Articles

3 MINUTE READ

Don't Let the Break, Break YouChristmas break. Spring break. Thanksgiving break. Summer break. College students yearn for them. College pastors dread them. It's not that we pastors don't need a chance to catch our breath; it's just that we know all too well that sinking feeling of realizing our disciples are headed back into scenarios that could unravel all that God has woven into them thus far. Ever heard this before? "I don't get it. I needed a break so I could rest and connect more with my family and God. But I ended up _______, and now I feel so distant from God. I don't know what happened!" You fill

Carl Gulley, Antioch Community Church

March 20, 2016

2 MINUTE READ

Three Ways to Empower Students from “Breaking Bad” During BreakStudents can face a lot of dysfunction as they prepare to head home on break. Learn how you can empower students to grow over break.

Wayne Simien, University of Kansas

February 28, 2016

1 MINUTE READ

Equip Student-Athletes to Reach Their TeammatesSince Bill spoke those words decades ago, that quote has become a rallying cry for campus laborers everywhere. It all boils down to this; the college campus is the most strategic mission field in the world. Why? There are millions of students coming and going every year on college campuses. If they were to be reached with the Gospel, equipped, and then mobilized on campus, they would carry that DNA with them wherever they end up after college. These students will all naturally be scattered across the country and world, working in hundreds of different professions. What an opportunity for kingd

Corey Spinks, I Am Second

November 13, 2024

2 MINUTE READ

Caring for Students Before Mobilizing ThemAs a college minister, I've learned from great collegiate leaders and ministers about how to effectively reach our campus for Christ and mobilize students to fulfill the Great Commission. College campuses are strategically important places to reach and mobilize students. Often, we measure the vibrancy of our ministry by our capacity to send students to win souls for Christ. While this is a significant task, our drive to achieve it can sometimes push other important biblical mandates aside. In this article, I will share one such mandate that, in my humble estimation, should guide us alongside o

Robert Rueda, BSM

November 05, 2024

3 MINUTE READ

15 Second Testimony I grew up in the youth group culture of the ‘90s and early 2000s. We talked a lot about developing your “personal testimony” based on Paul’s conversion story in Acts 26, where Paul shares with King Agrippa about his life before meeting Jesus, his conversion experience, and his life after that encounter. The tension I experienced was that I didn’t have much to share about my life “before Christ.” I have the classic church-kid story of praying a prayer in elementary school and continuing to grow in my understanding of the gospel over the course of

Samantha Barnes, Cru

October 22, 2024

1 MINUTE READ

What is Your Mission & Vision?Why do you do college ministry? What is your ministry’s specific mission? How do you accomplish it? How do you know if you’re on target? Can you put these things into concise and compelling statements? Getting clarity on your mission and vision is essential for a leader who wants to impact the next generation for Christ. Moreover, putting your mission and vision into clear, concise statements allows you to recruit others to the movement.

Gary Stidham, Baptist Student Ministry

October 08, 2024

1 MINUTE READ

What I Wish I Knew Before My 1st Year In MinistryThere is a temptation in ministry to be focused on the results of our efforts instead of the God who orders our efforts. While Jesus certainly gained joy by looking at the impact his death would have (Heb. 12:2), he often told parables connected to seeking him first and how that would bring lasting results (Matthew 6:25-33; John 15:1-8; Luke 6:46-49). No matter how powerful, dynamic, gifted, or impactful our ministry efforts are, God is looking for ministers who minister to him closely (Matthew 7:22)!

Delvin Pikes, Every Nation Campus

September 24, 2024

3 MINUTE READ

3 Reminders During Fall OutreachI believe that the first month of the Fall semester is the most important month of the entire year for collegiate leaders! The quantity and quality of new students that you reach during this narrow window of time has potential the next 3 years (and beyond) in profound ways. The freshmen that you reach will become your future student leaders and staff who will influence your potential for multiplication and movement in the years to come. Not all opportunities are created equal! “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because th

Paul Worcester, North American Mission Board

August 13, 2024

2 MINUTE READ

First Steps to Reaching Greeks on Your CampusAs of 2021, less than 5% of college students in the U.S. were involved in fraternity and sorority life. Yet, due to the connectedness and leadership ability of many Greek students, they are one of the most influential groups to reach on many college campuses. So how can we take steps to reach these leaders? 5 Tips to Set Yourself Up For Dynamic Impact with Greek Students

Danny Points, Student Mobilization

June 04, 2024

2 MINUTE READ

Seasons and Off-Seasons of Campus MinistryGrowing up on a dusty cotton farm in West Texas, we lived by annual cycles. There were…(1) periods of high intensity – planting and harvesting were long, strenuous days with little rest; (2) periods of steady rhythm – summers of “normal days” plowing fields and controlling weeds; and (3) periods of regrouping and planning – winter when you repaired equipment and prepared for next year. During my first few years of campus ministry, it was hard to know how to spend the “seasons and off-seasons” of ministry, how to survive the intense periods of F

Gary Stidham, Baptist Student Ministry

May 21, 2024

4 MINUTE READ

The Power of Identity: Building Fruitful Disciples Who LastHave you ever made a list of your discipleship essentials? What are those key qualities and convictions that you see as non-negotiables to build into the lives of those you disciple? What’s on your shortlist? After 32 years of college ministry, I’m more convinced than ever that identity in Christ must be on my shortlist. From what I’ve seen, the secure laborer who has their confidence, significance, and worth rooted in who they are in Christ are typically more fruitful and last longer than those who don’t. The secure laborer is a stronger leader, better relationally, a

