Promoting EveryStudent.com November 17, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism.add a comment
You know about http://EveryStudent.com. But did you know about http://www.EveryStudentPromotion.com/?
This page has some great ways for letting others know about EveryStudent.com. Naturally, you can find all the posters and articles for each of the topics that EveryStudent addresses. But you can also find out about the new Facebook application, “Life Questions,” see the Facebook ads and learn how to place them, and even how to order EveryStudent business cards and postcards.
One very interesting way to promote EveryStudent is the “Social bookmarks” application.
It explains a step by step way to post EveryStudent.com articles to your Facebook profile. I have done it, so it is not that hard. Here is all you need to know.
- Go to EveryStudent.com and go to an article that you like.
- Either in the left-hand margin, or at the bottom of the page, find the “Share” icon
- Scroll over it and click on the Facebook option that appears.
- You’ll see a popup box and two tabs at the top: send a message (email it to someone) or to post it to your Facebook profile page.
- Click on post to profile. It’s fun. Try it!!!
The EveryStudent strategy director, Marilyn Adamson, recently sent this video to some of us. It was done in Singapore and describes online intentional conversations. It’s kinda fun, even though the quality is so so. Take a look. That video can also be found on the promotions page at the Online Conversations link.
We know that with the pervasive use of the internet by students that some of you may have already started movements using EveryStudent.com, StartingwithGod.com, or Facebook. If you have or you have attempted to launch movements using the internet, please let me know.
Here are a few other ideas for letting others know about EveryStudent.com
- Add “Life Questions” application to your Facebook profile.
- Create a Facebook group for each campus. For example EveryStudent.com at Boston University. You can add a link to it at the end of your emails.
- Sing up for Live Chat on EveryStudent.com.
- Create a “value God” page. Then add that link to your Facebook profile.
Questions Leading into Spiritual Conversations November 3, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism.2 comments
A good friend of mine has three of his campuses doing a “Kill the Giants” Week over the next couple of weeks. It is events like that that encourages us to trust the Lord by demonstrating big faith to “kill” some personal and ministry giants in their lives. We know that for many students, personal evangelism is a significant giant that truly demands big faith. With that in mind, here are 31 conversation “starters” compiled by Patty Burgin and Bobb Biehl.
- Where are you in your spiritual pilgrimage?
- In your opinion, how does one become a Christian?
- What single thing would you like to make absolutely certain you do (if at all possible) during your lifetime?
- How do you think a person can keep from becoming a workaholic?
- What character can you imagine yourself to be? (any period of history)
- What are you reading that is not an assignment or required by your work?
- How do you know you’ll go to heaven when you die?
- How are your growing personally?
- In a conversation with someone who has never heard about God, what would you say about Him from your experience?
- In your opinion, how does one become a Christian?
- How would you describe your father and his impact on your life?
- Tell me about your mentor and his/her impact on your life.
- What do you think would probably surprise most people about you? Why?
- What is your greatest strength, and what are you doing to develop it?
- Why do people do what they do? What are the assumptions you make about people?
- How do you handle pressure? When the pressure is really on, what do you need from your friends?
- Has anything ever happened to you that was dramatic, personal or spectacular enough to cause you to be certain there is a God who is both infinite and personally caring?
- What do you consider to be two major turning points in your life?
- What is something you consider to be a great personal success? Why was it so significant?
- What is the key to maintaining balance in your life?
- What are 2 or 3 major truths upon which you have based your decision-making?
- Tell me about two of your life-long friends and why they have such an impact on your life. What made you choose them?
- Have you dealt with the questions? “How much money is enough, and what do I do with the rest?”
- How would you describe your mother and the impact she has had on your life?
- In your opinion, who was/is Jesus Christ?
- If you could know God personally, would you be interested?
- How would you define materialism, and how do you deal with it in your life?
- What have you found to be the best way of absorbing disappointment, rejection, distress and discouragement?
- When you get to heaven, what will be the first three questions you will ask God?
- If you were to inherit a million dollars today, and couldn’t spend it on your own enterprise or keep it for yourself, what would you do with it and why?
