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With Campus Cross Walk
Written by: CampUs4 8/27/2010 4:36 PM
Ministry Essentials for Late August By Steven Tramel Gaines The beginning of a new academic year is upon us, and it is the most stressful and most exciting time for campus ministry. We clutter our late-August calendars in an effort to reach as many new and returning students as possible. To help us through this blissful chaos, let me reflect on three aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus didn’t work alone. He molded, motivated, and mobilized a workforce of disciples. He spent quality time with them, let them witness his ministry, and sent them out to work in his name. He had a team of disciples. And there were others on his team; he was in constant relationship with the Father and the Spirit. I encourage us to mold, motivate, and mobilize student leaders to reach out to their friends on campus and to plan beginning-of-semester activities that attract students to Christ. This task of equipping requires substantial teaching and coaching, and that preparation has to begin long before the semester begins. (If this message is too late for you this year, remember it in the spring.) I also encourage us to benefit from relationships with faithful ministry leaders. I have gained wisdom, support, and ideas from veteran campus ministers and from my co-workers on our church staff. And I’ve found that church members are ready to volunteer if I just explain how they can help. Second, in his busiest and most stressful times, Jesus made room in his schedule to commune with the Father. Sometimes his disciples would find him outside early in the morning, having spent all night in prayer. So I encourage us not to neglect our own spiritual growth in the exciting busyness of late August. When we find ourselves working more than 70 hours a week in ministry leadership, let’s remember to read scripture, meditate, pray, and soak in the spiritual blessings of similar practices. It is when we are the busiest that we must slow down, reflect, and “be still and know…” Third, Jesus was a family man. To our knowledge, Jesus didn’t have a wife or children. But we know that his mother was still alive during his public ministry, and he spent time with her. We don’t know how much, but we know he did. If you’re married and/or have children, don’t let this hectic season cause you to neglect your familial responsibilities. There are many ways to continue intimate involvement with your family in the midst of daily ministry activities. You can set aside a family day each week, schedule dinner at home each day, or find other methods to let this exciting time of ministry also be a blessing to your family. Student leaders, mentors, colleagues, volunteers, personal spiritual formation, and a continual focus on your family (if applicable) are keys to faithful and effective campus ministry in late August… and the rest of the year. Press on, my sisters and brothers! Steven Tramel Gaines serves as Editor-in-Chief of Campus CrossWalk and leads OASIS Campus Ministry, the multi-campus outreach of Central Church of Christ in Spartanburg, SC. He and his wife went out for dinner last Friday and look forward to watching a play together this Saturday.
Ministry Essentials for Late August
By Steven Tramel Gaines
The beginning of a new academic year is upon us, and it is the most stressful and most exciting time for campus ministry. We clutter our late-August calendars in an effort to reach as many new and returning students as possible.
To help us through this blissful chaos, let me reflect on three aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
First, Jesus didn’t work alone. He molded, motivated, and mobilized a workforce of disciples. He spent quality time with them, let them witness his ministry, and sent them out to work in his name. He had a team of disciples. And there were others on his team; he was in constant relationship with the Father and the Spirit.
I encourage us to mold, motivate, and mobilize student leaders to reach out to their friends on campus and to plan beginning-of-semester activities that attract students to Christ. This task of equipping requires substantial teaching and coaching, and that preparation has to begin long before the semester begins. (If this message is too late for you this year, remember it in the spring.)
I also encourage us to benefit from relationships with faithful ministry leaders. I have gained wisdom, support, and ideas from veteran campus ministers and from my co-workers on our church staff. And I’ve found that church members are ready to volunteer if I just explain how they can help.
Second, in his busiest and most stressful times, Jesus made room in his schedule to commune with the Father. Sometimes his disciples would find him outside early in the morning, having spent all night in prayer.
So I encourage us not to neglect our own spiritual growth in the exciting busyness of late August. When we find ourselves working more than 70 hours a week in ministry leadership, let’s remember to read scripture, meditate, pray, and soak in the spiritual blessings of similar practices. It is when we are the busiest that we must slow down, reflect, and “be still and know…”
Third, Jesus was a family man. To our knowledge, Jesus didn’t have a wife or children. But we know that his mother was still alive during his public ministry, and he spent time with her. We don’t know how much, but we know he did.
If you’re married and/or have children, don’t let this hectic season cause you to neglect your familial responsibilities. There are many ways to continue intimate involvement with your family in the midst of daily ministry activities. You can set aside a family day each week, schedule dinner at home each day, or find other methods to let this exciting time of ministry also be a blessing to your family.
Student leaders, mentors, colleagues, volunteers, personal spiritual formation, and a continual focus on your family (if applicable) are keys to faithful and effective campus ministry in late August… and the rest of the year.
Press on, my sisters and brothers!
Steven Tramel Gaines serves as Editor-in-Chief of Campus CrossWalk and leads OASIS Campus Ministry, the multi-campus outreach of Central Church of Christ in Spartanburg, SC. He and his wife went out for dinner last Friday and look forward to watching a play together this Saturday.
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