I was just at a “prayer” meeting with some local pastors. I put prayer in quotes because we talked most of the time. I think this was fairly unusual though. Their Thursday morning gatherings are typically spent praying for one another. Pretty cool.

The highlight for me though was listening to Louie, a 90 year old man. Well, I think he was 90. If not, very close. He was there with his wife, whom was sleeping in her wheel chair.

Wisdom spewed out of Louie throughout the meeting. He’s a retired pastor, but certainly seemed to be a godly man. He said something at the end that I thought was very cool. We were just about done talking, when he interrupted and said: “We’ve had a good discussion today, but I just want to remind everyone that Satan isn’t sitting on his butt doing nothing today. He’s tirelessly at work, and we ought to be tirelessly praying.”

We prayed. Afterwards he asked if he could pray for me. He got up and walked over to me as I was sitting in my chair. I stood in front of me, put his hands on my shoulders, and began to pray. I can just tell you that I felt like this man knows God and that when he was praying for me I really felt like God was listening and present. Prayers of the older, yet faithful saints are underrated. I confess that I don’t recognize their faithfulness enough. Man, that was cool. This man has walked with God for more than 3 times the time I have and he had a softness and humility about him that I would love to have at his age.

Louie gave me his number. I’m gonna have a cup of coffee with that man….more than once.

Over the last few days I’ve issued some concerns with small groups. I tried to make it clear that I was simply issuing concerns, NOT condemnations. I hope that was clear. At the same time I do hope it caused some thought and I’m totally ok if it also caused some frustration. When we’re frustrated, we think more deeply. That’s a good thing. My heart in doing this series was to do a few things:

• Really force thought on the weaknesses of them. Every structure has weaknesses, but thinking through how we can improve them are a different story. I think we need to be honest about them first of all. And this was my attempt at bringing some realities to surface.
• Timing. Most ministries are looking to launch small groups soon, if we haven’t already. It’s now, at the start, that we need to intentionally battle some of these (potential) weaknesses.
• I wanted to (and I admit subversively) get to a point where we were thinking beyond just the small group. This is important, I think, for us in college ministry. I’ll explain.

First, on the weaknesses. I’ll offer a couple suggestions to addressing these in our ministries:

• Talk with the leaders of your small(er) groups about these weaknesses. Make sure they’re not only aware of the potential of them taking root in their group, but for them to pay close attention to even the slimmest appearance of them.
• Draw up some questions for the leaders about some of these issues to discuss in their group. For instance, in regards to accountability, encourage the leaders to really ask those in their group to give each other permission to dig into each other’s lives. You have to address some issues like responding in defensiveness, arrogance, tact in approaching someone in confrontation, etc. All of these times of talking about these issues, how to approach them, our attitude when we’re confronted, etc. can provide a TON of teachable moments in college ministry – and particularly a smaller group. These are addressing some major relational boundaries that many college-age people aren’t aware of.

Secondly, thinking beyond small groups. This is vital for collegiate ministry, in any context. It’s certainly not a bad thing to connect college-age people with peers in small(er) groups of people. It’s in these times where we can really dive into age-stage issues that are best addressed in these settings (at least I think they are). But whether we’re church or campus based, we need to continue thinking beyond that age-stage group (which was my challenge when it comes to valuing sameness). It’s my belief that college-age people not only need, but actually desire (and deeply!) connection with older mature believers. And, I think, it’s our job to make sure these connections take place. This provides unique challenges (especially for those in campus ministry), but also provides a good pressure for us as leaders to make sure we’re thinking about the life-long connection of the students we’re working with.

I’ve written a ton about the importance of this in my book, so I won’t rehash that here. But I will say this is crucial to the development of college-age people. And this is true no matter the context.

If we get college students involved in a small group with peers and don’t connect them with the body at large we’re in trouble. Why? How? Well, put as simply as I can make it: it’s my belief that this does little more than extend detachment. At some point there has to be connecting points to the larger body – beyond a church service. If not, when the student graduates or the small group ends, they’re left with no connection. This is why I issue the challenge for us to think beyond the small group.

My point in all this was simply to say: small groups aren’t the end. Just because people are connected in a small group doesn’t mean we’re done. Not at all. And, it could even mean that the results we think we get by connecting people to a small(er) group aren’t actually occurring – but just seem that way. Small groups can be good, but there has to be more in our approach to ministry with college-age people. I hope this series has caused you to be more in tune with what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how you’ll move forward in truly connecting college-age people to the body of Christ.

So, let me end this with a question for discussion: What sort of things are you doing to connect college-age people to the body of Christ at large? What specifically do you do to connect them with older mature believers?

To continue this series, here I will issue 5 concerns I have with our structure of small groups. In the next post (tomorrow or Thursday) I will issue some specific ways in which my concerns affect our college ministries. But this must come first.

I want to make sure it’s clear that these are concerns, not condemnations. There is certainly beauty that takes place in many small(er) groups. I do believe however that these concerns are things we ought to take into consideration and honestly process through.