- What do you find most attractive about Christianity/the person of Christ? What do you find least attractive about Christianity/the person of Christ?
And here is a list of questions intended to break through barriers in sharing the gospel compiled in the NorthEast several years ago.
- Do you consider yourself a seeker of the truth?
- What is your spiritual background?
- Have you ever read the Bible?
- Have your views on religion changed since you started college? How?
- Have you ever discussed what Biblical Christianity is?
- Why do you think you feel the way you do toward Jesus Christ and his message of love and forgiveness?
- What is your philosophy of life based on?
- Do you believe what you’ve been brought up with?
- Why do you think Christianity isn’t relevant to your life?
- If Christ was who He claimed to be, how would that affect your life?
- What are you living for? What do you value most?
- If your questions could be answered in a way that would satisfy you, would you then believe in Christ?
- The Kennedy questions: First ask–”If you died today, do you know for sure you’d go to heaven?” Then ask–”If you died and stood before God and He asked you ‘Why should I let you into Heaven?’ What would you say?”
The key here is simply to begin conversations and then to listen to the heart of the one we are talking with. Sometimes it is hardest bringing up the gospel with our friends. We just need to keep asking questions that will reveal who they are.
The Overflow Show Discussion guides October 27, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism.add a comment
I was talking with Joe Hanford, Pacific Southwest Regional Office, last week. He and his team are doing a great job with The Overflow Show. Billing it as “5 Minutes to Better Witnessing,” the team takes ideas from the very top books on evangelism. They talk about party evangelism, authenticity, deep conversation ideas, and handling objections like the problem of evil or only one way to heaven. This fall, they added two more five minute podcasts on scientists who believe and how Christianity is viewed in the public square. The team has received great feedback from staff and students in the Pacific Southwest region. These 20 evangelism shows have increased confidence and excitement about sharing their faith.
When you check out the episode list, you will see a brief description of the book. You, then, have an option of listening or downloading the five minute podcast. What’s new this fall are discussion guides for each episode. Each guide has an application challenge for the next week. Here is a sample of one of the discussion guides.
Connecting Post-Moderns With the Gospel – Discussion Guide
Section 1
Discuss what you applied in the past seven days from the last Overflow Show.
Read 2 Timothy 4:2-4. How do the conditions that Paul warns about resonate with things you observe currently in our culture?
Section 2
Go to www.OverflowShow.com and listen to the 5-minute podcast titled “Connecting Post-Moderns With the Gospel.”
Section 3
What did you think? What stood out to you as you listened?
How surprising was it to hear the author say that post-moderns are interested in spirituality?
Discuss ways post-moderns version of spirituality might differ from the traditional definition of spirituality?
How surprising was it to hear the author say that post-moderns are interested in truth? What version of truth do post-moderns seek?
What are other characteristics of post-moderns regarding religion or spirituality?
Why is it not important to a post-modern to have logical consistency in her spiritual views?
The author says post-moderns base much of their philosophy on personal experience. How can we utilize that knowledge as we seek to connect with post-moderns?
The author recommended sharing our own story as a journey, eventually seeing the need for a guide of some sort, then seeing the need for a forgiver. What are a couple thoughts you have about this approach?
Why is it important to be transparent and share our flaws with others?
Share some old stereotypes of Jesus or the Christian life that have been greatly changed as you’ve embraced Christ and grown spiritually?
What did you think about the story of Mother Teresa’s outlook and action regarding the poor in India versus the Hindu people’s outlook and action?
Section 4
Discuss some ways we could apply a few of these principles in the next 7 days?
One suggestion (if needed): Develop a 3-minute version of your own personal story in the form a journey. If appropriate, include how you eventually saw the need for a guide of some sort. Then how you saw the need for a forgiver and how that impacted your life. At the end of the story, tell how you realized that the guide and forgiver was Jesus Christ and why. Practice your story on a fellow group member before next week’s meeting either in person or by telephone, or better yet, tell a non-Christian friend that your assignment from your spirituality group was to write a 3 minute version of your spiritual journey to share with the group, and ask if you can practice on her.
