Are You Playing Hide and Seek?

Greetings!

We hope that the beginning of the semester is off to a great start for you. We are sure that this is a busy time for you.

In Matthew 5:14-15, Jesus says: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Jesus is clearly talking about much more than our campus movements increasing visibility on campus in these verses, but your ministry is part of God's light on your campus.

Being visible and easy to find is one of the key ways to ensure growth in your ministry. When our movements are visible we invite other believers to join together with us in letting our "light shine before men"! However, publicity is often treated by many as optional - "if we have enough time". Word of mouth isn't sufficient - you want to be easy to find so that any new student knows that you are there and where to go for your meetings. We strongly encourage you to try some of the following tips:

• Posters! Make them bright (astrobright paper) and BOLD! Can they be read from several feet away? Better to keep them simple and easy to read than to design them with lots of info.



• Use every student's choice posters to get students on your campus thinking about Christ. (www.escmedia.org) These posters are free, easy to use and can help present the message of new life in Jesus.



• Use the power of email - send out weekly email reminders about your weekly meeting, bible study etc.



• Go to http://godsquad.com/posters/index.htm to check out the weekly poster strategy using every student's choice posters.



• Ask someone to be a publicity point person for your ministry. (forward this email to them if you already have one!) This person coordinates email, posters and other creative ways to get your ministry known on campus.

New Beginnings!

Hello, Happy New Year and Happy Inaugeration Day!

We pray you had a wonderful Christmas and that you enjoyed a refreshing winter break. A new semester lays before us - full of possiblities and promise! We hope that you are anticipating the upcoming months and eager to see the Lord at work in your life and in the lives of others around you. I think Ephesians 5:1-2 provides great perspective and guidance for us regarding what is really significant as we enter a new semester of ministry.

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

As you begin the spring semester here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Care for yourself spiritually - please don't get so caught up in doing ministry that you forget to build your own relationship with the Lord. Live "a life of love" by spending time with the Lord in the word and in prayer and by connecting with an loving other believers both in your local church and with peers in your campus movement or ministry.
• Connect with other leaders - if you are blessed to have other leaders in your ministry, be in contact with them now about who is going to do what over the course of the semester. Please take the opportunitities God gives you to demonstrate love and care for one another as "imitators of God."
• Have a plan - when are you going to have your first bible study, weekly meeting? When will you host a fun outing, evangelistic outreach activity etc.
• Publicity - we'll talk more about this next week - but publicity is key in sharing about your ministry so people know you are there and when you meet.
• Check out www.godsquad.com for valuable resources and ideas. This is a Campus Crusade website designed specifially for you - the student leader.

The beginning of the semester can be a bit overwhelming, but also exciting! Please let us know if you have any questions, or need some information. We are praying for you.