A past student of mine, Tim Shontere, is now a missionary in a tribe out in Papua New Guinea. I was recently chatting with him about the process it takes to actually reach the core of the tribe he’s in. There is a minimum 3-5 year process of getting to know the tribe’s culture before they even mention the name Jesus. The reason is because he has to understand how their social system works, how they function (and don’t)…he has to understand their worldview. Why? Well, first of all they need to understand the connotations their worldview places on words. By getting to know the core group of this tribal system they have a much great chance of being a part of transforming the entire tribe.
For instance, if they talk about Christ being a sacrifice these people can think of all kinds of different things. In other words the word “sacrifice” could carry all kinds of connotations for these people that could actually distract from/distort the biblical meaning. As missionaries they need to understand ALL of these things if they’re going to accurately portray the gospel message. They have to understand the system of thought. If not, they could actually undermine the entire mission.
Why is it that we as college ministry leaders feel like we’re an exception? Why is it we feel like we can just walk on a university campus, throw an event or something, and think that’s all we need to do? Is it possible that without even realizing it we’re actually undermining the core group of that system – and possibly our mission? Shouldn’t we know the core of that system before we just jump in?
If you truly want to reach a campus, here are some thoughts:
- Get to know the people at the core of the system: administrators and professors. Maybe you ought to spend 3-5 years building relationships with the right people in the core of the system before you ever mention the name of Christ. The truth is that every campus has some Christian professors that are trying to reach the campus in some way. Not seeking the advice of these types of people could actually undermine everything God has been doing on that campus through them before we marched on with our immediate results mentality. Maybe they had a long-term objective of reaching that campus. It would be like you or I going into that tribe in Papua New Guinea to put on an event – without even knowing it we could undermine the life long commitment of the missionaries.
- Have a long-term perspective. We too often want immediate results and thus create events designed to attract a certain number of people. This is a short-term mindset. We have to build relationships with the right people if we’re going to truly penetrate things.
- Check ourselves. Do we really think we can reach an entire campus without at least some of the core of that system being on board? To me that just seems arrogant. It just doesn’t seem right to not work alongside some of these professors – who frankly are much smarter than we are. I have a Master of Divinity degree. That means I have some education in regards to theology. I also have somewhat of a grasp of philosophy and some other subjects. However, there are Christian professors that have spent their life thinking about how the gospel message plays out in higher education – and most in a specific area of higher Ed. The reality is they’ve probably thought about some things we haven’t. We can’t be so arrogant to think we could do a better job than them. Granted, some campuses have fewer believing Christian professors than others, but I don’t think that changes my point.
I have more to say, but I think I’ll stop there for now and see what you think…
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Chuck Bomar is pastor of Colossae Church in Portland, Oregon and founder of CollegeLeader (
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Wow that is a great point. I actually know a few professors at the colleges I minister at who are Christians but I haven’t thought to even talk to them about their hopes or thoughts on reaching the campus.
GREAT stuff.
The more we approach college ministry like missions (rather than like Church Ed), the better off we are.
I’ll see you Tuesday!
Perhaps throwing an event isn’t what we think is all that needs need to be done. Perhaps we do that because we know it is easier. Building relationships takes time and effort that we often are to lazy to invest in. In our microwave culture it because a challenge to think long term but I most definitely agree we need to.
To be honest, I think waiting three to five years is irresponsible and foolish. The New Guinea comparison is not a fair comparison at all. Our society and New Guinea are completely different. We live in a “christian” nation. We do not have the same set of issues the missionaries there deal with on a daily basis.
If we want overnight success for the sake of success then there is a pride and purpose problem. Sometimes however, especially in the United States, the system needs to be upset. If it is taking years for professors to reach students on a campus, someone needs to come in and shake things up. The intelligence level of professors and administration have nothing to do with their ability to reach or not reach the students. In fact God says he has chosen the foolish to shame the wise. The apostles didn’t wait years to shake up the world. No, in fact they got to work pretty quickly. 3000 were added to their number on their ministry kickoff (Acts 2)! In no time at all they were known as the men who “caused trouble” all over the world (Acts 17:6). As a matter of fact the whole book of Acts flies in the face of this post.
