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Kingdom Impact Through Vocational Discipleship

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“What is God’s will for my life? I think I’m going to change my major. What do you think I should do? I’m freaking out because I’m graduating and have no idea what to do next. Can you help me?” How often do you get questions like these from students? 

We all desire work that is fulfilling, meaningful, and aligned with who we are and who we strive to become. However, such opportunities are hard to find. The statistics consistently show this, but you don’t need to hear them; you see it around you—in people you know who feel unfulfilled, unhappy, burdened, and depressed by their jobs. It is frustrating to witness students struggle without effective tools or frameworks to address their challenges.

Students are at a stage where some key input from seasoned leaders could have a lifelong impact in this area. Because they don’t know their purpose, students often lack passion and confidence in their vocational direction. They struggle with anxiety, disengagement, and apathy because they lack clarity or a sense of God’s direction in their career choices. You have the potential to help every student you know avoid the trap of unfulfilling work.

Every student is unique, individually called by God, and gifted in special ways. Yet few are aware of how these factors should impact their lives or vocations. They need assistance in discovering a path that leads not just to a good job but to a fulfilling life centered in God’s design for them. To build the right foundation, they must ask the right questions, gain a clearer understanding of themselves, and gain real-world experiences and feedback.

Implementing a vocational discipleship plan for your students likely requires only minor additions to your current activities. However, the level of insight and deeper conversations with students could be revolutionary. Helping them find the intersection of their gifts, strengths, passions, and preferences with their calling will guide them toward career fulfillment, confidence, effectiveness, and the freedom to advance the Kingdom as they lead in ministry, mission, and marketplace.

The process requires two crucial building blocks: information and application.

These blocks enable students to ask the essential questions needed to discover their calling. To grow, you need a solid understanding of yourself, knowledge of your options, and an honest assessment of your current reality. With this understanding, you can develop a plan and take actionable steps to move forward. As students apply this information and gain experience, they will progress further and faster with a guide who regularly evaluates their progress toward their goals. When you create opportunities for students to engage in real work and receive constructive feedback, growth can occur rapidly.

Information is the first step, and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Many great discovery tools are available to help students get to know themselves. The best tools reveal students’ motivations, preferences, interests, behavioral tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and growth opportunities. Great books and online tools can help, as can assessments like Strengths Finder or the Harrison Assessment, which I use almost exclusively. Some are inexpensive or like the Harrison Assessment require some investment.

The key is creating a systematic way of ensuring students in your ministry have a dialogue about these topics. Simple tweaks and additions to how you develop students to create vocational discipleship opportunities can have a game-changing impact on student confidence in this area. 

When it comes to Application, it is about the process.

You likely already do this, at least with your student leaders, interns, and staff. This should include planning, implementation, testing, feedback, course correction, and redirection. You can do this through group interactions with your leadership team and in one-on-one sessions as well. 

For leadership development to be effective for our students, it must include at least three elements: a plan or task that provides them with something to accomplish; implementation, where they actively engage in the task—typically, the best learning tasks are repetitive and occur consistently over a semester; and finally, reflection, where they can think about the positives and negatives, consider potential improvements, and receive feedback on how they can improve. 

Reflection is where you provide the most support. Asking insightful questions prompts them to pause, reflect, and possibly change their behavior, attitude, or thoughts to improve and change. I’ve found that coaching is the most effective format for this process. In coaching, the student is the one doing the thinking and reflecting; you don’t do it for them. By asking good questions, you help them draw out what went well, what needs improvement, and how to create a plan for next time. Personal ownership is crucial.

One of the greatest strengths experienced Collegiate Ministers have is their capacity to effectively gauge students’ spiritual and emotional health. Often, through a few conversations, you can gain a solid understanding of a student’s maturity and developmental needs. Tools like the Harrison Assessment offer extremely accurate and quick insight into these same dynamics, removing guesswork. The knowledge acquired in a single session reviewing a student’s results dramatically shortens the time needed for discovery through one-on-one meetings. This speed in understanding students can greatly enhance their growth during their time in your ministry. 

