Graduation day, grade-submission day, date of a final project report, last official day of Spring… signals of a seasonal shift. July 1st marks a seasonal shift in most campus ministry, including this new work among faculty, staff and graduate students.
Its the calendar date that begins a new budget for ministry, a new perspective on fast-approaching fall activities, and a new opportunity to partner in three essential ways: prayer, participation, and financial partnership.
In prayer, together we praise God for a year of faithfulness, for a constant and caring group of faculty & staff that met every Tuesday, for special events like our Academia + Faith Book Reception that created dialogue with a broader range of academics, and for interpersonal times over coffee with several faculty to listen, encourage and cheer. In prayer, we are thankful for catalytic faculty and staff who have committed to go further in mission on campus. Together, we pray that God will continue to be at work in the minds and hearts of faculty and staff to create opportunities for faith conversations, and that God would expand the influence and authentic witness of faculty and staff to live their faith well among students, colleagues and administrators.
Participation over the last year saw an amazing number (80+) subscribe to a weekly devotional update, and the campus-wide invitation to our fall open-house was opened by nearly 100 people. Participation in regular discipleship was much more humble, albeit hopeful, in that about a half-dozen met every week for lunch and prayerful fellowship (we also welcomed more first-time guests than in previous years), and I am able to consistently meet another 6 or 8 faculty for coffee and faith conversations. It’s a mixed bag of blessings to be sure, but God is moving to increase first, awareness that this singulary unique ministry to faculty and staff even exists on a state campus, and second, deeper participation by the weekly prayer group as they add a more targeted book study group, as well as new opportunities to fellowship at a faculty member’s home. It’s the beginning of bigger dreams for this campus and others in central Minnesota!
Partnership financially provides more time for me to be present and to focus on developing more faculty and staff catalysts who in turn take missional steps of faith among their students and colleagues. This is the year to fulfill the starting budget–not because turning a volunteer into paid staff will create campus-wide revival, but because this is where I have been called to identify, encourage, and equip God’s people to pursue God’s purposes in this context. It is a privilege to pastor, plan and partner with faculty and staff. Please do consider becoming a greater partner with me this summer in prayer, participation and financial partnership.
God bless you and keep you. — Kirsten
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