I am currently on a church plant and we have had a campus ministry from day one. We arrived on a campus with 6 students and myself as the campus minister. We got right to work. We have seen our ministry grow to nearly 70 members and over 130 involved each week. We are the largest, most respected, and most influential group on campus. This is not because we are so good but because we know we must advance the kingdom of God, not sit by and watch. (1 Sam 14)
Long term perspective is not waiting to do what needs to be done… it is making sure once people are saved that you help them grow, mature, and turn and do the same for others (Mat. 28:18-20) We are to develop a ministry in which Students are making Students his Students…. that will bring long term success.
College campuses are fields ripe for harvest and if you wait to long the the ripe harvest could be rotten.
GREAT thoughts Kerry! I appreciate your input, and will be commenting in a similar regard soon. However, I would say, that relationships with professors and administrators – and pouring time into building lasting relationships with them – is much more sustainable. For instance, students come and go every 4-6 years. Then, you will need to start all over again. These administrators and professors are likely to be there much longer and assist us in having a much more sustainable and long lasting ministry on that campus. Plus, if we leave and go to another church/ministry, these administrators/professors are likely to stay behind. Because of this, I still think it’s worth taking the time to invest in these relationships.
I do agree that sometimes the system needs to be turned upside down. But I also don’t think it needs to be necessarily. For the most part we haven’t even given professors and administrators a try. In my opinion it doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. I think we can have an immediate impact through our influence, and also with lasting results with ongoing relationships with the staff at the university.
cb
I like the original though here, but I see some serious flaws in these evangelism efforts.
In step 1 you discuss getting to know the core system, and you go on to say that this could take 3-5 years. And then you make the statement that our efforts may undermine what God is doing on this campus. Then in step 2 your words are right on the money, but for some reason I feel like your motives are misleading. We do need to focus on the relationship, but it is only with Christ. It appears that you are wanting us to build these relationships with the campus. Now, in step 3 you ask a question “Do we really think we can reach an entire campus without at least some of the core of that system being on board?”. Well, to put it simple! We don’t need anyone except Christ. You go on to say that these professing Christian professors have a better understanding of how the Gospel message plays out in higher education. You should stay focused here. The gospel message is the same today as it was 2000 yrs ago, as a woman went to draw water from a well, and as a small man waited in a tree, it is the story of redemption. It is one beggar telling another beggar how to get bread. We should focus on the fact that this world and these campuses are lost and starving for the bread of life. We are ordered to go into the world and preach the gospel, to lift up the name of Lord, and He will draw men unto Him. We are only tools of Christ. Now, getting back to your first step. We only need to present the Gospel and let God do the rest. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”. Our role in preaching the gospel is to present the truth of mankinds nature to a dying world, to show them that they are dead in their transgressions against Gods law, to provide them with the good news that came in the cross, and the joy that rest in the results of the resurrection, and assure them that He is coming back to get His church. You can do that to a dying man in less than 2 minutes and ALL MANKIND IS DYING.
Brother, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you in this endeavor and will manifest the presence of Christ upon you. That you will be guided from upon high, and will look into the eyes of these campuses with truth. May the Lord work through you and may you have revelation into the power of Gods Holy infallible Word.
Consider Jesus,
Tim
ps Let me know when we are given the power to undermine what God is doing! I would like to see the example of anytime in history that anything was not a part of Gods redemptive plan for mankind.
I, for one, am glad that a campus ministry took the time to reach out to me on campus. I was lost and headed down a very destructive road, not only for my self but for those closest to me. I am living a much different life now and am impacting people in a much different way, than the 5-6 night a week drunk/sex fiend that I was before. That was over four years ago. I have seen this over and over again. The story may have been different but the results were same. The immediate action with sustaining results that our campuses need is Jesus driven out reach. I think of my sailor talking/7 night a week drunk/”frendly” sister who found Christ from this same ministry just a month after I did may feel the same way that I do.
You make a good point that students come and go every 4-6 years. Which is all the more reason to reach out to them now. I think by waiting and setting up the campus for the right conditions, is in a way, taking Jesus out of the equation.
There is no replacement for having the faculty of the university that you are serving at but the faculty will be won by an unwavering faith in Jesus that consistently serves and loves the students of the campus. Service and love are contagious.
So you do not think the system necessarily needs to be turned upside down? How many campuses do you see being reached? How many years have there been “christian” professors on campuses? How many years do you want to give them to even begin to initiate their “plans” to reach the University?
