By the time December rolls around, those of us who work with college students are likely recognizing a couple of different things:

1. Students are done — over the Thanksgiving holiday they had a foretaste of their much larger Christmas break to come and they are just ready to be there, and
2. We’re not too far behind them — we’re tired from a semester of ministry and are likely ready to have a little break from students, campus and our regular routines for a little while.

But before we get there we need to consider some unfinished business.   I think December can be one of the most pivotal months in our ministry — if we’ll use it in the right ways!

Here are a few ideas I have for making the month of December a “fruitful” one — BEFORE we break to be with family and friends, and celebrate the coming of Christ, the One who has called us to this great work with students on campus:

Find ways to encourage students — this is such an intense and stressful time for our students… even though they are likely withdrawing from social activities of every kind (including ours) it doesn’t mean they don’t need to hear from us!  As students begin to hone in on their final projects, papers and exams we need to create some space and opportunities for them to unwind, decompress and have some fun with others in the midst of the end-of-the-semester craziness!  One thing that we do at the end of every semester (on the day between the last day of class and the first day of finals) is host a Late Night Pancake breakfast.  Between 9 and 11 p.m. we partner with our campus caterer to provide hundreds of pancakes to anyone who wants to come.  Last semester we had over 800 students come through the doors over the course of the 2 hour event.  They were SO appreciative… and I know it had to do with more than just pancakes.  They need more opportunities like this, especially during this stressful season.

Take time to celebrate with your leaders — finding ways to celebrate your leaders, and all you’ve accomplished as a ministry team, is a great way of ending a term of hard work — as well as setting the stage for the upcoming term and all you hope God will lead you to do.  I know that we’ve got plans to bring all of our leaders together for a time of fellowship, food, Christmas music and building gingerbread houses.  Nothing over the top.  Just an opportunity to be together, say “thank you” and give them some time and space to enjoy being with one another.

Spend some intentional time with your team — once students enter into their finals, or after they leave campus, finding some time to be together a staff is incredibly important.  Whether we’re taking the time to simply be together and further build on our relationships, or spend some time intentionally processing the semester and assessing what needs to happen in the upcoming semester, or maybe choosing to get off-campus for a staff retreat, or even some combination of all of the above… the month of December often provides just enough time and space for things like this to happen.

Sneak away for a personal retreat — building off of the previous suggestion… take some time away to seek and hear from God. This time will obviously take on the form that is most needed by our current condition and circumstances… but deciding NOW to set aside a day, or couple of days, could be the difference between a peaceful, restful break (or not) and a strong (or something much less) start to the upcoming term.

Finalize plans for the upcoming semester — we don’t need unfinished plans looming over us during our holiday break with family and friends.  Absolutely anything and everything that can be done for next semester, yet this term, should be.  Details regarding sermon or small group series, travel plans for local or global service opportunities, connecting or re-connecting with campus or local contacts, as well as those special events for our leaders, ministry participants and campus communities.  ALL of it is fair game for this time of year!  WHATEVER we can do yet this semester will simply lighten our load for, as well as make feel more confident about, the upcoming term.

Tend to some of those things you’ve been putting off — you know what this for you… maybe cleaning your office, clearing off your desk, reading that book, returning that call, spending some focussed time on that new idea… YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS FOR YOU!  December can be a great month to make use of some space and time that we don’t normally have to tend to those things that we can never find the time for.

That’s what I’ve got… but

What am I missing?

What would you add to this list?

How will you make use of the time you have yet this term?