Overflow enthusiastically recommends the book - Evangelism Outside the Box by Rick Richardson, Intervarsity Press
www.OverflowShow.com
Before I left on a recent trip, I downloaded several of the podcasts to my iPod and listened to them on the plane. I like how Joe has given a synopsis of the book and zero-ed in on something practical that our students can apply as they “overflow into the lives of others.” Why not give it a try?
unChristian August 19, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism, Leadership.add a comment
Welcome to another year of Coaching Tips. I love doing these. It gives me a chance to pass on some of the best thinking, resources and strategies that others are using in their ministries.
Last Spring I sent a tip on Social Graces. GP Foote, replied with some further insight and a suggestion. He recommended the book, “unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…And Why it Matters”, a research project by David Kinnaman with the Barna Group. I was intrigued, so I got a copy and read it this summer. It is much more than intriguing. It is sobering.
A couple of weeks ago, Jason Weimer, in Pittsburgh, wrote to recommend the same book. He writes,
“Reading their findings and some of the ways they suggest responding to the data has really begun to shift the way our team will be approaching ministry this year. It underscores the fact that the culture is changing faster than we realize, and some of our ministry strategies and “traditions” need to shift with it, in order to gain relevancy and effectiveness. I’m still working through what that will look like, but I’m convinced that we need to re-think many of the ways we seek to reach students and address these very real perspectives. As these perspectives, which are brought on largely by the church itself, continue to gain traction, the Gospel will more and more fall on deaf ears. So we need to face them head on, own our mistakes and unChristian ways we’ve lived and ministered, and live in a more Christ-like way, presenting a new, truer perspective of Christ-followers. I’m convinced that this is a must-read for those of us in campus ministry.”
I agree. In fact, I am planning to have our Student LINC and Coaching Center teams read the book this fall and discuss it. According to the Barna research, there are six common perceptions that “Busters and Mosaics” (those in the 16-29 age group) have of Christians. They believe that we are hypocritical, judgmental, only have a “get people saved” mentality, anti-homosexual, sheltered, and too political. As Gabe Lyons, the one who commissioned the research writes,
“…I had little to go on except my gut-level sense that something was desperately wrong with the way Christianity was perceived in our nation…My sense was that if Christians could read the mind of outsiders, filtered through the objective lens of research, it would provide the motivation we needed to change how we see ourselves and our role in culture. And over time it could significantly alter how we live and interact with our friends, colleagues, and neighbors…I’ll never forget sitting in Starbucks, poring through the research results on my laptop. As I soaked it in, I glanced at the people around me and was overwhelmed with the thought that this is what they think of me…My next reaction, however, shocked me. I was overwhelmed with a sense of hope…Having access to what those around me really thought challenged me. I had finally been offered a unique glimpse into the perspective of those I’m called to love and embrace, and I was humbled, embarrassed, and provoked to make a difference.”
As I read the book, I was stirred in the same ways. My wife and I lead the Marriage Prep Class in our church. 22 of the 38 couples in our class are in this age group. Some of these thoughts have a direct bearing, not on changing our message, but on how we want to communicate that message in our class. Jason said that his Pittsburgh team is talking about how their “evangelism focus will be more relational than ever. We’re focusing on building godly community and inviting non-Christian friends into that community…I’m also more open to doing things we’ve not done in the past under the reasoning that our call is to reach students (like specific ministry opportunities to the homeless, being intentionally active in social justice issues, etc.), specifically with the understanding that activity in these areas, especially alongside non-believers, can be an incredibly powerful means of indirect evangelism, a barrier-breaker perhaps.” Think Good News/Good Deeds and Katrina Relief.
Most of you have been receiving these tips for at least a year. My hope during these moments each week is to help us all be more effective in reaching lost students, launching new ministries, distributing ownership to more students and coaching students and volunteers with a variety of methods. In essence, helping us all work smarter and more effectively. If you have a resource, a strategy or perspective that you think would benefit us all, let me know. And if you have thoughts on today’s tip, I would welcome a dialogue on what it will take for us as a ministry to become known as people who really do love others and seek the best for them.
