MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS ON CAMPUS

INTRODUCTION: Transiting from Childhood to Responsible Adulthood

Globally, men marry at an average age of 29 years, 2 months and women at 27 years. Given that people start class one at age 6 in Ghana, and spend a minimum of 15 years in school, the bright Ghanaian graduates from the University, Polytechnic, or College at age 21 or 22. He or she would then need to work for about 5 years to acquire the basic needs necessary to sustain a marital home, and for some another 2 years to support a dowry and wedding accessories. The age for sexual maturity is around 16 on the average, and the tendency to explore sexual relations therefore heightens far earlier than the current marriage age. This manifests in the explosion of the explosion of a range of ill-defined relationships among the 15 to 20 years age group. In pre-tertiary institutions generally, the teachers naturally assume the additional duty of regulating and restraining such relationships, but in the tertiary institutions they are less regulated. The Christian youth must make sense of this and guard himself through this “stormy” time, with clearly defined goals, focused relationships and Holy Spirit-enabled discipline.

Relating to the Members of the Other Sex

A.      Clearly defined goals during this period (Occupy yourself. Seek Guidance):

1.       Ministry goals: Where are my Spiritual gifts leading me? How do I fan it?

2.       Academic goals: How will I excel in my chosen study and career field?

3.       Relationship goals: When do I intend to marry? What example is my way of relating to others setting for those coming after me?

B.      Focused Relationships (Occupy yourself. Learn):

1.       The older women as mothers

2.       The younger women as sisters (with all purity nothing more or less)

3.       The older men as fathers, and the younger men as brothers

4.       Fiancé-fiancée relationships should commence only after adequate pre-marital preparation and consent of both parents

·         With considerate exclusivity

·         Discreet exclusivity, being considerate of peers, many of whom are generally not ready for such a relationship

C.      Holy Spirit Enabled Discipline (Restrain Yourself. Flee)

1.       Considerate not to arouse (Songs of Solomon 2:7; 8:4,

a.       Inordinate Conversation

b.      Prolonged Touch

c.       Explicit or Suggestive Visuals

d.      Pre-mature exclusivity