CAMPUS LAUNCH PAD

WHO: Full-Time Position for Recent College Graduates We only have recent college grads for interns.  If they are exploring a call to ministry, then this is the job for them! If they are pursuing “secular” careers we just ask them to give back a year.  We operate under the idea that if you pay a student to do ministry than you have a harder time helping other students understand that everyone is suppose to do ministry. We have a core team of student leaders who do the work of the ministry.  To pay one of them to do the work that others may be doing for free would be counterproductive.  We do have student leaders who operate similar to interns who we call “staff” but it is a volunteer position. For a person to be considered a candidate for internship we look at: Are they FAT (Faithful, Available, Teachable)? Do they fit the model of a Disciple Maker? I’m attaching the Discipleship Ladder from Steve Shadrach’s Fuel and the Flame that articulates what we mean b...

“What you’ve heard from me in the presence of many witnesses pass on to faithful men who in turn can train others.” Paul of Tarsus “The gospel came to you on its way to someone else.” Rob Gallaty “Your church is the fruit of other people and churches whose names may have been long forgotten.  Has your church started other churches, or did history stop with you?” Steve Addison The gospel is meant to be passed on.  It was meant to saturate every pour of our being and every nook and cranny of society.  It’s what Jesus preached: “Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  What a picture!  In order to see the kingdom come near and the gospel passed on Jesus had a big vision, a focused plan, and an open hand.  EVERY AND ALL: The Big Vision Jesus had a big vision and started with the end in mind. Here are a few of God’s “vision statements”: Go and make disciples of ALL nations... - Matthew 28:19-20 EVERYONE who calls on the name of t...

Having a staff can be one of the most rewarding and challenging things for a campus minister to deal with.  A good staff can multiply kingdom work in amazing ways, but a dysfunctional staff can kill a ministry quickly.  Often times as ministers we are quick to develop students but once we have staff we forget about developing our staffs. Here are ten things that can help develop your interns and staff. Don’t treat them like Ministry Assistants. Spend their time and energy on campus. Make your own coffee, hire someone else to answer the phone.  Spend their energies on evangelism and discipleship.  Let them be Chief.   Give them something they are in charge of and you answer to them about.  Sure, they may ask you questions in private about how to do it, but in public, in that area, you are the Indian and they are the Chief. Remember as responsibility goes up, personal rights go down.   You may be top dog, but remember the kingdom principles....

We met as a staff to prep for the year. We've been developing some Staff Lessons to Live By. Here is what I shared with them: HONESTY WINS THE DAY It's better you are honest than a good campus minister. If you're not sure what to do in a situation, ask. If you do something dumb, tell us. If you are stuck in what the next level of your ministry is suppose to be, ask someone. Is someone on staff or a student rubbing you the wrong way and there is conflict? Address it. THE MISSION DRIVES THE TRAIN. Your personal preference is important, but it takes a back seat to the mission. Sometimes your idea or plan isn’t chosen. Sometimes you don’t lead the mission trip, ministry team you want. Use that disappointing energy to build a bridge and get over it. This is a rhapsody of compromises. EVERYONE HAS A VOICE We sit as equals here. different roles but as equals - from the Ministry Assistant to the Director. Interns - you are staff. Directors - you are staff.  To st...

This isn't rocket science, but it seems like we are always striving to build community.  How do we get these strangers to come together and love each other and get along. With the constant influx of new people its hard to build a culture of family and community. Mike Breen writes about this and uses the the Greek word "oikos" or household. Here are 5 things he says that a household does togther. PLAY TOGETHER Have fun together.  Go to the movies.  Have some hangout time. If it's all business all the time then you won't have each other's backs because it's just a "working relationship" PRAY TOGETHER When you pray together you begin to hear each other's hearts before God and it binds you closer.  Besides, it's harder to have discord with someone after you pray alongside of them and for them. EAT TOGETHER There is something about food that brings people together.  You notice that Jesus eats with his disciples alot?  Break bread...

Growth in ministry is always exhilarating! Having more there than last year, starting a new small group, having to set out “overflow” seating; all of these things keep you coming back! It’s surfing the wave of chaos! But transitions can also be really hard. It’s hard moving from a “small group Bible study” to a “large group weekly meeting.” And boy, you can tell when you prepared for one and showed up at the other! It’s the same way with your student leaders and your staff. The art of leading as a single staff looks different then when you have a large student leadership team behind you. I didn’t realize this when I started in ministry. A HUGE mistake. When we began our ministry was about six students. Today we have six on staff. The dynamics are very different when you are a single staff and deeply know all five people around you to having a staff and having students leaders you don’t know very well. The transitions a growing ministry can face can damage your relationship...

I remember the first year we had the budget (and enough students) to warrant an intern. I was excited! We were now “multi-staff.” We could have staff meetings instead of me talking to myself on the way to campus! The only problem was I had no clue what I was doing. Literally, no clue. I had little direction therefore I gave little direction. And by the end of the first semester our intern was burned out, feeling overwhelmed, and unsupported. I blew it. Interns are a great way for us to shepherd the next generation of collegiate ministers. They are also great ways to multiply our ministry and the gospel footprint on our campuses. We have to get this right! Here are a few thoughts when thinking about interns and what to do with them: USE RECENT COLLEGE GRADS Might I suggest to you that it’s better to have interns who are recent college grads instead of students. Why? If you pay a student to do ministry than you have a harder time helping other students understand that ever...