Using Worldviews in Sharing the Gospel April 28, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Discipleship, Evangelism.4 comments
CruPress mailed out their latest resources to local leaders in the US last week. Rick James, CruPress Publisher, says that the first volume of the Critical Concept series, or White Papers, is “targeted toward more advanced discipleship”. One of the papers, “War of the Worlds”, by former staff and author, Bayard Taylor, gives us a peak into the various worldviews that we find on our campuses. He wrote the following article as a back-up to the Critical Concept article and his website. Bayard offers very basic suggestions for moving from a worldview discussion into the gospel.
Using Worldviews in Sharing the Gospel
“Before you dive, get the big picture.”
Fellow Buzzards,
This newsletter is about teaching the biblical worldview more cogently by teaching the worldviews. If you understand how the biblical worldview looks really, really good compared to the alternatives, it ups your confidence.
Once your confidence is upped, you realize that compared to the competition, as a Christian who believes in the biblical worldview and the gospel, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re more excited about Jesus. You’ve got something to share!
So how can we use the other worldviews to share the gospel? Here are some really simple ideas you might want to try.
I’ve used this basic approach with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations and have almost always had great success with it.
First: Get into a genuine, back and forth conversation with somebody. No agendas, no manipulation. Just gentle, genuine curiosity. You’re trying to get to know somebody as a valuable human being.
Second: Pay close attention to little hints and saying that indicate or reveal which worldview the person believes is true.
Third: When you get a hunch where the person is coming from, find a piece of paper (or a napkin that’s handy) and draw the box diagram that most closely resembles his or her worldview, as you understand it. (You do remember the the box diagrams for each worldview in Blah, Blah, Blah, don’t you? If not, go back to chapter 3, or to the worldview cheat sheets in chapter 7.)
Fourth: Point to the diagram you just drew and ask, “Does this pretty much describe where you’re coming from?” Then watch and listen closely to the response. It doesn’t matter if you got it exactly right; or if the person corrects your drawing; or even rejects the premise of the diagram in the first place. At least you’re in a genuine back-and-forth conversation. Plus it gives you an opening in which you can say, “Can I show you my worldview?” Or, “Can I show you another way of looking at things?”
Fifth: If the person’s worldview is basically the biblical (he or she believes in God the Creator to whom we are accountable), then much of your work is already done — you can move right into sharing the gospel (how to get right with God, how to have a relationship with him through Christ).
However, if the person has one of the other worldviews, then when you draw the biblical worldview diagram be sure to show how the biblical contrasts with the person’s own worldview. Point out things from chapter 5 by asking questions such as “Can you see why only in the biblical worldview does it make any sense to say that you’re created ‘in God’s image’ and therefore have innate dignity and worth before God?” Or, “Can you see that only in the Biblical worldview does it make any sense to say, ‘God loves you’?”
(This compare and contrast thing is very important; it will help people value what’s different about the biblical worldview, whether they can accept it at that point or not.)
I also draw a cross inside the biblical worldview box diagram and say something like, “This cross represents God loving us so much that he came and lived among us as a human, and even died for us on the cross to bring us back to him.” Including the cross is important because if we merely say “God loves you,” it feels abstract to most people, even though it’s the truth. But when we tell HOW God loved us, self-sacrificially through sending his Son to die for us on the cross (John 3:16), that helps make the message concrete in peoples’ minds.
Sixth: Let the person respond in his or her own way and on his or her own timetable. You’re not there to convince someone to do something so much as to witness to and live the truth. We then try to be very sensitive to what the Holy Spirit wants to do in the other person’s life. There’s no formula; there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
It might involve offering to pray for a need. It might involve asking the person if they’d like to thank God for his incredible gift in Christ. It might involve going outside and playing some frisbee. It might involve inviting the person to join you in some disaster relief. I don’t know what it will be — that’s why God gives his people the Holy Spirit!
What’s Really Cool About This Approach:
–No formulas — it’s based upon principles, not saying the right thing;
–No huge amounts of memorization — because the six worldviews are so simple and easy to draw;
–No pressure — it lets the Holy Spirit be the ultimate convincer.