Of course some of these concerns apply only to some, not all, contexts and groups. But I do think that these apply to MUCH more than we’d like to admit. This structure we’ve instituted over the last 40 or so years, I think, needs to be evaluated clearly and honestly. This series is an attempt to help us do just that – especially in our individual college ministries.

An overarching question I’d like to ask for this is: Are small groups the BEST way to go about ministry with college-age people? Only you can answer that for your ministry – and I hope this conversation helps you in clarifying your position in the ministry in which you serve.

Here are my 5 concerns:

They have an illusion of accountability. Small groups are said to be a structure for accountability, but the truth is they are not. They are a structure for disclosure, not necessarily accountability. In a small group that meets weekly we are only accountable for those things we disclose to others in that particular group. This is “selective” accountability at best. To take this a step further we only disclose what we see in ourselves – which we know we are blinded to some things. In addition, we not only have to see the issue, but we must also want help with that particular area in our lives. True accountability comes when my friends know all my other friends. I can’t hide. True accountability comes when people see me – not at a men’s group – but with my wife and kids on a daily basis. People see all the areas of me, not just those I see in myself and disclose to others. This, is accountability.

For the additional 4 click here

I have recently been thinking through philosophies of ministry – particularly when it comes to getting people engaged in small(er) groups. I obviously have developed my own thoughts over time and certainly have reasons why I do what I do, and don’t do what we don’t do.

The reality is most of our ministries have some type of small(er) group gatherings. We know people desire to connect at deeper levels with others. We also know that this is an avenue by which we can speak more directly to issues.

So now that the school year is beginning, and likely your small(er) groups side of things will be getting off the ground sooner than later, I thought we’d do a series this week on this issue. My hope is that all of us can glean off one another approaches and ideas. Maybe we’ll even toss our previous ways out, for what we might think is a better way of going about small(er) groups after reading someone’s comments.

So, to BEGIN the discussion here are a few questions…

• Do you have small groups? If so, how are they organized? Adult leader, peer leader?
• Do your groups study a book of the bible or go through another book? Both?
• Do you have both male and female groups, or include co-ed?
• If co-ed, what are some of the difficulties you see/have with that? What are some great things you see in it?
• How do you find leaders? Do you have any kind of formal training for them?
• Do your groups go for a certain amount of time (i.e. semester or school year)? Campus ministries likely have some type of time frame on them, while church-based leaders may have a variety of ways they go about it. Either way, what are the benefits of the way you go about it?

In my ministry I have answered all the above questions as I assume most of us have to some degree or another – or at least are beginning to. But I’m always up for learning as I hope you are…

Well, just shot a VERY quick (one take) video that hopefully describes some of my heart for our conference coming up. To see more on the conference, click here.

CollegeLeader Conference from Kristen Giesenschlag on Vimeo.

USA Today has highlighted some college students who are making a “difference on the world.” They picked 20 students who were doing some amazing things around the world. The 20 undergraduates’ accomplishments range from leading Hurricane Katrina relief efforts to helping NASA understand the geological history of Mars. Yep, helping NASA “understand.” I think that’s pretty cool! To check out these 20 students and some of what they’re apart of, click here.

There is a lot of conversation from church leaders about the consumerism of people in churches. A consumer, well, consumes. He doesn’t give. He accumulates. He takes. He gets what he desires and then leaves. This frustrates many of us and, I think, it should. Some questions I’ve been asking lately are:

1. What am I personally doing to battle this in my life? The truth is my culture is about consumerism, so this is tough.
2. Are there ways in which we approach ministry that may actually be enabling a consumer mentality? At worst, creating it?
3. Are there battles we’re not facing that we ought to be? What fears are we giving into by not fighting those?
4. What does our infrastructure of ministry say about the Christian life, without using words? In other words, what would an outsider say about the Christian life if they only had our ministry as an example? Would it be self sacrifice, or feed a consumer mentality?

These are questions I’ve really been thinking through. Literally sleepless nights. Why? Well, the very core of the gospel message is anti-consumer. Sure, we certainly benefit from the death of Christ and enjoy many blessings. And I’m VERY thankful for that!! But as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:15:

“and he died for all, that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised”

This certainly isn’t consumerism. It’s actually exactly the opposite. Christ also speaks to consumerism when he says that in order to follow him we have to “deny ourselves.”

So, ok, we get that. But what about college ministry? How does this apply to us, in college ministry, today? Two things. First, for our own life. I’m actually going leave you to think through that and ask yourself whether or not you have a consumer mentality – but I will say it of course has to start with us. The second has to do with college-age ministry and this is where I’ll try to direct some thoughts and questions.

One of my observations over the years regarding college-age people is that many of them are at a stage of consumerism. Some of this is due to a search for identity, a search for anything to grab a hold of really. And, truthfully, I think we’d all prefer them to be “searching” in Christian circles (at least at some levels) than we would in secular ones. The zeal of college-age people is one of them most beautiful things about college ministry! On the flip side we see many of them being a part of numerous ministries all at once and not investing in anything – just taking.

