A Summer Plan for Campus Missionary Development

If you’re a campus minister or young adult pastor, hopefully the summer months are allowing you to soak up some well-deserved rest. With summer nearly half over, now is a perfect time to make a plan for how you can maximize the rest of July and the first part of August to invest in yourself and grow as a gospel laborer among college students. 

Not sure where to start? Here is a simple framework you can draw from to help you sharpen your skills, deepen your faith, and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the fall. 

Spiritual Leadership and Personal Development

Goals for Summer Development:

• Deepen your relationship with Christ through personal worship, study, and prayer.
• Reflect on your calling and the spiritual needs of college students.

Action Steps:

• Commit to a daily schedule for Bible reading and prayer.
• Read one foundational book, such as Knowing God by J.I. Packer.
• Spend a day in solitude and prayer.

Evangelism and Discipleship

Goals for Summer Development:

• Sharpen your ability to share the gospel and disciple others effectively.

Action Steps:

• Make sure you’ve memorized a simple gospel-sharing method that you want your students to know themselves.
• Explore a discipleship resource that you’ve been meaning to explore but have not had the time too.

Campus-Specific Ministry Skills

Goals for Summer Development:

• Learn how to navigate and engage with the campus environment effectively.

Action Steps:

• Make sure you’re up to date on the specific policies and culture of your campus.
• Identify current campus stakeholders (e.g., administrators, faculty, student leaders) and brainstorm ways to connect with them.
• Watch webinars or read articles on reaching Gen Z students and understanding their unique needs.

Community Building and Engagement

Goals for Summer Development:

• Cultivate skills to create welcoming and Christ-centered environments.

Action Steps:

• Nail down your first 3 weeks of events, such as your back-to-school events, group activities and such.
• Read The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne to understand the balance between building community structures and spiritual growth.

Leadership and Team Development

Goals for Summer Development:

• Build your leadership capacity and ability to develop others.

Action Steps:

• Take a leadership assessment, such as the StrengthsFinder or DISC Personality Test.
  • If you’re interested:
    • My top 5 for StrengthsFinder
      • Ideation
      • Futuristic
      • Strategic
      • Activator
      • Adaptability
    • My DISC Personality Profile
      • I am a high D personality type
• Read Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders and reflect on key takeaways.
• Reach out to a mentor or peer for regular coaching and accountability.

Administrative and Organizational Skills

Goals for Summer Development:

• Strengthen your ability to manage time, resources, and logistics.

Action Steps:

• Create a weekly schedule or checklist to organize your tasks.
• Familiarize yourself with budget planning by reviewing past campus ministry budgets or creating a mock budget.
• Use tools like Google Calendar or Trello for project management.

Church Partnership and Networking

Goals for Summer Development:

• Build meaningful connections with local churches and supporters.

Action Steps:

• Schedule at least one meeting each week with a local pastor or church leader to discuss partnership opportunities.
• Rewrite and update your support-raising letter or presentation so it’s refined.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills

Goals for Summer Development:

• Equip yourself to minister cross-culturally and handle crises effectively.

Action Steps:

• Contact Hayston Wilson for continued training in mental health.
• Read Cultural Intelligence by David Livermore for practical insights on cross-cultural ministry.

Technology and Media Proficiency

Goals for Summer Development:

• Master tools to connect with students digitally.

Action Steps:

• Experiment with social media platforms to create engaging posts or videos.
• Watch YouTube tutorials on Canva or Photoshop for creating ministry graphics.
• Set up a virtual Bible study session to test digital ministry formats.

Vision and Innovation

Goals for Summer Development:

• Clarify your vision for campus ministry and explore creative ways to achieve it.

Action Steps:

• Update/Refine your personal mission statement for your ministry.
• Research innovative ministry models and/or ideas.
• Brainstorm 3-5 new events or outreach ideas for the fall semester.

Tracking Your Growth

Create a Development Plan:

• Identify 2-3 areas you want to focus on during your first month of ministry.
• If you haven’t already, set measurable goals.
• Keep a journal or use a digital tool to document your progress.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash