Happy New Year! We at BASIC pray that 2014 will be the most powerful and precious year for you and your ministry! There are many things to look forward to as the new year begins. As we plan for students to return in a few weeks, here are four questions to ask yourself and your team as you plan for the upcoming semester.
What does the Lord want us to do?
This one is obviously the most important, but without fail, I somehow manage to bypass it as I dive into the planning process in my ministry. I’ve resolved that I don’t want to lead my ministry down a trail that God hasn’t intended. Though He will ultimately bless anything you decide to do because of His great love, your efforts will be much more effective if they align with what the Lord has intended for you to do this year.
Take some time this week to slow down, find some quiet, and wait on God to direct you in what He has in store for you this year. The rest of these questions are dependent on what He communicates to you.
What new people group can we reach?
While the majority of the marketing and evangelism that takes place with college ministries is targeted toward reaching everybody and anybody on campus, I encourage you to think of a specific demographic to focus on more intently. You may be surprised at how receptive groups of people can be to your purpose and message, even though they may not be interested in spreading Christianity on their campus. What is a niche demographic on your campus that you could influence with the gospel? The soccer team? International students? The music club? Psychology club?
How can we switch things up?
The gospel will always be relevant. However, the means in which we present the gospel should change as our culture does. As God uses you to spread His love on your campus, be sensitive of how to best reach your students according to the culture they live in. How can you switch things up this year to reach new people, grow deeper as a community, disciple new believers, etc.?
What can we do better?
Take some time to ask the Lord to reveal some of your ministry’s weaknesses. Whether it’s something as simple as finding a door greeter for your meetings, or as complex as revamping your worship team, there is always something you could do to improve your ministry. You may even want to consider polling your students to ask how your ministry could better serve them. Commit these weaknesses to the Lord, and He’ll guide you in making them strengths!
What are some other questions that you routinely ask yourself when you gear up for a new season of ministry?