God has brought the world to the college campuses of America. We can not only share Christ with students from all the countries of the world, we can share with the future business and political leaders of the world. In some ways ministry with Internationals on US campuses is more wise than going abroad. When we go to another country either as long term missionaries or for a short term mission trip, we very seldom ever get to share with the economic and political leaders of that country. When you befriend and share with an International student, odds are very good you are developing a relationship with a future leader in that country. His or her influence will be wide!
What is the single best way to minister to and share Christ with International students.....Get them adopted by an Americsn family out of one of your churches.
I recently had the privilege to see a Vietnamese student baptized in my church because he was adopted by an Americsn family that had he and his wife in their home for meals and friendship. A College Minister on another campus shared with me today that he had an appointment with an International student who had just come to Christ because of an American host family. He told the College Minister that he wished every International could have a host family as he did and they probably would come to Christ too.
Many years ago career missionary friends told of the country where they had lived. There was a movement to close the country to Christian missionaries. The Vice President of the country intervened on behalf of the missionaries and the country stayed open. The Vice President had studied in the US and had been befriended by Christians. Although he never publicly received Christ, his experience of love and friendship by Christians kept an entire country open to the Gospel.
One thing you can do is connect International students with Christian families. God will use it, perhaps in ways you will never know!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Plan a Summer Contact Night!
If you are able to get some names of students coming to your school this fall, how can you make the best use of that list? Have an Outreach Night....years ago, we started one we called "Fold, Lick, Staple Night". Originally, after eating pizza or grilled hamburgers, our upperclass students would assemble our mailout to go to new and returning students. Over time, it evolved to several different options. What are some things you could do on an Outreach Night?
1. Everyone use their cell phone to call friends and tell them about the first event of the fall. Or, send text messages.
2. Divide up your list and have students write personal handwritten cards to incoming students.
3. Each student take so many names and make Facebook contact with each of them and send a personal message about your ministry.
4. Have each student write a personal thank you to a financial supporter and share some way the ministry has blessed them personally.
6. Oh yeah! Fold, address and sort a giant mail out.
7. Some churches have their members at a Wednesday night church supper write cards to incoming students inviting them to their church.
8. You can add your own idea here. What can a group do in one night that might take you a week or more to do.....and it is from another student.
1. Everyone use their cell phone to call friends and tell them about the first event of the fall. Or, send text messages.
2. Divide up your list and have students write personal handwritten cards to incoming students.
3. Each student take so many names and make Facebook contact with each of them and send a personal message about your ministry.
4. Have each student write a personal thank you to a financial supporter and share some way the ministry has blessed them personally.
6. Oh yeah! Fold, address and sort a giant mail out.
7. Some churches have their members at a Wednesday night church supper write cards to incoming students inviting them to their church.
8. You can add your own idea here. What can a group do in one night that might take you a week or more to do.....and it is from another student.
Friday, May 17, 2013
7 Big Mistakes College Ministers Make
1. Not realizing a great school year is built in the summer and therefore not having a plan for the summer.
2. Changing what you do every year or never changing or tweaking what you do.
3. Giving students responsibility without accountability.
4. Thinking you can or should build a ministry by yourself.
5. Expecting something from students that you don't model.
6. Not starting where students are or not respecting where they are even if you don't agree.
7. Not having a specialized Freshmen ministry or at least a specialized freshmen season.
2. Changing what you do every year or never changing or tweaking what you do.
3. Giving students responsibility without accountability.
4. Thinking you can or should build a ministry by yourself.
5. Expecting something from students that you don't model.
6. Not starting where students are or not respecting where they are even if you don't agree.
7. Not having a specialized Freshmen ministry or at least a specialized freshmen season.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Campus Based College Ministers Should Be Fired if They Don't.......
Campus based College Ministers should be fired if they don't....work with alumni. That's probably too strong of a statement, but it conveys how important I think this is.
Why is it that important that you work with alums?
First, you still have spiritual influence in their lives. You should not walk away from that. Through the years one of my frustrations has been Youth Ministers who did not seem to feel any responsibility in a youth's life after they graduated. Some could not even tell me where their youth group members were going to college. Yet, some times as College Ministers we don't realize how God can continue to use us in the lives of our alums at key times. They may need to talk to you about their marriage. Some may need to call when there is a crisis in their church. You get the idea.
Second, alums can be a powerful voice for the value of Collegiate Ministry in their local church and within their denomination. Today in the time of cuts due to finances, former students who have been active in your ministry can speak to how God uses College Ministry. Do your alums know the value and power of their speaking up? Keep them informed about recent developments related to your ministry and College Ministry in general.
Third, alums can be a consistent source of financial support of your ministry. As funding is cut to many ministries, your alums can make a difference. Through the years we have asked our former students to consider giving $25 a year. Many would say through the years, "I would give you some money, but I can't give enough to help". Lots of $25 gifts add up....and some will give more than $25 a year.
