How do you develop an Acts 1:8 strategy in your collegiate ministry?

These days, this is the $250,000 question that seems to pervade nearly every ministry conference. The beauty of this single verse is its all-encompassing nature.  Jesus commands his disciples to minister in their home, in the surrounding regions, and throughout the world. However, many of us tragically ignore its context.

Notice the first part of the verse. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”  It’s not the first time Jesus mentioned the Holy Spirit in this final conversation with His disciples. In fact, Jesus gives a completely different command in vs. 4.  “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father…”

For those of us born with mission in our blood, we love to focus on vs. 8.  It’s like your Mom telling you that you get to eat ice cream.  But vs. 4 is like the giant head of dry broccoli she is making you choke down first.  If you’re a dreamer or a visionary, the command to wait feels heretical.  Some great ministry idea may come to you during your morning shower or while you lie awake at night and the first impulse is to move fast.  However, as disciples we are commanded to wait on the Holy Spirit.  We must recognize that we can’t reach the collegiate world by mere human strength.  We need His Holy Spirit empowering us and going before us.  

Instead of concocting some huge ground-breaking idea and attempting to implement it in one week, try something else.  Spend time in prayer and fasting over God’s will for your ministry.  Ask for His guidance as you disciple the students under your care.  Instead of running ahead as if you’re God’s gift to ministry, ask Him to take the lead and for the personal strength to follow.  Every effective strategy begins with Him.

The intent of the team blog website and format is to aid collegiate/young adult leaders in their ministry to college age students in Texas.  The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention does not necessarily agree with or condone all of the thoughts in every blog written by ministers, they simply are providing a platform for resources and thoughts to be shared through this blogging opportunity. If you have any questions contact our offices.

How are You Moving Students to a Lifestyle of Worship.

College years are when we need to teach students how to think and react biblically for themselves, without compromising their faith. In youth groups, it’s fairly easy to maintain constant guidance in a person’s life between parents, teachers, youth ministers, and others. But as students move into the real world, it suddenly becomes more difficult. They are surrounded at all times by their spiritual safety net.  They aren’t living at home anymore, and are making their own decisions. Students should be honoring God and worshiping Him through those decisions.

In trying to move our students toward a lifestyle of worship, it should be emphasized what a lifestyle of worship looks like. We often look at examples of worship found in Scripture and try to extract the essential principles. Passages such as Genesis 22:5, Exodus 24:6-8, Job 1:20, and Daniel 6:10 show us how we can and should respond to God through more than just music. I also encourage our students to look beyond themselves, citing passages like Isaiah 58:6-7. Our discussions often include real situations involving real issues that are common in campus life. A lot of how we worship is wrapped up in how we respond to others, how we respond to the world around us. Is it love that directs our actions? We also tackle more complicated topics, sometimes taking on philosophical discussion during our Bible studies.

Of course, discussion doesn’t put a principle into action, so we plan mission projects. We work with city mission organizations and apartment ministries in an attempt to connect with those in need; we have students going overseas for summer missions; and we collect clothes and other items for shelters.

I think that the most important thing we as leaders can do is live the example. If we show students that we are willing to sacrifice our time, money and resources in daily acts of worship, they will be more affected than if we simply tell them how to live.

Social Networking Doesn't Change People, or Ministries

When Ryan posed the question to me, "How has social networking helped/harmed the social skills of college students?" several thoughts ran through my head. After they swirled around in my head and on paper all morning, I was able to summarize them into this one statement. Social media doesn't change anything about you, your students, or your ministry. It amplifies predispositions. It accelerates communication. It increases the scale of communication. But it doesn't change people, or ministries.

You might be unsettled about this idea, because you know people who are quiet in public, but boisterous online, or vice versa, but I would be willing to bet that in the absence of social networking, those "online" personas would find their way out in some form or another. But I think we can neither expect, nor rely on a tool to change a person's behavior.

So, what does that mean? It means that if your ministry is struggling, a Facebook Page isn't going to help. If your students aren't responding to your emails, they probably won't respond to your Facebook messages either (unless you've got their email wrong, which is one REALLY valuable asset of social media).

If you as a leader want to take advantage of social media, there are several steps you should really take before you start evaluating communication platforms.

1.       Take the time to develop your vision frame (read Church Unique [http://www.churchunique.com] for help with this process).

2.       Identify the platforms your students are already using (through research, like surveys and interviews).

3.       Identify what your ministry does well, or what is important to your strategy (events, discussion forums, small groups, worship service, etc).

4.       Find a way to leverage the platforms your students already use to strengthen the things your ministry is already doing well.

5.     Stay focused on those things.

The intent of the team blog website and format is to aid collegiate/young adult leaders in their ministry to college age students in Texas.  The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention does not necessarily agree with or condone all of the thoughts in every blog written by ministers, they simply are providing a platform for resources and thoughts to be shared through this blogging opportunity. If you have any questions contact our offices.

One of the great things about the Southern Baptist Convention is the panel sessions and discussions that take place. One of the best things this year was held by the Baptist 21 ministry. It consisted of an open dialogue with the following pastors and leaders. Check it out

The Panel: David Platt, Albert Mohler, Ronnie Floyd, Johnny Hunt, Danny Akin, Ed Stetzer, Matt Chandler, Jimmy Scroggins.

• http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/?p=4373 –Baptist 21 panel