Campus Ministry - Tool Box
To Campus Ministry Leaders:
Thank you for accepting the challenges and the opportunities to serve our Lord through your Lutheran Campus Ministry efforts. Thank God for your willingness to be involved with your students. Your Campus Ministry experiences will be both joyous and exasperating, but pleasing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Campus Ministry Committee's advice? Hang in there!
The "Tool Box" information provided by your Rocky Mountain District Campus Ministry Committee is intended to assist in making plans and carrying out the opportunities to serve the college and university student associated with your local institution of higher education.
Tool Box Content
The Campus Ministry Tool Box represents the results of the Committee's efforts during the past year. As stated in the "Preface," each tool is a work in progress and will be improved as time goes on. As Campus Ministry program leaders share their experiences, needs and desires with the Committee, new tools will be developed. The Tool Box contains the following tools:
Tool 1: District Campus Ministry Committee
The Campus Ministry Committee is a standing District Committee. The members are serving your District in order to assist in implementing Campus Ministry efforts. The Committee's vision, mission and goals are spelled out in this Section. The committee is at your service.
Tool 2: Importance and Benefits of a Program
This section conveys information related to the need, opportunities and benefits associated with a Campus Ministry program. Included are several testimonials designed to encourage and motivate involvement in Campus Ministry.
Tool 3: Student Referral Process
This section describes the need for and the means of referring students from a "home" congregation to a Campus Ministry Program associated with one of the many campuses in the District and across the nation. In order to reach as many students as possible, we encourage you to continuously refer persons in your congregation to the church or chapel at the school they are attending or are planning to attend. This can be accomplished in a number of ways as described in Tool 3.
Tool 4: Accessing the Campus
This tool suggests some ways of communicating with and getting the Campus Ministry Program on campus. Accessing the campus environment is sometimes a challenge all its own. How do you make the appropriate contacts? How does your Campus Ministry program receive recognition and acceptance as a legitimate student program? This tool assists you in getting those answers.
Tool 5: Financing the Ministry
Someone in your congregation may ask, "Where are you going to get the funds needed for the program?" Tool 5 has been developed to assist you in locating sources of funding and in developing a proposal or request for funds. Several financial resource locations are identified.
Tool 6: Campus Ministry Models
And now that you desire to begin a Campus Ministry program, or have already done so, what are some of the alternative program models you might consider? This tool describes several alternative means by which you might get started, improve your program or sustain it.
Tool 7: International Student Ministry
Almost every campus has students labeled "International." These students have special needs and wants which can be filled by a program designed especially for them. In addition, many of these students want to learn more about the Gospel and the American way. Efforts should be made to integrate these students into the Campus Ministry program.
Tool 8: Role of a Vicar
The Role of a Vicar is not a program format, but it does suggest one way, or tool, for getting a program started and sustaining a program in your congregation. Several District congregations have programs involving Vicars in Campus Ministry.
Tool 9: Measuring Effectiveness
This tool discusses means of defining and determining the effectiveness of a Campus Ministry program and encourages measuring the effectiveness of a Campus Ministry program. This tool lists those results you should look for from your program. Annual surveys or student exit interviews should be conducted in order to determine how best to improve your effectiveness in reaching the students on your local campus. This tool provides a prototype survey which can be reworded and administered to students and congregational volunteers. The results of the questions should reflect the benefits and problems associated with your program and some of the potential improvements you might want to consider applying to your program.
Tool 10: Potholes on the Journey to Campus Ministry
"Potholes on the Journey to Campus Ministry" presents some of the
difficulties in initiating and sustaining a Campus Ministry program in a congregation. An awareness of some of the difficulties in advance will enable a pastor or layperson to better plan and avoid surprises at they travel the road to a successful Campus Ministry program.
In Summary
Remember, the students you are working with may have in mind the contents of their ideal Campus Ministry program as well as the solution to program problems. Their participation is very important. They want some ownership in the program, and in order to achieve this, the program Pastor or leader should simply ask the students what they want and need in terms of a program. Building relationships, Bible study and food are three significant legs on which your Campus Ministry program may stand. Your task as a Campus Ministry leader is to determine how best to achieve the necessary aspects of a Campus ministry program.