Here is my encouragement:

  1. Find ways to talk about vocation and calling with your students, and develop a process for students to discern not only calling to ministry and mission but to the marketplace. 
  2. Develop your coaching ability; this has been a game changer for me personally. Going through some training to understand the fundamentals of using coaching as a tool with our students has totally changed how we have conversations, and produces much more student ownership of outcomes. 
  3. Build your vocational discipleship toolbox.  If you would like to request a free demo of the Harrison Assessment, email me at chad.wilkin@gmail.com. 

Your impact in this area has countless potential ripples. Students with a fulfilling vocation aligned with their calling, empowered to influence God’s kingdom, represent a beautiful vision. It’s disheartening to see students continue to grapple with confusion about majors, vocation, direction, and calling, particularly when they lack effective strategies for support. Surely, God’s plan is to deepen the pool of potential ministry and mission-focused students. The process isn’t complicated, but it’s not always easy. If you would like to continue this conversation, I would love to talk!

Chad Wilkin is the co-director of the BCM at Indiana State University in Terra Haute, Indiana.

Sharing Jesus with International Students

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Developing the Vision in Our Students and Congregation

In today’s fast-paced world, the need for clarity and engagement in our communities has never been more important. Whether we are speaking to our students or our congregation, establishing a strong vision is paramount for fostering genuine participation and growth. 

The Importance of Developing the Vision

To effectively engage our students and congregations, we must illustrate what they are joining in on. The first step in this process is to articulate a compelling vision. In our organization, Launch Campus Ministry, we have specific teams assigned to different aspects of our organization. Initially the team we had set aside to engage with international students was titled the “International Team.” The name of the team inadvertently conveyed a message that excluded many who might have participated. We learned this lesson through trial and error, transitioning to the more descriptive “Cross-Cultural Team.” This change not only clarified our purpose but also highlighted our mission to foster cross-cultural friendships rather than simply existing for only international students.

For a vision statement to resonate, it needs to be clear and simple. Overcomplicating our messaging can lead to confusion and disengagement. For example, one straightforward vision statement could be “Reaching students from all cultures.” This simple phrasing encompasses our goal without adding unnecessary complexity. 

Each group—whether it consists of students or members of a congregation—will possess a unique “DNA” that affects outreach efforts. This diversity should be embraced rather than avoided. For instance, our students on our campus identify with a certain culture; they are typically more “nerdy” than athletic. Thus, reaching out through sporting events may not be the most effective strategy. It is vital to assess the specific attributes of our international student body as well; for example, some Nigerian male students typically gravitate toward sports like soccer, while a lot of Bangladeshi female students often find joy in dressing up. Understanding these nuances not only allows us to tailor our outreach efforts but also equips us to engage meaningfully with those we serve.

Relationships Are Greater Than Events

While events can be a means of creating community, it is relationships that ultimately lead to impactful Gospel interactions and a fruitful community. Therefore, our vision should serve as a foundation for building these vital interactions. By prioritizing relationships over mere programming, we can create an environment where individuals feel valued and connected. The trust built within these relationships will allow the Gospel to be received with freedom. 

To facilitate this, we encourage idea-sharing conversations among our group members that can guide training and engagement efforts. These discussions can help us identify practical challenges and obstacles that may inhibit relationship-building with those we are inviting to join us. From there, we can work together on solutions while ensuring that our efforts remain grounded in shared purpose. To avoid these discussions, unity among the group will be impossible. 

Practical Challenges and Obstacles

Navigating the landscape of outreach and engagement can present specific hurdles. You may have different schedules than the students you are trying to reach? Strive to be flexible. Be willing to take advantage of small increments of time. Even making yourself available via texting or phone conversations can build open communications. 

You may struggle to find common ground? There is always common ground to be found. One way to begin conversations is with the two-handed approach (FFFFF & WWWWW)- family, friends, future, festivals, family & who, what, when, where, why. Any combination of an “F” and a “W” are simple ways to begin and sustain conversations. 

Simply being a learner will show a person that you want to be a true friend. 

Evangelism and Bible Study Ideas

As we engage our students and congregation, provide opportunities for evangelism training and spiritual growth. Some potential strategies might include:

  • Creating Events that Facilitate Gospel Conversations: Design gatherings that encourage open dialogue about faith in a relaxed setting. Some examples include: movie nights with discussion questions, taking international students to church as observers, even weddings.
  • Training and Engaging in “Raw” Street Evangelism: Approaches such as the “3 Circles” method can help prepare our community for real-world discussions about faith. Training on different religions and how to engage them with the Gospel. 

