Lasting Influence form Short Term Experiences

Are summer mission trips worth the investment? Do they lead to lasting impact? Great questions!

Couple those with another set of good questions. What part does the ministry of compassion and social justice play when on a mission of gospel proclamation? How do you wed together good news with good deeds? What happens when you do?

How do these two set of questions relate?

As students are exposed to the needs of the world and experience the difference that the gospel (that is, gospel living and gospel proclaiming) can make, it prepares them for a lifetime of gospel ministry--whether in the U.S. or the world.

That reality is illustrated very well by the University of South Carolina Media Relations article: "USC Retailing Student is Clothed in Hope."

Go, Amy!

30 Seconds...Another 18 yr Old Latino in US

Here is a 90 sec read from Fast Company on the Hispanic Market in the US. Not just how big it is, but the implications for companies (and organizations). It is worth your minute and a half.

What the Rise of Univision Means for Your Brand

Every 30 seconds a Latino turns 18 years old. Will we be positioned to reach him or her?

Backstory on iPad: Cool View

My friend and co-worker, RJ, took our work with Life@Large (a seven-chapter, gospel storyline) and created an updated version known as Backstory. We haven't yet pursued creating an "app" for mobile devices. That is coming (we say.) However, I was copied on (another friend and co-workers) DC's e-mail to RJ's on this creative usage:

I shared Christ with a grad student today at Cal using Backstory --- I had him Google search CruPress and download the pdf into his iPad and view on iPad Reader --- looking at it together we flicked the pages back and forth, read out loud scripture, and answered the Q's --- the way it's formatted is beautiful on iPad --- it's 4x it's printed size when you click on a pane and it fills the screen --- 2x the size when "scrolling"--- so easy to read you must try it it you haven't yet --- a quality conversation was had over quality Gospel media --- he's a believer, so I used Backstory to get to know better and to draw out his story --- asked him which of the 7 themes drew him in the most --- he came closer to Christ through the conversation and so did I --- Backstory should get a Grammy for best coffeehouse conversation media for use with an iPad --- I wonder if Backstory could be hosted on campus ministry and personal websites so one could click and drag-the pages and view it similarly to like we did today but with a cursor-- http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/files/products/backstory.pdf

Be encouraged. -dc

PS ________, You men have iPads, reply-to-all with your thoughts (viewing it on my MacBook with the Marque Zoom is amazing too) --- let's creatively spread the word about this phenomenon to our students reaching out at Big Break and Spring Breaks everywhere --- and as something new and beautiful to share on campus during Easter Season.

Maybe you should try it too!

The Destino Challenge

Watching the emergence of national ethnic ministries has been a fascinating learning experience for me.

All my mission training and exposure (both in seminary and since), emphasized the importance of contextualized ministry. Intuitively, we applied contextualized ministry locally, as well, adapting ministry to nature of the campus or community.

But over the last 10-15 years, I have been privileged to associate with (and, perhaps, by the grace of God occassionally assist) ethnically contextualized ministries, Destino being one. So I was delighted to read this blog from my blogging friend "Destinoeric":

The Destino Challenge

What if...? What if hundreds take the challenge?

"In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power." Acts 19:20 (NIV)

Speak Out: A Case Study in Fruitfulness

One of the most fruitful student outreaches I have ever had association with is the Speak Out English Camps with Student Venture in Hungary. (I participated while in Hungary with my family in 1995. Two of my kids have returned as counselors in the intervening years.)

For instance, during the summer of 2010, more than a quarter of the 330 Hungarian (primarily) high school students passed through the threshold of faith, trusting Christ as their Savior. Why?

If you examine the design, you could discover principles that make this a high fruit-bearing initiative.

Speakout 2011

What can we learn from Speakout's effective model?

No Secrets

In an effort to "see healing from the inside out for everyone across the campus, see freedom reign as lives are restored, and see God change us into a people of love, faith, and hope", our friends and fellow-workers at UCSD InterVarsity Christian Fellowship have created No Secrets. Have a look and listen...

Greek InterVarsity: NY Times Report Worth Celebrating

Very encouraging to read the NY Times article on Greek InterVarsity, Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship's ministry to fraternity and sorority members. Entitled, "Where Raucous in the Norm, Bible Study", the article reveals the greek ministry has 2800 active members in 367 houses on 60 universities! How cool is that?

Earlier this morning, I received from York Moore (IVCF evangelist and leader) this update,

InterVarsity is on campus with the light of Christ reaching over 34,000 students with the gospel! Over 44,000 non-Christian students are being reached and participate regularly in our 500+ campuses...

Evangelical campus ministry is alive, vibrant and growing! God is doing incredible things among this generation of students! That is reason to rejoice!