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In the film Back to the Future, Doc Brown gives some pretty clear answers to the problems at hand. He knows that everything will be fine if he and Marty McFly can just get 21.5 gigawatts of power to hit the car's power converter at 88 mph on Saturday at 10:04 p.m. Staff, on the other hand, are quick to point out that every year, every chapter, every school and every student is different. Rather than give concrete answers, staff often act as consultants, guiding you to ask the right questions. In real life, the answers are closer to Doc Green's in our story: "I don't know, Mark. You'll have to trust God more than ever before."

Here are some questions that came from reflections on the start of the school year by InterVarsityr staff workers Mack Stiles and Mark Lyons:

• What spiritual shape did the summer leave you in? This is a good question to ask again several weeks into the school year.

• How "transparent" is your fellowship? Can leaders admit they have struggles? How could you encourage such an atmosphere?

• Do you function with a sense that you and your fellow leaders are in partnership together? You're really doing your Father's business as you minister on campus. How can this greater reality overcome earthly frustrations and bring joy?

• Are you letting the truth of the gospel affect you deeply? Do you sense God's grace and forgiveness?

• What's motivating you right now? Are you more concerned about fellow students' needs or about how well you appear to be succeeding as a leader?

• Are you spending extended time in prayer and reading God's Word? Are you focused on God or caught up with your own struggles?

• In what ways could a leadership retreat or other time out help you focus on Jesus more and set life's distractions aside?

• If some of your chapter's leaders are already feeling overwhelmed, how might other chapter leaders or staff come alongside to support them?

Mike Kern, writer and training consultant in Madison, WI.