When it comes to Bible studies, there are several engaging formats we can explore:

  • Discovery Bible Studies (DBS): These studies allow participants to explore Scripture collectively and draw personal insights.
  • Investigating Christianity: Our version spans the fundamental aspects of faith in an accessible way.
  • Christianity 101: A foundational overview of the Christian faith.
  • “What Do Christians Believe?”: This format invites questions and provides solid answers.
  • “Story Friday”: A narrative-driven approach to sharing faith stories.
  • Works by Lee Strobel: Titles like “Case for Christ” and “Case for Easter” offer investigative insights into Christianity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, developing a clear vision amongst our students and congregations is essential for fostering engagement and facilitating genuine friendships. By emphasizing relationships, understanding the unique attributes of each group, and providing practical strategies for outreach and spiritual training, we can effectively guide our groups toward a shared purpose: making disciples of Jesus. 

Dennis Runner works at Purdue University as the International Team Minister for Launch Campus Ministry. You can learn more about the ministry at launchcampusministry.com.

COLLEGE MINISTER: WHAT IS YOUR MISSION & VISION?

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Why do you do college ministry? What is your ministry’s specific mission? How do you accomplish it? How do you know if you’re on target? Can you put these things into concise and compelling statements? 

Getting clarity on your mission and vision is essential for a leader who wants to impact the next generation for Christ. Moreover, putting your mission and vision into clear, concise statements allows you to recruit others to the movement. A good mission statement becomes an anchor that reminds you of “why” and “what” you’re doing. It also allows you to share the mission with others and invite them to join!

Lots of college ministries know WHAT they do. They engage in outreach and promotion, organize Bible studies and worship services, and plan mission trips and social events. Fewer still can clearly and concisely articulate WHY they are doing it and how it connects to Jesus’s Great Commission in Matthew 28. A good mission statement communicates both the “what” and “why” of your ministry. 

Will Mancini differentiates a mission statement from a vision statement. In Church Unique, he describes five facets involved in building out your “Vision Frame” for your ministry.

  1. MISSION (mandate) – What are we doing? A clear and concise statement explaining what your ministry is committed to be doing. The mission MUST be connected to Jesus’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 but applied to your specific context.
  2. VALUES (motives) – Why are we doing it? What is important to us? These shared convictions guide actions and reveal the ministry’s strength. 
  3. STRATEGY (map) – How are we going to do it? Strategy is the process or picture that demonstrates how your ministry will accomplish its mission on the broadest level. Strategy is a plan. It shouldn’t be overly elaborate. Focus on doing a few simple things like disciple-making, evangelism and leadership development really well.
  4. MEASURES (marker) – When are we successful? Measures are attributes that define or reflect the accomplishment of the mission. They are things you track! Measures are milestones that allow you to evaluate progress. Measures could include the number of small groups, the number of students engaged, the number of alumni joining staff or being sent, etc. There are both “lead” measures and “lag” measures. Lead measures are things you have control over, such as the number of new students you contacted and how many gospel shares you made. Lag measures are the results of your activities, like how many people attended an event or how many professed faith in Christ. Which should you track? Both! 
  5. VISION PROPER (mountaintop + milestones) – Where is God taking us? Vision Proper describes an anticipated future. These are God-sized but measurable and attainable goals. Ideally, Vision Proper describes success as 2-5 years in the future. This isn’t a pie-in-the-sky wishlist like, “We want to see ten thousand students saved!” It answers the question, “If God blessed all of our current plans, where would we be in 2-5 years?” It’s attainable with God’s help. 

Mission never ends because the work is never done until Jesus returns. Vision keeps us motivated because, by faith, we can see God accomplish it in the intermediate future. Andy Stanley says, “Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.” Mission is a not-until-Jesus-returns activity of the church. Vision CAN be accomplished. We can’t just stay motivated by mission because it’s too far off. We need a VISION of where our ministry could be, by God’s grace, in 3-5 years.

