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Most InterVarsity chapters and other fellowship groups have a phone list, but it's not always a helpful tool for making strategic plans. How about a list that helps leaders involve more members and communicate the vision of the group? Here's a way to put your chapter list to work so you can

1. get to know your chapter's needs,

2. see clearly the roles people are playing in the group,

3. prioritize your time with people, and

4. have a framework in which to plan and pray.

• Leaders: This is anyone who is in a defined leadership role.

• Members: This category should include all who are committed to the chapter vision and ministry on campus, and who are involved in the life of the chapter through small groups, large groups, prayer meetings or other areas.

• Participants: These students show up to some activities (as much as half the time), but may not have a clear understanding of what InterVarsity is trying to accomplish at your school. Many first-year students would fall into this category.

• Fringe: This is for students who hang around the edges of chapter life, coming very occasionally or perhaps showing up to an event because a friend brought them. They may or may not be believers in Christ.

So what do you do with such a nicely arranged chart? (Naturally, such a list is not to be distributed to chapter members, lest someone feel pigeon-holed! Use your normal phone list for chapter distribution.) The main goal is to move people from one level of involvement into the next higher level. That will look different for each person, but here are some important questions you can ask:

• Who in the "member" column might God be calling into a leadership role this year or next? What can we do to help them keep growing and moving forward?

• Who in the "participants" column is ready to come to a fuller understanding of our mission and our community together? What would encourage their involvement? Since this can be a large category, prayerfully ask who might be most ready now. That will help you decide whom to work with first.

• Who in the "fringe" column might be open to an explanation of who we are and perhaps a presentation of the gospel? This group of people might be the first to invite to an evangelistic event you're hosting.

The real value of this tool is the way it helps us pray for and plan our one-to-one times with chapter members. Staff and student leaders alike can share both the strategic value of the list and the joy of seeing people develop into active members and leaders.