But, there is a difference in being involved with your alums and just asking them for money. Alum newsletters need to be mostly news about alums...not just a letter asking for money. God used you in their life when in school and he still can. It's never too late to start working with alums!
Why is it that important that you work with alums?
First, you still have spiritual influence in their lives. You should not walk away from that. Through the years one of my frustrations has been Youth Ministers who did not seem to feel any responsibility in a youth's life after they graduated. Some could not even tell me where their youth group members were going to college. Yet, some times as College Ministers we don't realize how God can continue to use us in the lives of our alums at key times. They may need to talk to you about their marriage. Some may need to call when there is a crisis in their church. You get the idea.
Second, alums can be a powerful voice for the value of Collegiate Ministry in their local church and within their denomination. Today in the time of cuts due to finances, former students who have been active in your ministry can speak to how God uses College Ministry. Do your alums know the value and power of their speaking up? Keep them informed about recent developments related to your ministry and College Ministry in general.
Third, alums can be a consistent source of financial support of your ministry. As funding is cut to many ministries, your alums can make a difference. Through the years we have asked our former students to consider giving $25 a year. Many would say through the years, "I would give you some money, but I can't give enough to help". Lots of $25 gifts add up....and some will give more than $25 a year.
But, there is a difference in being involved with your alums and just asking them for money. Alum newsletters need to be mostly news about alums...not just a letter asking for money. God used you in their life when in school and he still can. It's never too late to start working with alums!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
John Maxwell from Chic-Fil-A Leadercast
Some highlights from John Maxwell at Leadercast:
An educator takes something simple and makes it complicated.
A communicator takes something complicated and makes it simple.
It's not easy to be simple, but it's effective.
-It's easy to be simplistic, but it's not easy to be simple....don't confuse them!
4 Things in Being a Simple Leader:
1. Add value to people every day. Put people first; it increases your influence with them.
2. Subtract your leadership land mines. (Such as trying to make everybody happy)
3. Multiply your strengths by developing them.
-It's the things you do well that optimize you.
-You have influence in the areas of your strengths.
4. Divide your weaknesses by delegating them.
-Most who work with you already know your weaknesses...but you need to recognize them.
An educator takes something simple and makes it complicated.
A communicator takes something complicated and makes it simple.
It's not easy to be simple, but it's effective.
-It's easy to be simplistic, but it's not easy to be simple....don't confuse them!
4 Things in Being a Simple Leader:
1. Add value to people every day. Put people first; it increases your influence with them.
2. Subtract your leadership land mines. (Such as trying to make everybody happy)
3. Multiply your strengths by developing them.
-It's the things you do well that optimize you.
-You have influence in the areas of your strengths.
4. Divide your weaknesses by delegating them.
-Most who work with you already know your weaknesses...but you need to recognize them.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Leadership Thoughts from David Allen, Leadercast
David Allen is the author of Getting Things Done. Some of his good thoughts:
You are not your work, but your work will run you, if you let it.
You can only feel good about what you are NOT doing when you KNOW what you are not doing.
It's not time you need...it's room.
Don't be driven by latest and loudest.
If you don't give something appropriate attention, it will take more attention.
Ask 3 questions:
Why?
What?
How?
You are not your work, but your work will run you, if you let it.
You can only feel good about what you are NOT doing when you KNOW what you are not doing.
It's not time you need...it's room.
Don't be driven by latest and loudest.
If you don't give something appropriate attention, it will take more attention.
Ask 3 questions:
Why?
What?
How?
Andy Stanley on Leadership at Leadercast
Here are some highlights from Andy Stanley at Chick-Fil-A Leadercast in Atlanta.
The theme was "Simply Lead".
Ask three questions:
1. What are we doing?
2. Why are we doing it?
3. Where do I fit in?
What is the ONE thing that needs to be done? That brings clarity.
-The mist in your mind will eventually become a fog in your organization.
What is your UNIQUE contribution....if it gets done well, almost nothing else matters.
Do a one sentence job description for yourself and those you supervise.
Growth creates complexity which requires simplicity.
He also mentioned just as an aside that he speaks about 35 times a year on Sunday. I found that interesting...as opposed to many pastors who speak every Sunday but one or two.
The theme was "Simply Lead".
Ask three questions:
1. What are we doing?
2. Why are we doing it?
3. Where do I fit in?
What is the ONE thing that needs to be done? That brings clarity.
-The mist in your mind will eventually become a fog in your organization.
What is your UNIQUE contribution....if it gets done well, almost nothing else matters.
Do a one sentence job description for yourself and those you supervise.
Growth creates complexity which requires simplicity.
He also mentioned just as an aside that he speaks about 35 times a year on Sunday. I found that interesting...as opposed to many pastors who speak every Sunday but one or two.
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