In the campus ministry that I led for 21 years, BSM at the University of Texas Arlington, here were ours:

  1. MISSION: To lead college students to become lifelong disciples of Jesus.
  2. VALUES: Christ as the Center of Everything, God’s Word, Prayer, Accountable Community, and Witness. (You might recognize these from the Navigators Discipleship Wheel, a resource we utilize in our discipleship. Don’t be afraid to borrow stuff that works!)
  3. STRATEGY: Evangelism, Discipleship, Missions. We strive to WIN college students to faith in Christ, BUILD them into mature disciples of Jesus, and SEND them as lifelong Gospel workers.
  4. MEASURES: We track lots of stuff!
  5. VISION PROPER: To increasingly saturate the campus with a gospel witness by pioneering two new niche ministries per year and to pioneer a new campus ministry at an additional local campus every 2 years. To have 10% more students meaningfully engaged in discipleship every year for the next 3 years. To send 25 graduates to campus ministry staff or the mission field in the next 5 years.

If your mission statement is clear and also emphasized repeatedly, then it helps keep your ministry from drifting away from the mission. 

One question that I’ve been asked is, “Should you share your mission statement word-for-word or paraphrase it?” The danger of reciting it word-for-word is students may feel like it’s canned or that you are trying to brainwash them. It can feel inauthentic. When you share it word-for-word, make sure you communicate naturally and from the heart. The danger of paraphrasing is that students might not catch the vision. It’s not clear and sticky enough, so they don’t remember it and can’t repeat it. 

In our campus ministry, we repeated the vision like a broken record. Sometimes paraphrased, sometimes word-for-word. “God put you on the campus to help reach others for Christ.” “God wants to grow our faith so we can reach people Jesus for the rest of our lives.” Repeating the mission and vision is one key to creating a strong culture in your ministry. So, repeat the mission. And repeat the mission.

So what are yours? Do you already have a thoughtful statement of your mission, values, and vision? Does it need improving? If not, take some time to pray, dream, and create a God-sized, Great Commission mission statement!

Gary Stidham is the Director of Training for Texas BSM and Adjunct Professor of Collegiate Ministry at Southwestern Seminary. For more helpful articles and information, check out garystidham.com.

This article was originally published on Via Students.

Remembering the Why

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Whether you feel like you are killing it or barely surviving, it’s easy to lose sight of why we do college ministry. Too often, we lean on large turnouts and ministry “successes” for confidence in our call, or allow facing challenges to make us question it. That is a recipe for burnout. If we’re not careful, the rigors of ministry, the disappointments of unmet expectations, or the challenges inherent in student work will wear us down. There will be times when students are flaky, stats don’t reflect the effort you’ve put in, budgets are slim, friends in ministry are distant or nonexistent, family members wonder when you’ll get a real job, and there’s more work to do at every turn. Remembering why we engage in college ministry and how God called us to do this work is so important for ministry longevity! 

In 2 Timothy, Paul clearly perceived the need for Timothy to be encouraged in ministry and, perhaps, to remember why he was in ministry in the first place. In this letter from mentor to mentee, we find four simple, biblical motivations for ministry to encourage us as we remember why we do this work. 

Remember the Gospel.

Paul reminded Timothy: “He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim. 1:9). We are God’s children by his grace alone, and we serve in ministry by grace alone. I must frequently remember that God could accomplish his purposes in collegiate ministry just fine without me. It’s a gracious gift to get to be a part of his redemptive work in the world! By his grace, you are his child, and by his grace, you are a minister of the gospel! Remember, God doesn’t need us to do ministry but he wants us to be with him! A missionary friend recently shared, “Passion will only get you so far. Obedience will take you a little further. But loving Jesus will sustain you.”

Remember the Call.

Paul encouraged Timothy in the simplicity of his calling: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:1-2). Timothy was to stay rooted in Christ, pass on what he had learned and experienced, and teach others to do the same. If we overcomplicate our calling, we are in danger of becoming strong in strategy and measurable success but weak in “the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Steve Smith challenged that while effective methodologies are crucial, “methods are mere mechanics without the Spirit of God.” Admittedly, simple doesn’t mean easy. Whether your “calling” to ministry was a memorable experience or a gradual progression of steps of obedience, remember, God is the one who called you, equips you, and empowers you.

Remember your Mentors.

Paul reminded Timothy that his understanding of the gospel and calling to ministry were not experienced in a bubble. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” (2 Tim. 3:14). As Timothy’s mentor, Paul had vivid memories of Timothy’s call and a unique position to remind him of God’s work in his life. We need true brothers and sisters in Christ who can speak into our lives, encourage us, challenge us, hold us accountable, and remind us why we do this work.

