Kehinde Hopkins

Most Tuesdays this semester, Connect College Ministry and Southside Church of Christ Minister Chris Jeter has set up two lawn chairs near the Martin University Center and sat with a sign that reads, “I Will Listen”.

Clouds hang overhead on the Kay Granger Mall casting a shadow on students bustling to and from class.  The students carry with them their bags, their school supplies, and the daily stresses of a college student. As the buzz of a college campus hums, one man is content to sit still. An empty lawn chair to his left invites anyone equipped with the courage to slow down to join him.  The man, Chris Jeter, holds a sign bearing his mission: not to speak, but to listen.  

Every Tuesday from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Jeter sits and he listens to whatever the person who chooses to sit next to him has to say.  

“I think [listening] is undervalued in the world,” Jeter said. “It’s one of those things that everybody sort of knows is a good thing. And yet we don’t do it a whole lot.” 

Jeter serves as a minister at Southside Church of Christ and Connect College Ministry—a group that looks to connect Fort Worth college students to Christ and community. Jeter says above all, he’s trying to practice the teachings of Jesus through his listening. 

“The heart motivation for me is I’m trying to follow Jesus. He was a really good listener,” Jeter said. “He’s listening 100 times more than he’s talking. I want to reflect that.” 

However, the conversations Jeter is trying to illicit aren’t necessarily religious.  

“It doesn’t have to be spiritual. It didn’t have to be heavy—tell me a joke, I don’t care, but I’ll listen,” Jeter said.  

Ultimately, Jeter says he wants to provide community to students who need it most.  

“Very few students enter college with a fully formed worldview. Very few leave college without one,” Jeter said. “This four years of life is really, really pivotal and important. I want to see people navigate it in a healthy community.” 

Junior psychology major Aleyia Blaylock simply spoke to Jeter about her daily annoyances. 

“He made [my day] better by listening and telling me it would be okay,” Blaylock said. “Not even giving advice, he just listened. I think that was the most valuable part.” 

Junior psychology major Goodness Mampuya is a member of Connect College Ministry and has a close relationship with Jeter. She praised his compassion and piety.  

“You can see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in him—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,” Mumpuya said. 

Even to those who walk past him, Jeter hopes he will have a positive influence.  

“I hope that, maybe someone doesn’t stop and talk, but they see the sign, and maybe it just kind of makes them a little bit more prone to listen. I hope there’s something contagious about listening,” Jeter said. “I caught it from Jesus, just trying to imitate him. Maybe some other people will catch it from me.”