This Year - Navigating Ministry in a Pandemic
With the cancellation of our normal events and activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be hard to figure out what to do with all of our time. So many of the things I dreamed of in April have been hindered or cancelled.
In reflecting on what best to invest in during this season, I believe that we should prioritize making more time for the leadership development of our students. With all of the limitations we face as staff, this season provides an awesome opportunity to help our student leaders think for their own ministry opportunities to share the gospel with fellow students. Multiplying our influence can be pivotal in this season as we embrace 2 Timothy 2:1-2 and strive to see the gospel go forward. Practically, we can help our students overcome fears and barriers in evangelism by encouraging them to share the gospel once a week at their friend’s favorite restaurant. Also, we could restructure our D-Groups with 30 minutes of heart focus, an hour of Bible focus, and 30 minutes of ministry opportunities.
Although ministry is what we do, it’s not who we are. In these seasons of limited engagement, it’s crucial that our joy be found in Christ as staff and that we embody this joy for our students so that they may find their joy in Christ. The question is not how many times did you get in the word this week, but how has Christ been your joy?
I am focusing on two key things in this season of ministry in a pandemic: building consistency and emphasizing personal ministry over programs.
Build Consistency in your Ministry
Food
This can be a helpful place to build some consistency if you are having to meet with students off campus or students are not eating in the cafeteria. People will be looking for consistent outlets, and many of these places are already established in your ministry targets. These are places where you can build relationally to share the gospel with students within their context. Instead of relying on the pledge barbecue or athlete cookout, we can go to our students’ favorite restaurants. Where are the places to eat that my targets can’t turn down? Set up one-on-ones at these restaurants and budget to be prepared to pay for their food more frequently.
Practical:
Identify places to eat that they can’t turn down
Develop a top 3 list of meals under $20 (e.g. spaghetti, chicken alfredo, chicken nachos)
Fun
Our goal in creating fun for students can and should be built around their context. As we seek to learn the culture of our students, we can ask them to help us identify what they enjoy. Creating opportunities to have fun will be a catalyst for campus interaction this semester. What are some fun activities that we can facilitate for 10 people to enjoy?
Practical:
Identify fun activities for 10 people in your target
Involve your community in those ideas
Build around consistent, weekly fun activities
Ideas
Paintball
Flag football teams
Kickball
Home run derby
CrossFit
Gym
Road trips
Faith
In this unique season, personal interaction is vital to the small context of ministry. With our limited amount of facial interaction with students, it is crucial that we are intentional about setting the spiritual climate. Prayer times with our campus leaders will be one major way we can encourage spiritual momentum within our body of believers. Create consistent times where you can live life-on-life with your disciples while also meeting with their personal ministry targets to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. This sounds redundant, but we must take every chance we get for evangelism since it could be weeks before we see certain students again with limited relational time. It will be valuable to share the gospel on site.
Practical:
EBS - consider 2 Bible studies per ministry target
Gospel appointments with student leaders
No impact with contacts - get phone numbers
Personal Ministry over Program
It can be tempting to rely on our big events to help us attract or catch people and build fun environments. This is an awesome way to build relationships, but in this season it may be a better idea to focus on personal contacts. Text 20 people to get lunch so that you know who you are meeting up with and help your students get numbers to follow up with as well. This will create ownership amongst your students, but it will also permeate your discipleship and prayer time. One of my personal goals is to set up meetings with incoming students and current student leaders where I am not present.
Practical:
Strengthen your web and not your programs
Get contacts every time you meet people
Help your people think to lead your top 15 contacts
Schedule a two-hour block to think of new ideas - adjust what worked well and what didn’t