Campus Engagement - Ministry Exchange (MX)

Campus Engagement

Campus engagement is based on the development of InterVarsity witnessing
communities (working in cooperation with other Christian groups on campus)
that are of sufficient size and quality to effectively pursue the following
aims:

. Evangelism: saturating the campus with the gospel so that everyone has been confronted with the claims of Jesus Christ in word and deed and in a manner which encourages response. Full saturation usually requires a 1:10 ratio; that is, 10% of the campus being witnessing Christians (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8). . Engaging particular groups: making the gospel known in each of the geographical sectors of the campus, each residence hall, each special interest group, each ethnic group, each club, fraternity and sorority, each academic major and department; including faculty, staff, and administration (I Cor. 9:19-23). . Engaging the college/university structure: bringing God’s truth and justice to bear on the campus newspaper, student government, campus radio station, residence hall staff, special activities and events, administration policy, dispersion of funds, the sports program, etc. (Amos 5:7-24). . Challenging personal and public morality: proclaiming and demonstrating a Christian perspective on issues addressing the university community related to personal morality (homosexuality, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, cheating) and public morality (racism, war, economic policy, world hunger, materialism). (Micah 3:9- 11, 7:1-7) . Engaging the marketplace of ideas: seeking to personally and publicly integrate Christian thought with the intellectual issues discussed in the university setting (scientific research, the arts, politically correct thinking, ecology, social sciences and economic theory). (Acts 17:22-34, Daniel 1)

Dan Denk revised 2/04

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT

The eight steps in this planning process were originally adapted from
Richard Peace, A Church’s Guide to Evangelism for use by InterVarsity’s
Student Witness Mobilization Team in their work with chapter leadership
teams. These practical steps will help you fulfill your role as a planning
strategist in evangelism. As you practice with this planning tool now,
imagine its application to that main group of students whom you serve back
on campus. Imagine yourself using this tool in leading them into
corporately catching God’s vision for evangelizing their campus.

PART ONE: DISCERNING YOUR CHAPTER’S EVANGELISM POTENTIAL

STEPS:
1. SPIRITUAL GIFTS Action: identify those members of the chapter by name

who have the gift of evangelism (maybe 10% of the whole) and build the outreach program around them, while simultaneously training the whole fellowship to fulfill their role in witness.

2. ENTRY POINTS Action: Make a list of those existing programs that have

the most outreach potential and shape them so that their evangelistic potential is realized, while simultaneously doing what is necessary to make the chapter meeting and your small groups a meaningful experience for the non-Christian or new Christian.

3. BRIDGE PEOPLE Action: Identify by name those people in your

fellowship by affinity groups in order to understand which outsiders would be most attracted to the fellowship and then have those bridge people mobilize others to be effective inviters of such people.

4. THE CHAPTER’S HISTORY OF EVANGELISM Action: Make a 2-column chart of

positive and negative experience. Build on people’s past positive experiences of evangelism using these as a basis for dreaming about future possibilities, while simultaneously defusing negative feelings about witnessing.

positive experiences and	negative experiences and
perspectives	perspectives

PART TWO: ANALYZING YOUR CAMPUS FROM AN ENGAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE

STEPS: 5. ANALYZE CAMPUS DEMOGRAPHICS Action: Research the number

and nature of the people who live in your area by consulting your local campus registrar or admissions department. Choose among the following demographic features which characterize your main school. a. Degree programs: _ 2-year 4-year __graduate b. Campus location: _ rural suburban __ urban/inner city c. # of undergrads: _ 1-2,000 2-5,000 __ 5-10,000 _ 10-25,000 _ Over 25,000 d. # of grad students: 1-2,000 _ 2-5,000 __ 5-10,000 ___ Over 10,000 e. Dominant faculty departments or major fields of study: _liberal arts _ engineering/science ___ business _technical/vocational _ medicine/nursing ___ agriculture f. Major racial/ethnic groups (including internationals) (estimate percentages/numbers of): _ Blacks _ Asian Americans ___Hispanic Americans _ European Americans _ Internationals _ Other:___ g. Significant social/political networks: ___ the athletic program _ the Greek system _ the residence halls _ the student associations _ the academic colleges _ the Arts _ other:_ h. Major areas of housing for students (estimate percentages or numbers of): _ dorms on campus _ apartments within walking distance _ fraternities/sororities _ at home (with parents) ___ commuting i. Issues and attitudes prevalent which influence responsiveness to the gospel ( + or -):

6. “TARGETING EVANGELISM” Actions: After listing all the sub-cultures

living in your area, put a star next to those that match the sub-culture or bridge people in your chapter. Also, analyze the webs of relationships that exist among the fellowship, focusing especially on the friends of the new Christians. Note the webs of relationships which new Christians have, as in the New Testament “household factors” (Lydia, Philippian jailer, Andrew and Philip).

7. “WINNABLE GROUPS” Actions: Identify human, sociological factors which

tell why college students as a group are most winnable. Identify human, sociological factors which tell why certain groups at your particular school do not currently appear to be open to the gospel. Then identify those groups winnable by your chapter that are currently open to the gospel and prioritize your outreach efforts to them, while not overlooking the apparently “closed” people.

PART THREE: APPLYING YOUR CHAPTER’S EVANGELISM POTENTIAL FOR CAMPUS
ENGAGEMENT

STEP 8: APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES Action: Structure your evangelistic

strategies in such a way that they will be appropriate, both for the respective winnable groups which you have targeted, and for the bridge people that you are asking to spearhead these pioneering endeavors. Use a separate planning sheet for 1-1, small group, mini- mission and major campus evangelistic efforts, such as the one below (the examples are to help you get started):

OBJECTIVE: To reach	ACTION PLANS or ACTIVITIES:	RESPONSIBILITIES:
different affinity	In keeping with the principle “different	To get more people
groups on campus	strokes for different folks” we will	involved and
with the gospel in	concentrate our evangelistic structures	taking initiative
a way that will	and strategies appropriately:	reaching groups
touch their needs	targeted for
and encourage their	engagement, which
response, and to do	bridge person will
so through	do what? and by
appropriate	when?
STRUCTURES and
STRATEGIES
commuters	dorm	Greek	frosh
s	s