Hey Kerry! I’m pretty sure I met you at the Campus Ministry United conference, during my yearlong research trip. Sorry I haven’t gotten to visit y’all there – one day. Hopefully.
I think it’s good to remember that context is key. The things Chuck said are definitely right-on as a general principle (and I think it’s pretty clear he didn’t mean we’re ALL supposed to wait 3 years before we say the name of Christ).
Foreign missions has taught us that contextualization is really important, even if we have to wait to get to know the campus, its people, its systems, and even its “language.” I personally look at this kind of patience as obeying the command of “gentleness and reverence” toward those we’re reaching. Clearly, some places are easier to get to know than others.
Your success (and school) aren’t normative for college ministry, although it’s awesome to see the success you’ve had! There are lots of places, though, where attempting to move quickly might be a terrible option – like Portland, where Chuck is, or SMU, where I’m sitting right now.
Kerry. I do believe the system needs to be turned upside down. This is why we need to dig deeper into it. I think your words actually proved my point. The way we’ve been approaching things – not even seeking to work with the “core” of the system – obviously hasn’t worked. But again, this is NOT an either-or issue. It’s a both-and thing.
I agree with Kerry. I am sure glad I didn’t take this advise ten years ago when I was first going into Ministry. If I had there would be about 200 fewer Christians today.
Benson you said; “Your success (and school) aren’t normative for college ministry, although it’s awesome to see the success you’ve had! There are lots of places, though, where attempting to move quickly might be a terrible option – like Portland, where Chuck is, or SMU, where I’m sitting right now.”
You are right about one thing: His success is not normative for College ministry! But you are dead wrong on the reason why. The reason it’s not “normative” is because very few college ministries are reaching out to anyone who has not grown up in The Church.
Kerry’s approach will work on ANY Campus and it works fast. When we obey Gods Command to love the lost He blesses the work and provides increase.
Thanks Lynn for your reply. I’m excited to hear that your ministry has been effective on campus – and I hope it continues in that direction. I will point out that the issue here is more than what seems to be caught by you. I never mentioned that we shouldn’t go onto campus and share Christ with people. I did however ask us to think more deeply about marching in and throwing an event or starting an entirely new ministry. Big difference in my opinion! I think parts 2 and 3 will clarify a few things (possibly) for you. But it seems as though part 4 will be needed too. People seem to be missing the point………but it’s fun to know that at least people are thinking about college ministry, that’s for sure.
Hi Lynn!
Responding to your note to me… I do know that very many college ministries are reaching out to people who haven’t grown up in the Church. For instance, Campus Crusade has made evangelism a hallmark for its several decades – and it’s the best-known college ministry in the country.
I’m not prepared to say that the hundreds of college ministers I’ve met who have small ministries are being disobedient or unloving. It seems to me that centuries of modern missions and decades of modern American college ministry speak against any idea that obedience automatically leads to numbers or speedy success of any other kind.
Those same histories urge us to differentiate between contexts. In the 200+ campuses I’ve seen recently, I would be hard-pressed to name an approach that would be wise for even a majority of those campuses, let alone ALL of them.
I also know that quick college ministry growth is often a red flag for unhealth, too. (I am NOT implying that’s Kerry’s case. I’m only arguing against “quick” indicating success by itself.)
I personally believe Chuck’s approach is the MOST loving way to approach campuses and the “tribes” that inhabit them. Bruins, Badgers, and Buckeyes all need Christ – but how God chooses to use missionaries among those tribes may look as different as Paul’s different approaches to the tribes of his day. The more we get to know people, the better we can love them in “deed and truth.” Ultimately, “knowing the people you’re trying to reach” seems to be an underlying principle to Chuck’s posts.
Thanks, Chuck. And thanks for sparking a great discussion.
I appreciate this line of thinking. I do feel that chapter numbers, big events, and a one-size-fits-all mentality are sometimes tempting for campus ministers. I just really dig a heart for sustainable ministry. I am currently stepping in to a ministry where faithful men and women have created a solid foundation at the school (Whitman College), and the feeling of strategic momentum wasn’t something I had to create.
However, the school is a liberal arts college where the chapter planters originally faced harsh opposition by staff (and students), and they reached students in spite of it. One such student has become the regional director for Intervarsity in the Northwest.
That is just to say that there is surely a balance between strategy and taking risks at the expense of strategic relationships.