Chapter 5: Campus Strategy

By Doug Whallon

A good football team works hard to prepare for an upcoming game. The coach seeks to instill the dream of victory in the players. Coaches assist and encourage the quarterback and defensive signal-caller in providing on-the-field leadership. And prior to each contest, a game plan is carefully designed.

A chef’s task is very different, but contains some striking similarities. Prior to cooking, the chef prepares a menu with an entree and specialty desserts. He or she review and perfects needed skills and expertise. Finally, the chef consults the recipe, preheats the ovens, and greases the pans.

Developing a campus strategy has several prominent parallels. Our vision in InterVarsity parallels the team’s dream of victory and the chef’s hope for tasty success. We have a certain clarity as to what God is calling us to be and do. You have likely been called into some phase of leadership in your chapter — perhaps like the quarterback, coaching staff, or someone with gourmet cooking skills. And you have established a strategy to guide you through the establishment of your goals — to help your chapter utilize its resources in order to build depth and increase influence.

In spite of weeks of good, well-planned preparation, pitfalls can come up. Even the best football teams sometimes fall behind and have to change their game plan and tactics. A chef might make a mistake or lack an important ingredient. These circumstances require the individuals to make wise modifications and alterations. But rarely will the chef simply throw away the mixing bowl or the football team quit mid-game in disgust.

Mid-course corrections are also virtually unavoidable for chapter leaders. Rather than fearing such changes, chapter leaders should realize that change can represent God’s ongoing guidance.

Therefore, as we begin this section on “campus strategy,” let’s affirm a few things:

• A sense of conviction about what God wants is prerequisite.
• An emerging team of leaders is essential.
• A clear campus strategy reflects the work of praying, planning, prioritizing, and proceeding with the ministry to which God has called us.

At the same time, we need to realize that:

• Campus strategy is not a blueprint for every move or activity a fellowship undertakes.
• Campus strategy is not a prison that outlaws change, adaptation, or innovation.
• Each campus and every fellowship are different, thereby requiring different strategies or at least variations of the themes.

For us in InterVarsity, campus strategy builds upon our vision statement: “The vision of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is to BUILD COLLEGIATE FELLOWSHIPS, DEVELOP DISCIPLES who embody Biblical values, and ENGAGE THE CAMPUS in all of its ethnic diversity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

As a set of fellowship leaders are built together into a leadership team, strategizing also becomes a process in which choices are made, priorities are determined, and plans of action are devised. Throughout this process, which includes prayer and discussion together, the leadership team grows in relationship and sense of purpose.

Finally, campus strategy develops into a set of ministry plans undertaken in the power of God for His glory. People enter into different relationships and activities, all with the hope and prayer of seeing God accomplish His purpose on our campus. Occasional revisions and changes of the strategy will be needed, but take them in stride as a reflection of changing circumstances and God’s ongoing involvement.