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[Student Chapter Planting Handbook]
Starting an InterVarsity Chapter (Draft—Student Version)
If you are a Christian college student, you may be searching for a
witnessing community on your campus where your faith can deepen and bear
fruit among like-minded friends. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship exists
on hundreds of campuses to transform students and faculty, renew the
campus, and develop world changers. Many students are part of authentic
Christian communities where they witness to God’s transformative work in
their lives, and in turn become agents of God’s transformation on their
campuses and in the world.
If there is not an InterVarsity group on your campus, you have the
opportunity to start one, joining generations of students in a rich
tradition of campus witness, thoughtful discipleship, and a concern for
world missions. But you may be asking the questions: How do I begin? What
do I do? What resources are available for me?
Here are some ways to get started. InterVarsity is all about helping
students and faculty grow in their love for God, God’s Word, God’s purposes
and God’s people. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you know that he
cares about the other students and faculty at your school. He longs for
everyone on campus to know him and follow him. That’s not likely to happen
unless Christ’s representatives, like you, are there to intentionally make
him known, living out faith in a way that honors his name.
It is not easy to make a difference all by yourself. You can begin by
praying and seeking other believers who also have a vision for the campus.
We’ve put together some suggestions to help you get started.
There may be other resources available to you as well. InterVarsity
provides numerous training opportunities and may have area or regional
events near your campus where you can meet other students, get ideas, and
be encouraged in what you’re doing. InterVarsity staff resources are
limited, but you can contact InterVarsity near you for support, conference
information, and training events that may be available to you.
As you serve the Lord, your life will be transformed, and you will leave
campus different than when you started. As a student, you are in a unique
position to have an effect on other students, and on the greater campus as
well. We encourage you to be faithful to the Lord, actively seeking what it
is he wants you do be doing, for his glory. Your journey with God through
your college years will result in deep friendships, spiritual growth and
interesting experiences, as thousands of other students have experienced
before you. Make the most of your college years by following the Lord,
wherever he leads you. You may be surprised by what happens!
Spy out the Land
Begin by “spying out the land,” like Joshua and Caleb who were spies in the
strange land of Canaan. Look around you and take inventory. How would you
describe your campus? What are some characteristics of the student culture?
What are some of the needs you see in students, faculty, departments, and
organizations? Be bold in observing the people and systems at your school,
the positives and negatives, and ask God to show you where he is already
working. You will want to join him in his mission of bringing grace and
truth to your campus through Jesus Christ.
As you study the campus, look for Christian faculty, grad students, near-by
pastors or community people who are concerned for the spiritual climate at
your school. Be bold in meeting them and enlisting their help to pray for
you. Ask them for names of others who can provide a supportive and
encouraging role in your efforts to start a student group. A Christian
faculty member can serve as a sponsor and mentor when you or register as an
official student group. Remember that you will only be on campus for a
short time; you may need some non-student assistance in keeping the group
going after you leave. And while you are there, these folks can offer their
vision, stability, and wisdom to buttress your efforts in developing a
group that has an ongoing witness and presence among students.
It may help to read some stories about other new chapters. Here is a link
to a page that lists several kinds of stories:
http://www.intervarsity.org/mx/page/chapterplanting
Pray with Other Believers
In addition to looking for Christian faculty, begin by finding one or two
other students who want to form a witnessing community on campus. Start
praying together regularly. Pray for others to catch the vision for having
an evangelizing, multi-ethnic fellowship at your school. As you discover
other Christians, invite them to your prayer group if they have a passion
for building God’s kingdom, not just those who want to get together and
pray for tests and ailing aunts. You can care for each other in many ways,
but keep the focus on bringing the gospel to the campus in fresh, relevant
and attractive ways.
When you meet, share a word from Scripture and worship together. What are
some current issues on campus you can pray for? Pray for ways to get
involved in those issues as a way to love the campus. Pray for students and
faculty you know. Be intentional in praying for God’s vision for the
campus. He has a vested interest in what you’re doing, and he has already
been working, long before you arrived at the school. Pray to find out what
he’s already up to. Ask him to lead the way in opening up doors with those
who are hungry and thirsty for the good news of Jesus.
