiential living/learning community focused on biblical Christian worldview, vocational understanding, spiritual and life formation, and a month-long international experience. What follows is an interview with program director John Basie:
What is the mission of your program?
John: To equip young adults to be Christ-centered servant leaders.
How many students participate each year?
John: Around 30.
What are the basic elements of your program?
John: One, rigorous academic learning environment with the goal of building a robust biblical worldview. Two, leadership training in partnership with Chick-fil-A, Inc. Three, service: includes four hours of service per week in the community and surrounding town at various locations (elementary schools, women’s shelters, churches, etc.) as well as a month-long service experience in Brazil.
Why are you passionate about your work?
John: Because I have the opportunity to serve the rising generation in a way that will, Lord-willing, result in the kind of Kingdom-minded leadership that is needed in today’s world.
What do you tell parents who might be reluctant to have their child take a “year off” before going to college?
John: I start off by explaining how most college students pretty much waste their freshmen and sophomore years because they just don’t understand at a deep level why they are there. It’s just what they are “supposed to do.” I then explain to parents that they have the opportunity to help their student grow and mature for a year and to understand the purpose of education in the first place, with the result that their student will gain far more out of their four-year experience than they otherwise would have.
Why do you think most students are attracted to your program?
John: They are attracted to three main elements of our program: the rigorous academic biblical worldview education, the leadership training with Chick-fil-A, Inc. (which results in the conferral of an official company leadership certificate), and the month-long overseas trip to Brazil.
What do students who have completed your program say was the most meaningful part of the experience?
John: Our alumni talk about a couple of things in that regard: how they “own” their faith for themselves, and how they know what they believe and why. Additionally, they talk about how valuable being in Christian community was for that period of time. That experience inspires them to go to their four-year campuses and replicate what they had at IMPACT 360. In all my years working with college students, I’ve really never seen this kind of rich, authentic Christian community in a campus setting.
Learn more about similar gap year programs.
Not sure if a gap year program is right for you? Read: “God in the Gap Year: The Benefits of Taking Time Off Before Going to College“
Make College Count: A Faithful Guide to Life and Learning officially released on March 1, 2011. The positive feedback has been overwhelming. Just a few weeks ago I was in a local bookstore and I ran into someone who had recently read the book with his college-bound daughter. He explained that the book led to many fruitful conversations and has helped his daughter think more deeply about this important transition in life. That’s what I was hoping for!
I’ve also received feedback from pastors letting me know that they are planning to give the book as gifts to their graduating seniors. A youth pastor from Mississippi wrote:
“I just wanted to encourage you and let you know that I’m really enjoying your new book. I admit that I was skeptical, because many of these types of books aren’t all that helpful. However, I’m very encouraged by the tangible and biblical advice and am planning on getting it for our graduating seniors.”
A few people have reviewed the book online as well. Denis Haack of Ransom Fellowship writes:
“Make College Count is brief, thoughtful, rooted in the gospel, and on the mark when identifying the issues worth discussing… This is not a book by someone who has burrowed away into a library and done research but someone who has read widely, sunk deep roots into Scripture, reflected wisely, and hung out with young adults, listening, learning, talking, and praying.” Read the rest of the review here.
Chad Barlow writes for The Washington Institute:
“Mercifully, Make College Count is not out to crease our foreheads with stories of beer pong, permissive sex, or an Oxford don with an axe to grind… Melleby wants to reframe the conversation about education, adolescence and adulthood, and hopes that high school seniors and college freshmen will join that conversation.” Read the rest of the review here.
CPYU president Walt Mueller has blogged about the book:
“Instead of taking a negative spin on the college years by warning readers about all the dangers they will face on campus, this book encourages readers to reckon with the fact that while they are at college they will – whether they know it or not – live out the answers to several questions. Derek challenges them to think consciously about the questions so that they can consciously develop and live out answers that conform to a life lived by God’s story, rather than by the world’s story.” Read the rest of the blog post here.
And YouthWorker Journal has featured an excerpt of chapter 1: “Following Jesus During the Critical Years.”