Ask your local leader for a look at the “War of the Worlds” article. Otherwise, you will be able to order it from CruPress, though it is not listed yet. The diagrams Bayard refers to above make that transition into the gospel easier. I have read many worldview books over the years, including Bayard’s Blah, Blah, Blah: Making Sense of the World’s Spiritual Chatter. There are fuller treatments and some quote the proponents of the various worldviews more extensively. Some would have us look to do battle with those views. But what I like about Bayard’s approach is the willingness to understand where those we witness to are coming from. Very few come to Christ because we defeated their intellectual argument. They are more likely to respond to the consistency they see between what we believe and our heart for them. Blah, Blah, Blah simplifies the complex issues and is written in a way that appeals to students. Why not pick up a copy and take it with you on your summer assignment.
The Overflowshow April 7, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism.add a comment
Have you read CASE FOR FAITH or JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM? Well Joe
Hanford, PSW Regional Office, has. In fact, he has read scores of books on
evangelism and gleaned the best ideas from many of those books for you to
use. In developing personal evangelism strategies, he posts them in the
form of 5 minute podcasts at The Overflowshow.
Joe told me, “The goal of the program is to help students and staff overflow
into the lives of non-Christians more effectively and confidently. There
are ideas on how to love on people, transitioning to the gospel, answering
tough questions like the problem of evil, answering one-liner attacks like
“You Christians are intolerant!” You will also see authenticity,
approachability, acts of kindness, deep conversational questions.”
When you check out the episode list you will find ideas from books by authors like Strobel, Hybels, JP Moreland, Randy Newman, etc. In each case Joe and his team have been granted permission. You can listen or download to listen later. So the show indirectly is a nice survey of great books popping on the scene. Their aim is to gather the “best ideas from the 40 best books on evangelism in the world.”
They have been careful to keep in mind our campus ministry values and
checked their ideas with their theological director for accuracy. They are
also developing discussion guides to go with each show
Why not take a look and download a show or two. Let’s consider how we can
better equip our students to share Christ more effectively.
Alpha Course March 31, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism, Student Ownership.1 comment so far
I am copied on an email newsletter sent by Urs Wolf, National Campus Director in Switzerland. Some time ago he sent one that read:
Here is an encouraging story from Renata Ramanauskaite from Lithuania. For years they were praying and dreaming that students would own the ministry. (italics mine) This year they are beginning to see glimpses of their dream! Students are owning the ministry! One of the ways they are doing it is by leading an Alpha course in their faculty. There are 3 Alpha course groups lead by Agape students. A student received Jesus in his heart. Read more
I have had friends participate in Alpha courses in their churches and they have seen God use them in the lives of believers and non-believers. But, typically, students are busy, so I wondered about their being able to lead this course. When Urs mentioned that students were leading Alpha, I wanted to look into it some more. I am always intrigued by anything that develops student ownership.
According to the Alpha Course website, “Over 11 million people worldwide have now attended an Alpha course, [It is] an opportunity to explore the meaning of life, running in tens of thousands of churches of all denominations, and at universities, in prisons and on military bases across the world.” If you look at the Alpha on Campus page, the content is the same as a regular Alpha course. Their sample schedule is as follows:
- Introduction Dinner: Is there more to life than this?
- Week 1: Who is Jesus?
- Week 2: Why did Jesus die?
- Week 3: How can we have faith?
- Week 4: Why and how do I pray?
- Week 5: Why and how should I read the Bible?
- Week 6: How does God guide us?
- Week 7: How can I resist evil?
- Week 8: Why & how should we tell others?
- Week 9: Does God heal today?
- Week 10: What about the Church?
Alpha began in the 1970s at Holy Trinity Brompton in central London as a way to present the basic principles of the Christian faith to new believers in a relaxed and informal setting. When former barrister Nicky Gumbel took over the course in 1990, he adapted it to make it even more appealing to non-churchgoers. Since we have been discussing ways to help the non-Christian belong on the way to believing, this has great promise. Especially since Europe has seen success with the course.
It is a bit late to consider using it in this school year, but if you are interested in considering this for next year, this page offers hints, resources and how to register your own course. Maybe some of you have already led or participated in an Alpha course. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Social Graces March 24, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism, Personal Growth.1 comment so far
The Scriptures talk about three kinds of witness.