Remember to Persevere.

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Paul knew there would be times when ministry would be rough, people wouldn’t listen, and some would replace Timothy’s voice with “what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:4). Paul expected Timothy to remain faithful to his calling even when things went poorly. I’m convinced that Paul would reject a myth often believed in our culture: that hard means bad, that if things are not easy or fun, something must be wrong. Ministry challenges can teach us more about God’s character and faithfulness and help us better understand ourselves. Facing challenges as learning opportunities is a far simpler prospect when we are confident in the gospel, remember the substance of our calling, and allow our community to speak into our situation. 

Years ago, I spent an entire summer wrestling with whether I was “still the guy” for our ministry on campus. After much prayer, reflection, and even a little looking at other job opportunities, God made it clear that I’m not the guy; HE is…and that I needed to stay as a participant with God in HIS ministry. I have had to relearn this lesson over the years and have found it helpful to define roles and establish a personal mission statement. When I face a challenging season, need to make a significant decision, or just remember why I’ve given my life to collegiate ministry, it is helpful for me to remember God’s role, my role, and what he’s called me to. 

I’ve written mine from my season as BSM Director at UT Tyler below (I’m working on a new one for a new role in TX BSM). Perhaps developing something similar would be helpful for you as well.

By God’s grace, I am a participant in His ministry and get to work with Him… 
To: Saturate the harvest fields of the world, domestic and foreign, with thoroughly equipped workers.
By: reaching, discipling, and sending UT Tyler students to the nations.

Joe Osteen serves as the East Texas Regional Director for Texas BSM. You can follow him on Instagram @JosephOsteen.

Discipleship: More Than a Buzzword

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When you look around churches and ministries everyone seems to be talking about discipleship but very few seem to be seeing real reproducible success in disciple-making. “Discipleship” has turned into a buzzword more than a reality. 

God has placed us in our ministry context to make disciples. This is the primary thing that we are called to do. Everything we do is to serve this goal: to see a footprint be left for Jesus on our campuses. We can look at our stories, we can look at others’ stories around us and we can see the importance of discipleship. But it is also part of the story that God is writing through His Church. Intentional, reproducible discipleship was Jesus’ idea. 

JESUS MODELED DISCIPLESHIP. 

JESUS COMMANDED DISCIPLESHIP. 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20 

JESUS DID NOT SAY GO AND MAKE LARGE GATHERINGS. JESUS SAID GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES. Just to be clear, God uses gatherings and large gatherings are not wrong, but they are not the ultimate goal. They are a vehicle. 

When we look around at the college campus one thing is clear: Jesus is still building His kingdom. Jesus is still writing the story. He has invited us into it. One of the primary vehicles is intentional discipleship. 

Discipleship multiplies, and there is power in multiplication. If we won one person to Jesus every week for the next 16 years we would reach 932 people. If we won one person to Jesus every day for the next 16 years we would reach 5,840 people. If we won one person to Christ every 6 months and discipled them and helped them reproduce their lives into someone else every 6 months (and it worked out perfectly), then in 16 years we would reach 6,442,450,944 people. There is power in multiplying discipleship. 

But we have to define what a disciple is. Definitions matter. They bring clarity. 

1) A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO ADHERES TO CHRIST (MARK 8:34) 
2) A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO ABIDES IN CHRIST (JOHN 8:31) 
3) A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO ADVANCES THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (MATT. 28:19-20) 

If that is what a disciple is… then how would you define discipleship?

A great working definition is: DISCIPLESHIP IS TAKING THE NECESSARY TIME TO WIN, INVOLVE, AND TEACH SOMEONE HOW TO FOLLOW JESUS. 

It is an intentional relationship. It is a time of practical training & accountability. It is a time of modeling. It is about multiplication. What if we could see this happen regularly & in a reproducible way? What could God do if we made this a top priority in our ministries? 

When it comes to discipleship we want to see TWO MAIN GOALS ACHIEVED: 

1) FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT COMMANDMENT (SPIRITUAL GROWTH) –  MATTHEW 22:34-40. 
2) FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION) – MATTHEW 28:19-20. 

