I recently conducted a short interview with Creighton Alexander — Director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Alabama, Co-Editor of CollegeUnion.org, and Director of the Refresh Conference about the upcoming Campus Ministry Boot Camps that he’s offering. Here’s what he had to say…
For the past several years our ministries have been challenged to consider how to better reach — and connect with — an increasingly digital world.
From websites to blogs, to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN and Pinterest accounts, online registration and release forms, images and videos — even live streaming.
In many ways it’s felt necessary to obtain additional degrees in web management and social media strategy to co-inside with the ministry degrees many of us hold.
And things continue to grow and change in this area.
Fridays are for ‘Reclaiming Words!’
The intent of this series is to explore words that I think need to be introduced — or re-introduced — to this current generation of college students.
These words have lost their meaning… or have been mis-used or redefined in unhelpful ways… and therefore need to be reclaimed and redefined (again) so that they can be realized by our students!
Today’s word: HOLY.
Faith ON Campus is excited to announce the next Blogathon:
Back to School | August 7-9, 2012!
I know it probably feels like the summer just started — but the reality is that the new school year is just around the corner — so with that in mind, it’s time to make plans and preparations for this upcoming opportunity to come together for some collective thinking and sharing about how to make the most of this critical time of the year!
That’s what the Back to School Blogathon is all about!
I ran across this collection of statistics and wanted to make sure I shared with you — in case you hadn’t run across it in your own online reading.
There’s a lot here.
And the good folks at Gallup did a great job of covering a broad range of “moral” topics.
What we don’t know about those who were polled for this data is what religious affiliation (if any) the respondents claim. Likely, it’s a pretty accurate cross-section of the American population, and therefore, it would be safe to say that these are the dominant “beliefs” of American culture.
Some great insight into the benefits of internships!
Do you have standards for your leaders?
You know, those people who mean so much to your ministry efforts — the ones who serve as extensions of you and the ministry you oversee. Those people that multiply your reach and effectiveness exponentially. Those individuals that magnify the effectiveness of your ministry because of the unique gifts, passions, and talents the bring to the table.
You know, those folks…
Do you have standards that might qualify (or disqualify) them for leadership within your ministry?
Stepping out, taking the risk to dive into this crazy world as an adult, as Miss Independent (cue Kelly Clarkson), can be totally scary.
We like to think we are self-sufficient and not at all apprehensive about living out on our own, out from under the wings of the grown-ups in our lives.
I remember when I moved into my first apartment post-college. It was a seven-hundred-square-foot space that was mine to decorate, leave messy, and clean up only if I felt like it.
Exciting . . . until it came time to pay rent for the first time. Yikes.
Somewhat ironically, though not surprisingly, I’m sitting in a coffee shop reflecting on the idea of hospitality.
At the Edge House, the place where I engage college students at the University of Cincinnati, I have often described my approach as a mix of discipleship and hospitality.
We think hospitality is a pretty critical metaphor for the Gospel.
But when I use the word hospitality, I sometimes hear reactions which betray a misunderstanding of the biblical/Jewish/Christian practice of hospitality.
I remember a pastor once referred to seminary as “cemetery” because “that’s where promising pastors go to die.” Like most maxims, I’m sure there was a kernel of truth in that statement somewhere. But seminary isn’t just for pastors anymore. Nor is it only for people with plans to enter into full-time, paid ministry.
People from all walks of life with all different kinds of aspirations are increasingly entering into seminary as an opportunity to work out their “callings.” What about you? Could seminary be right for you? Making that determination is as simple as taking a breath.