Create a Vision
What is your vision for the group? Talk with each other about why you want
the group to exist, and develop a picture of what the group could be. Here
are some resources to help you understand the vision of InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship, which is “students and faculty transformed, campuses
renewed, and world changers developed.” InterVarsity chapters are
missional and outward-focused, not just groups for Christians to be
comfortable with each other. Thousands of students are actively involved in
living for Jesus on their campuses. There may be a chapter on a campus near
you that you can visit. You can learn more about InterVarsity’s ministry at
these links:
. About us: http://www.intervarsity.org/aboutus/
. StudentSoul.org: http://www.intervarsity.org/studentsoul/
. Student Leadership journal: http://www.intervarsity.org/slj/
It’s important that you and the others in your new group have a joint
vision and understanding of what you’re trying to do. It is worth it to
take the time to clarify your purpose so that you can clearly communicate
it to others. Gradually you will build a core group of people who are
committed to each other and a share a common mission. You will want to be
in agreement at a foundation level so that a larger group will follow from
the joint vision of the leaders.
Seek Others
Talk to those you meet about what it means to follow Jesus. Find the people
who want to be a part of God’s mission on campus. Draw together people who
have a heart for reaching others for Jesus, not just those who simply want
to attend spiritual activities and programs. Starting your ministry with
outreach sets a precedent that will benefit the group for its lifetime.
Build Community
When you have identified people interested in starting a group, get them
together to begin getting to know each other and build community. Plan
times when you can meet together for Bible study, worship, prayer,
fellowship and dreaming about the campus. Discuss ways to build friendships
and a strong sense of community in your small group. This will begin to
solidify a core group that is committed to pursuing the vision and mission
of InterVarsity on campus.
As your core group grows, you may expand into several Bible studies.
Friends who are seekers may also want to have a Bible study where they can
take a peak at Jesus in the Scriptures. We call these GIGs (“Groups
Investigating God”), and you can find some great guides and study helps at
http://www.intervarsity.org/studentsoul/item/gig-guides.
When your core group is established, you can begin to build in areas of
prayer, worship, evangelism, and service. Think of some “easy-invite”
events that you and core members can use to gather people together.
Remember to keep inviting and welcoming new people to group events. Offer
people practical ways to get involved. Keep sharing the vision and praying
for the people involved in the group.
Identify Leadership Potential, Gifts and Abilities
As your core group grows, talk to each other about the strengths and
spiritual gifts you see in each other. Is there someone in the group who
can articulate the vision in a way that motivates others to commit to the
mission? Is there someone with a passion for Bible study, or worship, or
prayer? As you dream together about reaching out to the campus, trust God
to work through each person in the core group. You need each other and the
gifts you each bring to the table.
Keep informed of the InterVarsity conferences and training events in your
area by contacting the nearest InterVarsity staff person. These retreats
can be pivotal in equipping you with resources and tools for ministry, and
enrich you with new spiritual vitality and refreshed vision.
Clarify Commitment
As a new group, it is important for each person to take time to seek the
Lord for what he is asking of each individual and for the group as a whole.
Each leader must choose what commitment to make for involvement in
ministry, and also how to be faithful stewards of the vision for an
effective ministry on campus. The responsibilities of classes, jobs,
friends/family, and life in general will be demanding at times, so it is
important that priorities be weighed before the Lord. If you’re feeling
overwhelmed, you’re not alone! You may find some rest for your soul at:
http://www.intervarsity.org/studentsoul/item/busy-yet
All of the Above
All of these suggestions are intended to help you start an InterVarsity
group, not overwhelm you. Relax, and remember that God is already at work
on your campus, and he wants you to join him in his work. He is looking for
students who are teachable and living in step with the Holy Spirit. Who you
are as a disciple is far more important that what you do. Let the adventure
begin.
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