College students are a strategic and important group of people in which to see this advanced. You know this. This is why you are in college ministry. They are going to step up and lead in churches, workplaces, and families. We have to disciple our college students well. 

What we have done is we have put together a “Discipleship Toolkit” to help you navigate this conversation in your ministries. All of us want to see this be a priority but sometimes we just don’t know where to start outside of gatherings and small groups. These are great but I believe there is another level. 

This is why the “Discipleship Toolkit” can be helpful for you. We have pulled together some people seeing real success in this area in their ministries to address critical topics in seeing discipleship move from a buzzword to a reality in your ministry. The “Discipleship Toolkit” has nine sessions that address: 

  1. Defining Discipleship. 
  2. Importance of Culture and how to build it. 
  3. Developing a game plan. 
  4. Developing disciples from spiritual activity to spiritual maturity.
  5. Packing the right tools. 
  6. Overcoming Distractions 
  7. Disciple to Disciplemaker 
  8. How it starts with you. 
  9. How to partner well with your local church.

There are videos & discussion guides to walk you through major thoughts & questions. You can find it at https://baptistcollegiatenetwork.com/ministry-areas/discipleship/. 

We pray that it is helpful for you and that God uses you to help real people become real disciples who make real disciples. I believe with my whole heart that God has placed you where you are and has entrusted you with students to see them know and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. What an honor we have to make disciples. Nick Parsons is the Pastoral Ministry Associate for College and Young Professionals at Center Point Church. You can reach him at nick@cpclex.org or follow him on Instagram @nickgparsons1 or @collegecpc.

Maximizing the Holidays for International Outreach 

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I’m sure you know that the nations come to the United States to study on our campuses every semester. They are excited to pursue a higher education abroad, and experience American culture close up. Students have all kinds of expectations of making new American friends, visiting American places, and trying American food! However, because it is often easier for them to connect with people like themselves or from other international cultures, they often find it difficult to connect with American students. 

Did you know there are international students who come to the United States for their degree and never get invited into an American home? We can change that during this holiday season! Below are a couple ways we have done this. We hope you will be creative and discover your own ways to connect!

International Thanksgiving:

Our BCM has hosted an international Thanksgiving every year, this will be our eighth year.  We cook a traditional Thanksgiving, dinner, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and lots of pies! We invite international students to come and learn about why we celebrate Thanksgiving and what we eat. We have this cute Peanuts video which talks about the pilgrims, fleeing for religious freedom on the Mayflower. Then in small groups at our table we talk about if there was a religion in their family and what that was. We also talk about who they believe Jesus to be? Great conversations have happened. We have even had professors from other countries join us with their families. Great opportunities to connect in table fellowship with good food! 

Christmas Tour: 

Why not open your home to a Christmas tour?  International students love the decorations. Don’t forget to tell them about the Nativity and what it means to you! Share a meal? A cookie exchange? International students love to share their cuisine. Why not have a potluck? Or games and appetizers? 

Welcome international students into your home, into your life, into your heart and into a relationship with Jesus!

Chad and LaDonna Wilkin are Co-Directors at the Indiana State University BCM.

A Loving God in the Midst of Grief

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Last year a student (let’s call her Jessica) walked through the doors of BCM on a Tuesday night. She was a freshman, her life was a mess and she “felt like she needed God in her life” but didn’t know where to start. One of the prayers I pray pretty regularly is that God would draw students to Himself and allow BCM to be part of it! I had received a grant that would allow me to have some money to take new students at BCM out for a cup of coffee and a gospel conversation. I texted her and asked if she would like to meet me for coffee. She said YES! 

That morning I learned about a pretty tough upbringing. Her mom was 16 when she had her and her dad disappeared when he learned of her. Her mom had a lot of health problems so Jessica did all the chores and took care of her mom while in junior high. It was so hard for her. Feeling overwhelmed and unwanted pushed her into an abusive relationship with a boyfriend which lasted for many years and all through high school. Jessica was determined to make something of herself and she decided she was going to be the first person in her family to go to college. She started researching what you have to do to get into college. She made the best grades, was on the honor roll, and applied for scholarships and financial aid all on her own. She also lost 100 pounds in high school. She was DETERMINED!!! She was able to get enough scholarships to pay for her education, room and board the first year of college. She became a part of many clubs, a sorority, intramural basketball and of course BCM!

