Every August, hundreds of incoming freshman and their families arrive on the universities around the country to start the adventure of the college life.
This is why it is important to invest in others during the summer for the work that is to be done for the start of the new semester. Whether you are a first-year intern or a 25-year old campus minister or 47-year-old veteran like myself, you need to invest first and foremost in the summer as well. We need to drink deeply from the well of scriptures on “one another relationships” during the summer for our campus ministry, since this most often begins momentum for the new school year. What you do in the summer can fuel your ministry for the new school year. I believe three things that can help build a ministry during the summer are to invest, delegate, and applaud.
Invest
It’s summer now. Look at your ministry and ask yourself, “Who am I investing in?” Investment means much more than just developing with people during the school year. You know Jesus had the many, the 12 and the inner circle of three. While not a formula, this is a great model for the way we invest in students and student leaders. Who are you putting value into this summer? Who are the people to whom you give the most time and attention to now? How are you preparing the new disciples to transition into the campus ministry?
A great book which has helped me, and which my mentor suggested for me to read, is a book called Cultivate by Jeff Myers. This summer should be about growing personally with those in our ministry. The students learn the importance of building relationships with the people around them even during the summer. Some examples are taking road trips to visit other students in your ministry, planning a prayer time in the different places they live, as well as creating fun times.
Delegate
Leadership is a great privilege and calling. God has called you to your position. With it comes great joy and responsibility. The challenges of campus ministry are real and about much more than just the job. The ministry comes with difficulties, personal cost and sacrifices. Yet those difficulties are worth suffering to serve the Kingdom. Do you see your work as a gift from God? Do you delegate? Do you have plans for this summer with your ministry? Have you delegated any responsibilities this summer? For example, you can delegate someone to bring the volleyball net and set it up:-)
Applaud
Secure leaders rejoice in the success of other leaders as well as those we mentor. In your own ministry, recruit and empower those more talented than you—and then celebrate the work they do. Honor other leaders. When you hear of the success of others, do you feel jealous, or can you take joy in the success of others for the sake of the Kingdom?
Seek mentors and implement other ides from other campus disciples. We spend lots of time with students, staff and interns, but we all need godly men and women who have taken the journey of life—and life with God—further than we have. Mentors are important in ministry and in living a life of faithfulness. Seek out someone who has lived faithfully for decades and spend some time together so his or her life can press against yours. Someone believed in you and put strength into you like Jonathan did to David (1Samuel 23:16) with God’s help. God invests, delegates and applauds our effort (Hebrew 6:10).
