Where We Are Going: Alec Hill

Like all staff directors, I draft an Annual Plan every year. Mine is a tad unique in that it covers the whole Fellowship and is presented to the Board of Trustees. I thought that you might be interested in seeing an abbreviated version of what the Cabinet is dreaming about these days.

Proverbs reminds us that planning is a positive activity. “Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness” (14:22). “The plans of the diligent lead to profit”(21:5). But, it also warns that human planning is only blessed when we are dependent upon Him. “In their hearts human beings plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” (16:9). “Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (19:21).

Special thanks to my fellow co-planners – Jim Lundgren, Karon Morton, Barney Ford, Paula Fuller, Jim Tebbe, and Bob Fryling. Each is remarkable for his/her passion, wisdom and zeal.

1. Reach More Students and Campuses
With the Lord’s guidance and blessing, we seek to move towards our five-year goal of reaching 40,000 students (we currently minister to about 32,000). Two cohorts – “Chapter Planting” and “Chapter Building” – were launched last July, and we expect to launch two more next summer. I am so excited about this new/old focus that I can hardly contain myself. Please pray for the first two cohorts as they hit campus this fall. The sense of momentum is very strong.

2. Increase Evangelism
We are still amazed by the harvest last year – the most new believers that InterVarsity has experienced in nearly a quarter of a century. It is our prayer that this bounty will continue this year and for years to come. The fields are ripe. Key strategies include committing more time to prayer, providing more evangelism training for students and faculty, developing a national evangelism curriculum, asking each campus staff to personally model evangelism, and strengthening our evangelism champions.

3. Develop the Next Generation of Field Leaders
Key activities include hiring a new dean of leadership development, partnering with Multiethnic Ministries to launch two new Daniel Project cohorts, piloting a new area director training program, and developing an overall plan for staff director training.

4. Build an Effective Alumni Program
We are thankful for the success of this program to date. Goals include increasing the number of alumni involved in prayer, volunteering, and giving. To do so, we plan to develop a stewardship training brochure for InterVarsity chapters (to cultivate alumni giving), create web, email, and print communication tools, and continue to award block grants to regions.

5. Increase Field Staff Funding
While we still have a long ways to go, I am encouraged by the number of field staff who have incrementally moved closer to their target salaries. To continue this momentum, we intend to host six regional training events for staff, enhance training for all area directors, finalize an Asian American fund development training curriculum, develop new materials for ethnic minority staff raising funds in White churches, craft new materials to assist staff in utilizing various forms of local committees and advisory boards, develop training curriculum for women staff, and distribute approximately $600,000 to ethnic minority staff to supplement salaries.

6. Become a More Multiethnic Fellowship
Special thanks to the Multiethnic Department for their excellent work this past year. The ME Staff Conference was a highlight for all of us who participated. Specific goals for this year include finalizing the ME National Initiative, building our Native/Indigenous student ministry, hosting Daniel Project cohorts for Black and Latino staff, strategizing next steps for “White identity,” determining the role of racial reconciliation in the Fellowship, building relationships with leaders in ethnic minority communities and publishing new books on multiethnic issues and by ethnic minority authors.

7. Host a Fabulous Urbana 06
We are very excited about the move to St. Louis and the new opportunities this provides. To date, over 9,000 delegates have registered. Changes from 2003 will include an inductive Bible study for all delegates, more tracks, better integrated seminars, and staff having more time with students. In addition, we are excited about the Pastors Track, Friends of InterVarsity Program and Distinguished Guests. Please continue to recruit vigorously!

8. Complete a New Strategic Plan
The Cabinet expects to finish a new five-year Strategic Plan. It will replace the National Initiatives that have provided structure to our planning the past four years. All six Initiatives (to be re-titled “Strategic Initiatives”) will continue, but will be revised, updated, and expanded. The new Strategic Plan will be broader than the six initiatives, including other major objectives (e.g. Information Systems upgrade). It will be submitted to the Board for review and blessing.

9. Launch a Successful Vision Campaign
Finally, we have hired the best consultant in the field to help us draft a case statement, conduct a feasibility study, and ramp up for a Vision Campaign. Urbana will be utilized as a launching point, not in terms of making an ask, but in terms of building relationships. The campaign will run for 18-24 months commencing in 2007.

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