I asked her about her church background and she said “We don’t go to church, but I really feel like I need God in my life.” I realized she was not a Christian and had zero understanding of any religious lingo. I started talking to her in simple terms about Jesus, His love for her and His sacrifice for her. I prayed for her intently. She just didn’t understand and we had to start at the beginning! 

This was the day before my 20 year old son passed away suddenly. Satan was at work trying to hinder this relationship and conversation. Connecting with students was so hard when your mind and heart were absolutely broken! We started taking Jessica to church every Sunday morning. She lived in the same dorm my son Josiah lived in. Every Sunday after he passed away, I was on the verge of a panic attack pulling into the exact space I did everytime we had picked up Josiah. The last time I dropped him off, the night he passed away, 30 minutes later I ran inside to sirens and the flashing lights of an ambulance, fire trucks and police cars. Satan did not want us here, and he was pulling out all the stops to make this go away and to make us stop loving college students.

Fast forward to the night of our church’s IF Gathering. We had an emotional conversation about grief.  The people around Jessica’s and my table shared about grief over a divorce, a lost brother, a son’s suicide, an abusive relationship and I shared my own losses of my 20-year-old son as well as my 40-year-old brother within three months. I never felt more broken in my entire life. On the way home this girl was told the complete plan of salvation for the hundredth time.

She recalls this night as the night she started following Jesus! In July, she told our pastor she wanted to join the church and be baptized. She was baptized on her 21st birthday! She is part of our leadership team this year and she is telling sorority friends about Jesus. She is encouraging friends who went to church as children but don’t go anymore with her story! She even spoke up in class when someone was talking negatively about the Christian religion. She said: “Not all Christians are mean! My church is awesome and so is BCM. They loved me when I felt like no one else did.” Knowing Jesus is changing her life, and God has a big plan for her!

LaDonna Wilkin is a BCM Campus Minister at Indiana State University.

Meeting Internationals: Ask, Seek and Knock

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Acts 17:26-27 – “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”

In the international student population on our campuses, God brings the nations to us.  Just as God brought Paul to Athens to teach across cultural lines, this is so they would have the opportunity to find Him.  An International Student Ministry is directly aimed at cross cultural ministry in light of such opportunities.  

Here are some practical tips to seek out international students, structured in light of Jesus’ instructions on persistently seeking God. 

Luke 11:9-10 –  “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Ask – Pray and ask God for His help:

  • “Please open my eyes to see the internationals on my campus.”
  • “Please give me courage.”
  • “Please equip me for your Kingdom task.”

Ask and you will receive

Seek – Be intentional to place yourselves in locations to meet international students 

  • Place yourselves in high traffic places for internationals
  • Observe where you see international students.  Are they in your classes? Dorms? Apartment complexes?

Seek and you will find

Knock – take the initiative and interact 

  • Most international students want to interact with American students. Most would be honored to have you speak to them. (We highly recommend maintaining these interactions with students of the same sex.).
  • Ask the international student at an appropriate time if you can visit with them. Exchange names, majors and classes.
  • Ask questions and listen. For instance: what brought you to this university/college?  Why are you studying your major field?
  • Ask them about their Family, Friends, Faith, Festivals, Food and Future.  You will likely find that they are more comfortable talking about their faith/religion than most American students.

Knock and the Door will be opened

A Helpful Resource:

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus by John R Scott
https://a.co/d/1IgCaxs

This book is an easy read that explains major Biblical themes clearly and logically. The author chronologically combines the Bible into one wonderfully woven story. It leads the reader to the question: “Do I believe this or not?”

Bit Stephens serves as International Student Consultant for Arkansas Baptists. 

Looking for more resources or help with starting an International Student Ministry on your campus? Sign up here! ismbaptist.net/connect.

Helping Students Uncover Their Spiritual Gifts

Posted on by baptistcollege

This summer at Collegiate Week students engaged in a session to help them explore their gifts. Many students found this session helpful in discerning where God is calling them to serve. We want to share this resource with you. 

Knowing the spiritual gifts that God has given you is an important element in discerning a call to ministry. Do your students know what their spiritual gifts are? Even students that aren’t currently exploring a vocational ministry call can benefit from uncovering their gifts for kingdom service. 

