College Union

By: Tammy GannIn Matthew, we are commissioned to “go and make disciples of all nations.” In Acts, we are told that we will be witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Revelation, we are told that “all nations will come and worship before you.” To make disciples, to be witnesses, to be a part of bringing in all nations before the Lord, we must go to the world. Jesus set the example when he came to us. He did not wait for us to come to him, to be perfect. He “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross.” Are we willing to follow Christ’s example and bring life, hope and healing to a hurting world? Are we teaching and challenging our students to do the same? How can we do this most effectively for our students?

I believe we must become strategic in our thinking about missions in our campus ministries. The call is clear…we are to be about God’s work on our campus, in our cities, and throughout the world. We must move past considering missions as just one of the many programs that our ministries have. By making missions part of all that we do, we will be continually seeking opportunities to bring glory to God by working in his harvest. The question becomes, how can we do this?

I have been struggling with this question for a while in my personal life and most recently as it relates specifically to campus ministry. I believe we all want to see our students passionate about Christ in their own lives. We want them to be intentional about sharing him with their friends on campus and equipped to take him into their careers. As we integrate outward thinking into all that we do, perhaps our students will gain a vision of living a missional lifestyle. Here are some thoughts on creating a strategy to do this.

Rethink what “missions” means. For many people, their initial reaction to the word “missions” is to picture someone living in the deepest part of a jungle somewhere. At the very least, it always seems to involve leaving the country. For campus ministry, it usually means a spring break or summer trip. It is an opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zones and experience God in a powerful way. All of this is true, but it is not the complete picture. Missions is simply taking the message of the cross to people who need to know the hope and healing of the blood of Christ. It is stepping into a classroom and befriending the person sitting next to you. It is building relationships with international students who often come to America hoping to make an American friend while getting their education. We cannot be limited in our thinking. Otherwise, “missions” becomes something that we do once or twice a year rather than an essential part of our daily lives and ministries. This year at Texas Tech, students have taken some steps to expand their vision of missions. A year ago, all small groups met in the Wesley building; this year most are meeting on campus. Their hope is to be more available to students who may not step foot into a “church” building. At least once a month, students are on campus doing “kindness” projects…handing out free hot dogs before basketball games, free scantrons during test weeks…all to share the love of Christ in practical ways. They are recognizing that they do not have to wait until a spring break mission trip to bring the love of Jesus to those who do not know him.
Actions to take in ministry:

* Pray, pray, pray…for God to open our hearts to HIS vision and heart for missions
* Consider how each ministry area (worship, fellowship, small groups, etc), each activity pursues the purpose of drawing people into a relationship with Christ
* Plan more activities on campus: small group meetings, worship meetings, kindness projects, etc.
As we disciple students, educate them about what God says about missions. Missions is not a job for a chosen few. It is a call to all of us. We can equip our students to be prepared to share Christ wherever they are. As they are educated in their classrooms about their chosen career path, we can equip them to bring Christ into those careers. I think that too often we do not acknowledge the fact that no matter where our students are headed after college, they are all headed into ministry, not just those going on to seminary for a pastoral role or heading overseas to the “traditional” mission field. Our workplaces ARE mission fields. We must teach our students that the harvest is ripe wherever they are and they can impact the world for Christ!! In addition, we can teach them that there are many “roles” in missions: goers, senders, mobilizers and welcomers. Throughout our lives we can take on any of these different roles…sometimes we are called to be the ones going. At other times, we can provide the prayer and support that is needed to send others. Perhaps, the role is that of a mobilizer…one who encourages, challenges and motivates others to go. Finally, there are times to be welcomers…to provide hospitality to others who have come to America. For example, international students often are looking for an American friend. They have come from so far away. What a great opportunity for students to realize that just by befriending such a student, they are ultimately involved in God’s great work of making his name known among the nations.
Actions to take in ministry:

* Pray, pray, pray…that God would open the eyes of our students to the impact they can have today and in the future for him…that they are all called to be on mission with God
* Host the Traveling Team (www.thetravelingteam.org) , a group of people dedicated to traveling throughout college campuses to educate, encourage and mobilize students for missions
* Encourage students to take the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (www.perspectives.org) class or perhaps even host the class.
Develop an Acts 1:8 mindset. As we seek to teach our students to integrate a missional focus into their daily lives, service opportunities are a great way to allow them to put into practice what they are learning, as well as stretch them beyond their normal comfort zones. We do not want to limit these opportunities to just the campus, or just within city limits, or just on overseas trips. Acts 1:8 says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” By providing opportunities to serve in all areas, our students can gain a “global vision”—one that includes ministering to their neighbor in the dorm, the homeless in the city, disaster victims in the country and people on other continents. It ceases being an either/or idea and includes all the people of the earth.
Actions to take in ministry:

* Pray, pray, pray…for the campus, for your city, for missionaries stationed around the world, for people of countries that will be visited on short-term trips, for the nations of the world
* Plan outreach opportunities on campus-random acts of kindness, surveys, group lunches in the dining halls designed to be an easy place to invite friends, etc.
* Plan service opportunities in the city-work in soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, after school programs…
* Plan spring break and summer short-term mission trips
Finally, as you do plan spring break and summer short-term trips, be strategic about where you go and what you do. Many students would point to a short term trip as a turning point in their relationship with Christ. There is something powerful about stepping out of our comfort zone and away from the distractions of daily life and into an experience focused on serving others and sharing Christ. Anyone who has been on a short term trip would probably agree that they were affected far more than the people whom they were visiting. To make these experiences as effective for the kingdom of God as possible, we need to be strategic in our choices.
Actions to take in ministry:

* Pray, pray, pray…for God to reveal exactly where he is calling you to go
* Develop partnerships with missionaries and consider returning to the same location to deepen relationships with the missionaries and with the local people. It is amazing to return to a mission location for several years in a row and see the continuing work that God is doing there. SMU Wesley has returned to Costa Rica to work with a missionary couple there for the past 3-4 years. They are able to return to churches where they have done work in the past and see how God is continuing to use what they did years ago!!!
* Develop a strong training program before going and a good debriefing time during and after the trip. If we want these trips to be more than just a great experience, we must help our students integrate what God teaches them on the trip into their daily lives once they return. (A great training program for leaders is the Short Term Missions Academy, visit www.msum.org/go/ShortTMA for information)
* Consider partnering with other campus ministries. There is power in unity across the body of Christ. To serve with another ministry allows our students to learn from each other and draws together so many different and wonderful gifts!
We have such a wonderful and unique opportunity to help our students grow in their love for Christ. We can equip them for ministry…in a church, in a secular work environment and around the world. Let’s teach them, as we learn ourselves, how to live a life on mission with God!!
Tammy Gann is the Associate Director at the Wesley Foundation at Texas Tech with much experience in short term missions in places like Cuba, India, North Africa, and spots in the U.S.

Categories: Missio Dei
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