Once you have evaluated much of the present state of affairs in your ministry and the history of the church and your ministry in the church, you need to begin to articulate that all important mission that will be a mainstay of your ministry for years to come. Find a unique way to say it that really encompasses your heart and your language for fulfilling the Great Commission, and being to say it over and over again. They should hear it drip from your lips over and over like a broken record.

At first they might say to themselves that “this new guy says that over and over, what is with him?” but as you begin to develop your ministry and your plan unfolds it will become clear that it is their mission as well as your mission. If you have not developed a mission statement see our previous article on mission statements.

Pray for this Generation.

For almost 100 years our nation reserved a special day each year to pray for its colleges. God faithfully answered those prayers and America witnessed an era of ongoing revivals and awakenings.

Let's believe God together for another great awakening in this generation. There has never been a greater need than right now. Nearly 100 years later, it's time to break the silence!

Please visit this link for more information on the Collegiate Day of Prayer: www.collegiatedayofprayer.org

With Nate’s transition it got me thinking about what are the things that you need to do when you first go to a new place or you start a new ministry.

Evaluate Evaluate Evaluate

It is important that you come in with eyes that are looking at everything that has been going on and what is going on in the church. To be able to effectively develop/build/and grow a ministry the following are a few key areas that you need to find out about:

•    - Learn the history of ministry to collegiate/young adults in the church

   - Learn how the pastor and key leaders think about collegiate ministry
                 - What do they want to see happen?
                 - How bad do they want it?

•    - Find out about the lay leaders that might help you in the church.
•    - Who has a passion for the ministry?
  •    - If it is a new church you must learn the church, how does it function?
  •    - Who are the movers and shakers that make things happen.
  •  
  • On a small staff it is often some church members while on a larger staff it can be a few key staff. Try to learn as much of that bad stuff in the church (every church has its share) as soon as you can so that the pitfalls are more easily detected.

 So for this one step 1 is evaluation

Well, let me apologize that we have not blogged in the last week an a half. We have had some changes at the SBTC. After 2 years of working with me Nate Stewart has accepted the position at Houston’s First Baptist Church in Collegiate Ministry. We are so excited for him and so sad for us. He will be helping us immensely from Houston and we hope that he will be able to join you Houstonians in collegiate ministry. He will be on the ground in March so make sure to connect with him at Houston’s First. We are working to replace the work has been doing with us, so pray for us as we search for new help.

As we've thought through Nate's transition, we came up with some key thoughts, which we will be posting for you over the next several days.  Check out the blog beginning tomorrow as we share some things to think about when either you or someone in your ministry is in a place of transition.

For those of you who Teach/Preach at your weekly Collegiate Gathering, here is a great Book Review posted at the Gospel Coalition site for Why Johnny Can’t Preach.  I found it extremely valuable for a book that was one of the best to be released last year...

What other books on preaching have you read in the past year?