When senior leaders from nearly a dozen campus ministries gathered to talk about what is happening on college campuses across the nation, the fellowship and stories were rich. It also provided a brief glimpse into the growing trend of cooperation in college ministry.
In contrast to a generation ago, when many took a more proprietary approach to reaching college students, the focus today is on working together, encouragement and partnership.
Plenty of challenges still exist, but the reality is cooperation is good for the Kingdom and our local ministries.
Cooperation Resonates with this Generation
Blame it on new math or the disappearance of dodgeball in gym class, but these days students recognize there is something good when groups work together for a common goal.
In many ways, students are leading the way by engaging multiple ministries. They don’t necessarily tie their identity to one group on campus but are looking for meaningful ways to connect with God and others. Though at times this is a symptom of lack of commitment—a very real problem—this generation is looking for groups that don’t claim to have the market cornered on fulfilling the Great Commission.
When campus ministries intentionally work together and affirm each other, students see that as a good thing and are more interested in getting involved.
Cooperation Is Essential for Kingdom-Sized Tasks
Whether providing hurricane relief or addressing the loss of youth, cooperation often happens best when we realize the enormity of the task before us. No matter how the mission statement reads, reaching college students and the institution of the university for the Kingdom is a God-sized task requiring all of us to work together.
From a joint event on campus to a day of service in the community, working together expands vision, increases resources and reminds us God’s mission is much bigger than our own local ministries.
Cooperation Matures Students and Ministers
Spend a day working in ministry and you will discover that working with other Christians is not always easy. In fact, it can be quite hard. However, when we persevere in the midst of that challenge, Christ can work in our own lives to develop spiritual maturation.
Maturity helps us bring about the kind of unity among leaders and students that Jesus prayed for in
On occasion, it may also mean sending a student to someone else’s ministry. By working together we can move beyond double counting every student who walks through the door to making sure students truly are connected, being discipled and growing in maturity.
Begin Where You Are
Perhaps the easiest thing to do is also one of the most important: Meet with other ministry leaders to pray. In prayer we not only unite our hearts in connecting with God but we also have the chance to share our headaches, joys and be a support to one another.
Too often we feel like Elijah, crying out that we are alone in our work—but God has others who care and are working. Prayer is often the catalyst to even bigger works as we stand with one another as co-laborers on campus, as we learn from one another, dream God-sized dreams, and tap into the heart of this generation.
If you are looking for additional resources to help catalyze local campus cooperation, check out Campus Renewal Ministries at www.campusrenewal.com. They have a passion for helping groups do just that.
