Some lesser-known techniques on mobilizing your students to reach their friends for Jesus!
"The best way to find a good idea is to gather a lot of ideas."
- Linus Pauling, Nobel Prize Winning Chemist
- Cross-pollinate Influential Students
You probably have at least one influential student representing each school in your ministry. Get them together to share ideas and resources on reaching their campus for Christ. Assume that they want to be involved, and that they will reach their school. Your invitation to the group and your confidence in them will not only help them to believe in them- selves, but believe that they can make a difference. THIS TEAM WILL NOT ONLY FUEL THOSE INVOLVED, IT WILL FUEL THE CAMPUS MINISTRY CULTURE IN YOUR GROUP.
- Reward, Recognize and Resource
Rewards shape morale, recognition shapes culture, and resources shape results. Our students have a desire to be apart of something significant, and they'll go as far as we compel them and fuel them to go with the vision we have for the campus.CELEBRATE CAMPUS MINISTRY WINS BY MAKING THEM STORIES IN YOUR SERMONS, AND BY PLACING CAMPUS MISSIONARIES IN PROMINENT PLACES IN YOUR MINISTRY. MAKE CAMPUS MINISTRY A SIGNIFICANT LINE ITEM IN YOUR YOUTH BUDGET.
- Food Is Severely Underappreciated
If you're considering an outreach initiative on the campus, the safest, simplest win is always free food. Everyone eats, and everyone enjoys eating. GIVE OUT SODAS WITH AN INVITE UNDER THE TAB, BAKED GOODS WITH CUSTOM-PRINTED NAPKINS OR CANDY WRAPPED WITH YOUR LOGO. BRING TEACHERS A PLATTER, ADMINS THEIR FAVORITE LATTES. THEY'LL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THEY WON'T CARE. EVERYONE LIKES FOOD.
- Offer To Serve Your School
Have students approach administrators and request to serve a current need. The key is to ask weekly and accept the first offer no matter what. SERVING IS AN IRREFUTABLE WAY OF PROVING YOU CARE AND THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE BIGGER PICTURE.
- Pay Attention To Current Events
If something important is happening at the school (good or bad) call and offer to help (individually, as a group, or with resources). Train your students to do this on a personal level. Some opportunities will be on the calendar, and others circumstantial. IF TRAGEDY STRIKES THE SCHOOL, CALL IN.
- Launch Campus Ministries That Work
Bible clubs have gained an indifferent reputation over the years, but a good campus ministry is salt and light to the school. It's a hub for Christian students to be inspired and mobilized to bless their school and share the news of Jesus Christ. IF YOUR SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE A CLUB, START ONE. IF THEY HAVE ONE THAT'S NOT WORKING, START A SECOND ONE.
- Ask Partners To Pray For The School
"If something happens when we pray, something doesn't when we don't" - Mark Batterson
Ask students, parents, youth leaders and church members to pray for your schools. It works. A SIDE EFFECT OF EVERYONE PRAYING FOR YOUR SCHOOLS IS THAT EVERYONE IS NOW FOCUSED ON YOUR SCHOOLS. WHEN YOU NEED RESOURCES OR VOLUNTEERS, IT IS VALUABLE TO HAVE EVERYONE ALREADY FOCUSED ON WHAT MATTERS.