1st Six Weeks: Preparation

Hello,

As you may have heard us mention in the past, the First Six Weeks of the fall semester on your campus are the most important time of the whole year. It is during these weeks that most students make the decision of how they will spend their time, who their friends will be and what organizations they will join. That is why it is such a significant time for you and the ministry God has entrusted to you on your campus.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

We need to be strategic in how we use this unique opportunity for impact on our campuses. Over the next few weeks we’ll give you some tips on how to make the most of your First Six Weeks. Keep some of these tips in mind:

1) If you have others that help lead the ministry on your campus, get in contact with them now, begin praying and preparing for the semester ahead.
2) Decide when your first meeting/Bible Study will be (the earlier the better, the first week of classes is best).
3) Is the room reserved that you want for the whole semester?
4) Publicity, Publicity, Publicity…. Who is going to make some posters to advertise your meeting/Bible Study? Who will put them up and when are you going to put them up (before classes begin, or on the first day!)
5) Are you giving out any materials or resources? If so, make sure you have a table reserved and line up people to help out. Once again, try to do it during those first weeks of school.
6) How will you use your materials to maximize their value? Consider designing or downloading a survey and have people fill them out when they receive free materials, survival kits or music download cards from your table on campus. Then divide up the contacts and get back to those who expressed interest in learning more about God. Keep some to give to friends and first-timers at meetings
7) When are the ministry leaders going to get together to plan and pray?
8) How will you build community? How will you welcome new people?
9) Who are some of the younger students in your ministry that you can get to help out, and to begin developing into your next leaders?
10) What will your first meeting look like? Will you have music, snacks? How will you make new people feel welcome? What will you do for your Bible Study time? What will you study?

Hopefully these tips will inspire you, not overwhelm you!

In Christ,
John & Melissa Mitchell, Mike Peckham & Roe Brooks

1st Six Weeks: Prayer for the mission

Hello, we pray that you are doing well and are eager for the beginning of the semester. We know that there is so much to do - both personally and for ministry.

In the midst of all your activities, we want to encourage you to slow down and take time to talk with our heavenly Father about the semester ahead.

Some ideas to help prayer happen for you and others in your ministry:

• Gather with other ministry leaders for a special time of prayer. Pray for His leading, wisdom and direction. Pray for unity for the leadership team. Pray for the incoming freshmen class. Pray for students to come to Christ.
• Prayer walk - go out on your campus and pray as you walk. Pray for what you see. Pray for administrators as you walk past an office building, pray for the athletes as you cross the playing fields. Pray for freshmen as you walk past the dorms. Prayer walking is powerful!
• For the next few weeks, send out a daily email to others in your ministry asking them to pray for a specific topic or aspect of your ministry. (keep it short or it won't get read!)
• Ask your church or Sunday School class to pray for you and the ministry on campus. Give them specific prayer requests.

Prayer is a wonderful privilege, how amazing that we can approach the God of the universe with our request. He hears us, He cares, and He answers! Praise God!

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

Praying for you - John & Melissa Mitchell, Roe Brooks, Mike Peckham

The First Six Weeks: Welcome Back

We pray that you are doing well and that you had a great summer. It may be hard to believe, but the beginning of the school year is right around the corner. Hopefully you are looking forward to it.

We pray that this fall semester will bring glory to God and bring you closer to Him. We also pray that this fall many lost students will have the opportunity to hear about Christ on your campus.

Here are some thoughts in regards to starting the semester well as a ministry:

• Get in touch with other leaders in your ministry. Take time to reconnect with one another as well as to talk about planning and preparations for the fall. Check out the godsquad for some ideas. http://godsquad.com/leading/sixwkpln.htm
• Prayer, be in prayer for the fall semester. Some things to pray about: your own academics, walk with the Lord and ministry to others.
• Take time to dream and to ask the Lord about the "immeasurably more" He'd like to do on your campus and in your life this fall.

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."