Ted Shimer, The Freedom Fight

June 21, 2023

3 MINUTE READ

How to Share the Gospel with Those Placing Faith in Good WorksHave you ever had a spiritual conversation with someone who thinks they are a Christian and thought, “They just need to know the grace Jesus has shown them”? We become weary after sharing the gospel with people, seeing them be amazed at the beauty and simplicity of salvation by grace through faith alone, only to be dumbfounded by their replies when given the opportunity to follow Jesus. They say, “Oh, I’ve accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 10, and I’ve been baptized.” What do you do then? You can’t say, “You ain't no Christian! I ju

Tyler McMahan, Athletes in Action

May 26, 2023

1 MINUTE READ

Unpark Your Prayer LifePrayer is a conversation with God. We talk to God, God talks to us. We listen to God, God listens to us. It’s a two-way street. Yet, sometimes it feels like a one-way street. Sometimes, we do all the talking and no listening. Sometimes, it feels like God isn’t listening. Sometimes, it feels like a dead end street and we just can’t even bring ourselves to talk or listen. When we experience prayer as a one-way or a dead end street, it should be a huge wake up call—like a warning light on the dashboard of the car. You know, the one that has been on for months. The one

Jason Bennett, Collegiate Church Network

May 03, 2023

2 MINUTE READ

Understanding the Challenge of Expressive Individualism: Part 2This is part 2. If you haven’t yet, read part 1 here. Collegiate leaders are like missionaries to the college campus, and one significant characteristic of college student culture is expressive individualism. In this two-part series, we’re examining what it is, the challenges it presents, the opportunities, and how we should respond as college ministry leaders. In part 1 we unpacked how expressive individualism forms identity by calling you to look inward, to follow your heart and be true to yourself. This presents significant challenges in ministry as it shapes students by a coun

Andrew Cimbala, DiscipleMakers

April 26, 2023

2 MINUTE READ

Understanding the Challenge of Expressive Individualism: Part 1Collegiate leaders are like missionaries to the college campus. All missionaries need to understand their target culture, translate the Bible into the vernacular language, avoid cultural taboos, and find creative ways to connect the gospel story to the good and broken parts of the culture’s beliefs. Expressive individualism is a foundational aspect of college student culture in the Post-Christian world today. But most students don’t know it, and most collegiate leaders don’t either. It’s just the water we all swim in, and it’s hard to notice the water when

Andrew Cimbala, DiscipleMakers

April 12, 2023

2 MINUTE READ

3 Reasons Why The Faith of the Next Generation is Worth EverythingSomething I experienced at a conference a few years back has stuck with me ever since. Maybe it’s because that was one of the last conferences I went to pre-pandemic. Maybe it stayed with me because of something more—a deeper reason. Either way, it was the closing talk and Andy Stanley got up and shared this closing question. He asked: “What is the faith of the next generation worth?” After a pause he said these three words. I can’t shake them. “It’s worth everything.” I believe with every fiber of my being that the faith of the next gener

Josiah Kennealy, Chi Alpha

March 29, 2023

8 MINUTE READ

What’s Expressive Individualism Got to Do With It?Imagine trying to give directions to someone visiting the campus where you currently work. As you're on the phone you tell him to “turn right on 4th street,” and then “hop on I-55 North until you reach I-74.” As the conversation progresses your friend is getting more and more confused, and you are getting progressively frustrated. Eventually he exclaims, “I don’t see any of the streets you're talking about!” Finally you realize that you gave him directions from your current location, not the city he was living in. In order to give good directions, you

Chase Smith, Campus Outreach

March 01, 2023

6 MINUTE READ

Leverage of Spring Break for the KingdomHow much could one week catalyze your mission mobilization? In 1991, I happened upon a strategy that absolutely changed my thinking. I led a team of college students and graduates from the University of Arizona and went to the University of Southern California to do evangelism over Spring Break. We were on Spring Break, but they weren’t, so the campus was full of students. We spent the week serving, sharing the gospel and having a good time together. The camaraderie we built and the kingdom impact we had on that campus changed our lives. And ever since that Spring Break in

Brian Smith, Hope Church

February 15, 2023

6 MINUTE READ

Running FreeJosh’s spiritual decline started slowly. He wasn’t pursuing God like he once did. Quiet times, Bible study and church attendance, which had been a highlight of his week, began to slip. His heart wasn’t into it. His hunger for God and to know His word was waning. He once was passionate about sharing his faith and leading a Bible study with the freshmen on his dorm floor. He even became an R.A. because he wanted to labor for Jesus, but his hunger to serve the Lord was diminishing. Why? Josh’s struggle was his porn habit, or maybe even an addiction. Regardless of what it really was, the sec

Ted Shimer, The Freedom Fight

February 01, 2023

1 MINUTE READ

100 Questions Away from GodA while back I was faced with this situation for the first time. It was one of the most memorable cups of coffee I’ve ever shared with a college student. Let’s call her Kelsey. She sat down across from me at a table outside, frazzled. She hadn’t slept much that week due to homework—not given to her by a university professor, but by me. One week prior to this, I challenged Kelsey with an assignment to write down all the questions she was wrestling with. And she did. Now, avoiding small talk, she went straight to the point, unzipping her backpack to pull out

Tyler Ellis, English With Friends

December 21, 2022