There is however a fine line we must walk in college ministry. If they view us as trying to “use” them in any way, we’ll repel them – and quickly! So, here’s some questions…

How do you deal with consumerism in your college ministry? What boundaries are important to watch, especially in asking college-age people to serve? What are some things you’ve done that have been effective in helping college-age people embrace a “life of giving?”

Getting the word out. The next 5 leaders that register for the CollegeLeader Conference and bring student leader with them will receive a free downloadable version of College Ministry 101, plus a copy of 99 Thoughts for College-age People.

There is a new “gadget” out (well, I’ve never heard of it) that is, well, interesting to say the least! It’s called, “Nabaztag.” It claims to be a new community of “rabbits.” Like I said, interesting. Watch this intro that explains all this thing does. Would you want one?

I have been asked to elaborate more on Appendix B of my book College Ministry 101, which speaks directly to church-based leaders who are working in a college town where campus ministries are present. This issue can be a major tension for church-based leaders. Do I go on campus? Surely the answer is yes. But unfortunately there does seem to be a sense (for lack of better terms) of competition – or to some degree an ora of “what are you doing here, this is where I’m working.” At least that’s been the majority of my experience as a church-based leader – and many others I’ve worked with. There are however, of course, campus ministers that are not only “open” to church-based pastors coming onto campus, but actually initiate and help cultivate that. I think this relationship needs to be cultivated much more and I will likely write a book on how this can happen at a later date.

That said, I’ve been asked (via twitter request) to elaborate on that specific Appendix and so I will do so (if you have not read it, click here). I will attempt to give some perspective on campus ministry from a somewhat outside point of view. I have certainly been a part of campus ministry, served in numerous and worked alongside dozens and dozens of others. I have, however, never led one personally. So, hopefully an outside opinion will be taken, not as a critique, but as helpful insights into some potential areas (much of which I’m sure people have already thought through and are implementing).

The specific request was for me to give some more insights into how a campus ministry can be more discipleship focused and how assimilation can work – rather than give programmatic insights. I’m thankful, as I’m not into giving those – as you know if you’ve read my book. So, let me begin this series of blogs by issuing one thought regarding the assimilation side. I’m trusting many of you (church-based and campus-based leaders) will jump in and give your thoughts…

Thought #1 for campus leaders: Clarifying the goal of your ministry. You may make a broad statement like, “Make disciples,” “to glorify God,” or something to this affect. Certainly not bad goals and we all have broader, more general statements like that. I would however issue you another, hopefully helpful and very specific goal as a campus minister (that by the way, would accomplish both of the above broader statements): to connect college students to the beauty of being a part of a local church. Why? Well, ultimately they will leave your ministry. People will need to connect to a local body if they are going to continue to mature and campus ministries have a crucial role in this. So getting people to come to or be a part of a campus ministry surely cannot be THE goal. I don’t think anyone would admit that this is the goal (or at least I hope not), but our actions often prove differently. More on that in a minute.

We have to prepare these students for a life of being a disciple and campus ministry can play a vital, yet small, part in the life long discipleship of an individual. So, naturally, if connection to a local church is the goal then EVERYTHING we do in our ministry ought to work toward this end. This is true in any organization.

I will say this: I think the heart of many campus ministers is to prepare their students for a life of being a disciple of Christ. I will also however say: many of the methodologies of campus ministries are undermining what they say they desire to do. How? Well, first off, I think it shows in that a ton of time/energy/resources are put into attracting people to the events and gatherings of the campus ministry itself – especially in comparison to connecting students to the local church. So, maybe not in words, but at least in action there are ways in which our methodology can actually undermine what we’re saying.

I will say that having methodologies that often undermine our words is not a “campus ministry” issue, it’s more of an overall leadership issue we all face.

There is (in general) a lack of intentionality from both ends – campus ministries and church based – building ongoing relationships with each other. I know some hairs are standing up right now and I’m sure some people will say, “Hey! We are doing that!!!” I agree, I’m just saying there needs to be much more initiation on both ends – church-based and campus-based leaders – on initiating this connection. If we can’t be in relationship, truly like-minded, unselfish, and completely Kingdom minded we’re robbing the life-long discipleship process of our students. I will also take this a a step further and say that the relational connection needs to be the focal point of everything we do.

Working toward this can be intentional, but I would say it cannot be “programmed.” In short, I think you can take all the advice I gave in Appendix B to a church-based leader and flip it around to be written to a campus ministry leader.

So, to guide discussion let me ask the following: Church-based leaders, what are the road blocks, tension points, fears, you have engaging campus leaders? And, for campus leaders: What do you think about the goal I’m suggesting for your ministry? And, what are your thoughts on my concerns regarding methodology?

Well, I think that “opens enough cans” for now, this discussion should be fun…

For training in the trenches of college ministry click here.