With Nate’s transition it got me thinking about what are the things that you need to do when you first go to a new place or you start a new ministry.

Evaluate Evaluate Evaluate

It is important that you come in with eyes that are looking at everything that has been going on and what is going on in the church. To be able to effectively develop/build/and grow a ministry the following are a few key areas that you need to find out about:

•    - Learn the history of ministry to collegiate/young adults in the church

   - Learn how the pastor and key leaders think about collegiate ministry
                 - What do they want to see happen?
                 - How bad do they want it?

•    - Find out about the lay leaders that might help you in the church.
•    - Who has a passion for the ministry?
  •    - If it is a new church you must learn the church, how does it function?
  •    - Who are the movers and shakers that make things happen.
  •  
  • On a small staff it is often some church members while on a larger staff it can be a few key staff. Try to learn as much of that bad stuff in the church (every church has its share) as soon as you can so that the pitfalls are more easily detected.

 So for this one step 1 is evaluation