Three ways students can uncover their spiritual gifts:

Through the Exhortation of Others

Often there will be other people in our lives who will affirm the gifts that God has given us, even before we have noticed those giftings in our own lives. Ask students the following questions: Think about times you have served others, went on mission or led something in the church or in your campus ministry. What positive feedback have you heard from others in these moments? Is there a common theme? 

Through Gifts Assessments

There are some great tools that pair with scripture passages that list spiritual gifts. These tools can help students have a more thorough understanding of the variety of gifts and how their lives, passions and personalities align with these giftings. There are a variety of tools, some are more lengthy than others combining several assessments that include personality profiles, skills, and life experiences. Lifeway has provided a good, simple tool that you can use in one session in a downloadable pdf format: https://youngadults.lifeway.com/2010/06/spiritual-gifts-survey/

By Serving

Encourage students to recall times when they have served on mission, in their church or on their campus. Ask them the following questions: What do you love to do? When have you served on your campus, in your campus ministry, on a mission trip? What do you think you did well? What gave you joy?

Be the one that challenges your students to serve and explore their spiritual gifts. One mission trip, small group experience or outreach activity could be the thing that opens their eyes to what God is calling them to do. Give them opportunities, and have those “I see in you” conversations that will affirm the gifts God has given them. 

Ginger Bowman, Church & Campus Consultant/Program Specialist, TXBSM

Patience in the Gospel

Posted on by baptistcollege

Recently, an Iranian friend contacted me years after we had last talked. It would become a life-altering experience for both of us that the Lord orchestrated!

Let me give you a bit of the backstory. My friend grew up in a mostly devout Shia Muslim home. Many of his extended family were very devoted. Once he entered college his doubts only grew, but for a reason that was difficult to understand. He believed that he had seen Allah answer his prayers for his friends. And because of the answered prayers, he came to the conclusion that he could not worship a god who would answer the prayers of a puny person, and if he did, that must make him a puny god. My friend went on to get married and go on with life. 

I met him in grad school. His wife was pursuing a PhD and he was pursuing another Masters at that time. He was in my home for Easter at that time. He had told me that he had become an atheist. We had a follow-up meeting later the next week and he conceded that maybe he was agnostic instead.

Fast forward to the fall of 2023, this friend reached out to me to meet with him as soon as I could, because things had gotten desperate. I met with him at a local restaurant. He informed me that the pandemic had been brutal in his life. He and his wife had gone through a divorce and she was already remarried. He had suffered a deep depression during the pandemic and because of that, he lost his student status in the university. There were other desolating things that had happened to him. He reached out to me because he had remembered our conversation from six years prior, along with conversations he had with other friends and colleagues regarding the Gospel. He had come to the end of himself with “nothing to show”, BUT he remembered that Jesus was the ultimate expression of love that he desperately needed. 

At the restaurant, I went back through the Gospel with him. He humbly understood that he was a sinner in need of a Savior and that Jesus wanted to be his Lord and Savior. We walked out to our cars, which were ironically and unknowingly parked nose-to-nose in a back parking lot. We prayed right there and my friend gave his life to Jesus! 

Since then, my friend has been actively involved in our local church. He is seeking asylum in our country. The process is long. He is being patient, knowing that the Lord will provide. He is seeing the Lord meet his needs in crazy ways. 

Often, when we share the Gospel with someone, we can have an expectation of an immediate response. If it’s a negative response, we can believe that it is a decision sealed for eternity. But, the truth is the Holy Spirit is at work and our patience is required because we don’t have the capacity to save a person. We are simply called to obedience to share and leave the results to Him, no matter how long that takes. 

Book Recommendation: Foreign to Familiar [1] is a book that I highly recommend for my students and volunteers to read first. It was given to me when I began to work with international students. It provides a sweeping view of culture in order to better understand where students are coming from. The book will provide you with questions you can ask to begin conversations as well as a glimpse into the priorities in each culture. It’s a simple read, but great information to begin with. 

Dennis Runner is the International Team Minister for Launch Campus Ministry. You can learn more about the ministry at launchcampusministry.com. 

Want more information about resources on connecting with international students? Sign up here: ismbaptist.net/connect.

[1] Sarah Lanier, Foreign to Familiar.  Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/h1HlWSt