1. The witness of our words.
2. The witness of our actions.
3. Our witness as the body of Christ.
Have you ever been in these situations?
- You go out to eat with friends and one person is really rough with the server? It seems to go beyond the quality of the food. I have been embarrassed by the lack of respect that I have seen some Christians treat those who serve us.
- You are riding with someone and they cut another off in traffic? Last week, someone followed me out of the church parking lot and I watched them lay on the horn toward another driver. It seemed unwarranted. Would they have been as aggressive if they weren’t so anonymous behind a wheel?
- What about situations where you thought a simple “Thank you!”, “Please.” or “Excuse me.” would have been the obvious thing to say and it did not happen?
I often wonder where manners went, why we lack social graces in our dealings with others and why we neglect the little things that show respect for the other person. The little things, like a kindness, a smile and common courtesy make such a difference in whether a person enjoys being around us or would rather not. My wife always asks the person doing check out in the grocery store how his or her day is going. Chris says she wants to leave them more encouraged than drained from having spent that moment with her.
Now here is why I am talking about this. We will be more effective witnesses as we reflect Christ in how we treat others. So often people don’t regard our message about Christ because our lifestyle doesn’t match our words. Paul says to the Thessalonians in his first epistle to them. “You know how we lived among you for your sake.” (1:5b) Are we salt and light? Do they see something different in how we treat others?
But more than the witness of our words, our witness as the body of Christ is enhanced when the non-Christian comes into our fellowship. Do they see something different there? Jesus says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35. The body mode in our evangelism model is even more strategic today in light of the need for others to belong on the way to believing. With the breakdown of the family, we need to teach the social graces that used to be taught at home. We provide valuable interpersonal skills when we do.
I have been reading a devotional this year, Wisdom for the Way, about selected writings from Chuck Swindoll. In a selection entitled “Helping the World on to God”, Swindoll quotes Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Then Swindoll comments,”
“[The world] will see “your good works,” Jesus said. Like what?
They will hear your courtesy.
They will detect your smile.
They will notice that you stop to thank them.
They will hear you apologize when you are wrong.
They will see you help them when they are struggling.
They will notice that you are the one who stopped along the road and gave them a hand.
They will see every visible manifestation of Christ’s life being normally lived out through you. They will see all that and they “will glorify your Father who is in heaven”
We are the ones who help the world on to God.”
I am sure that there are many of you who have some simple messages that teach practical ways to respect others, describes common courtesy and social graces and, generally, explains what it means to be kind to others. Let’s help each other create ministries that are more inviting places for the non-Christian and, in so doing, our evangelism will be more effective.
Launching on PELT Day March 3, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Coaching, Evangelism, Launching, Prayer.add a comment
I am copied on emails that Neil Downey sends out to the student leaders on the Sioux Empire campuses. Here is one he sent recently. Neil told me they went to campuses where they had one or two students already aligned. It was meant to help give each campus a strong launch.
This week our staff team embarked on our first ever PELT day. For those of you dying to know about the new Acronym we made up, PELT stands for Prayer, Evangelism, Launching and Teamwork. On Wednesday morning (when it was very cold and very dark) our team split up into two groups to spend a day giving lift to a couple of fledgling movements on outlying Sioux Empire campuses. Team Luke traveled to Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, while Team Matthew made the long drive to Northern State University in Aberdeen. FYI, these teams were named after our two interns, not after the corresponding Gospels.
While I can only speak for myself, I would venture to say that all my fellow staff learned a thing or two as we experienced being part of a Missional Team – a group of people focused on seeing God raise up a Spiritual Movement – so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.
Here’s what I learned:
- Even “professional Christians” fail – I attempted to initiate conversations with a lot of people, with varying degrees of responsiveness. But I wasn’t frustrated with people giving me the cold shoulder as much as I was by my own fear. On several occasions, I had a chance to strike up a conversation with somebody, but rationalized why it wasn’t a good idea (He looks busy, he doesn’t look interested, he’s eating, he might punch me, etc…) My own apprehension drove me to seek the Lord and the power of his Spirit to enable me to talk to people about the gospel. And that was a good thing. Moving from fear to faith to action is a tough but rewarding progression.
- It’s a small world – as soon as we set up our information table in the lobby of the Student Center, a Korean student approached us and said “You’re CCC?!? I was in CCC in Korea! I’ve been waiting for you to come here!” In addition to lots of Koreans, we encountered students from other nations and cultures (like Wyoming). The nations are here! And when students from around the world return home, I would love it if they’d take the gospel with them!
- God is at work – Yes, God is drawing people to himself, even on the frozen tundra of South Dakota. As we prayed for the campus, cast vision to Christian students, shared the gospel with nonbelievers and took steps toward seeing new movements launched, we couldn’t help but wonder how God would use people who truly follow him to bring himself glory. Time will tell.
As you think about what God has called you to do, I hope you realize that we are all Apostles (sent ones) – sent by the King to help build his kingdom. It took a road trip to remind me of this. But you don’t have to drive hundreds of miles in order to be sent somewhere. Maybe God is sending you across the hallway.
Remember that you too are a part of a Missional team. Campus Crusade is not a social club. We don’t exist for comfort, but for Mission. And we get to experience the mission together.
Neil told me after, “Now the real work begins. There were a bunch of students who indicated some level of interest – either in joining a bible study or just talking to people about a relationship with God. If we’re going to see any lasting fruit come from this trip, we (staff and student-leaders) need to be intentional about contacting all these people in a timely fashion.” Rick Pridey agrees saying “any intentional launching strategy needs a more intentional… coaching strategy to try and move things toward sustainability.”
Levels of Risk in Ministry Environments February 25, 2008
Posted by Gilbert Kingsley in Evangelism, Launching.2 comments
Chuck Schwaninger and I have recently connected on several issues. In one conversation, he mentioned something he got from a friend with SonLife about the spectrum of environments in which our students minister. This was helpful in understanding the risk associated with specific ministry situations and the level of ease for our students engage in ministry.
Ministry training environment
A gradient showing the movement from service or task type events towards ministry to peers.
Risk increases as you move down the spectrum.
- M1. Non peers–execution of projects: task oriented service projects
- For example: car washes, raking leaves, cleaning church, serving food.
- M2. Non peers–being servants to the body
- For example: Jr. church, nursery care, big brother opportunities.
- M3. Non peers–missions trip, sharing our faith on a short term basis
- For example: cross cultural projects, sharing our faith outside of our normal environment, missions projects.
- M4. Ministry to peers–edification: Caring for peers within the body of Christ.
- Implementing fundamental principals with in our ministry, contacting, prayer base, atmosphere.
- M5. Ministry to peers—expansion: Caring for peers outside the body of Christ.
- Caring for our current contacts as Christ would care for them, investing our lives in friendships with unbelievers at school, work , home.
- M6. Ministry to peers–extension: The evangelism and discipleship of those you have a relationship with already.
- Verbalizing our faith with people whom we have existing relationships. Sowing our faith into our everyday conversations.
- M7. Ministry to peers–explosion: The development of new relationships with peers with the opportunity to talk about your faith.
- Purposeful, intentional, interactions with folks in your neighborhood, work place, teams, etc. Intentionality is the key word.
Did you notice that it is easier to share your faith with someone who is not your peer, and it gets harder to do so with your peers? It strikes me that when a student gets involved in our ministry we ask them to go out witnessing with us. With whom? Other freshmen, or even upper classmen. They are engaging at an M6 or M7 level. We encourage them to initiate relationships with their peers and assume that they will share their faith with them. Most of us fail to see how ministry to peers is so difficult for the young believer.
Katrina relief was an easier environment to involve students in ministry. They start at M2 or M3. A Big Break experience for many of our students really helps to give them a heart for sharing their faith. When they see God use them at M3 they gain the confidence to go back to, say an M6, and share with their friends.
Why not consider taking some young students to a campus where you would like to launch a ministry? Though it takes time to create such opportunities, we may want to think about how to find those M3 places for our students. Ministry on another campus where there is less risk for the student starting out could help us develop a heart for evangelism in them and we could make progress toward reaching our scope.
