Patterns for Ministry: Acts
The book of Acts provides us with numerous glimpses of the unfolding early church. While experiences like Pentecost (the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit) are unique, many of the activities provide models that we can wisely transfer into our campus context.
For instance, Paul’s ministry team spent much of its time in the most strategic crossroads in their culture. Ephesus, Philippi, and Corinth represented commercial and religious centers, each with wide-ranging influence. You are a student within the university world. Can you imagine a more strategic place for ministry in our society than the university?
Also, as the early church grew and people became Christians, corporate groups were established. The little fellowships scattered throughout the Mediterranean basin strengthened the new believers and furthered the local witness. You, too, are involved in a Christian fellowship, on your campus.
Just as these two goals are basic to InterVarsity (developing believers and engaging the campus), so also they need to be basic to the intent of your fellowship.
Other transferable patterns to stimulate your thinking and ministry:
1. The foundation of prayer
Any strategy that overlooks prayer is doomed to failure. Prayer is both an attitude and an activity.
As an attitude, the disciples realized that they could do nothing of Kingdom significance by their own efforts. Dependence upon God was the necessary attitude.
As an activity, the believers gathered to seek God’s guidance and empowerment. After Christ’s ascension, as commanded, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and joined together in prayer. Jesus’ parting words were in their minds: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Throughout the development of the early church and its powerful witness, prayer was the foundational factor. The believers prayed for power, direction, guidance, and witness. (Acts 1:14, 2:42, 4:31, 12:12, 13:3)
InterVarsity chapters have also recognized the necessity of a prayer foundation. Over the years, the cornerstone of IV fellowships has been the daily prayer meeting. InterVarsity student groups are challenged to pray daily for their college. When fellowships have been frustrated by the lack of fruit or conversions, the first question leaders ask is, “What is the condition of our group’s prayer life?”
In the middle 1970’s, the Harvard fellowship experienced troubled times. Strife, disunity, and lack of vision characterized the group. Then, one of the sophomores spearheaded the start of a daily prayer meeting. Gradually, the group solidified, strengthened, and grew. Prayer seemed to supply the missing ingredient.
Prayer doesn’t come easily to American students. Self-reliance, rugged individualism, and the achievement orientation easily squeeze out any inclination to pray. To overcome these natural traits, chapter leaders need to regularly examine their own prayer lives, as well as their group’s. No matter what our skills and gifts, without prayer, we can’t expect God’s activity in our midst.
2. The formation of teams
One of the most widespread misreadings of Acts is to view it as the story of the ministry of Peter and then the mission of Paul. These two men figure prominently in the narrative. But contrary to our individualistic bent, neither of them acted as independent operators.
Peter, as one of the original 12 disciples, accompanied Jesus as part of the team of 12 learners. Occasionally, they had experiences as sub-units. When Jesus sent them out to carry forth the ministry, He sent them out in pairs. In Acts, Peter’s preaching ministry occurred when he was with the other apostles or with his frequent partner, John.
Paul’s missionary journeys began with his partnership with Barnabas. In fact, Barnabas was probably the original team leader. But as Paul assumed those responsibilities, he continued to undertake the mission through his travelling team. Barnabas, Luke, Mark, Titus, Silas, Timothy, Priscilla, and Aquila were some of the team members. The composition of the team varied from city to city and year to year, but its presence was constant.
While Jesus initially supplied this pattern, the Holy Spirit has distributed a variety of gifts to different people. Teamwork is a must. And its accompanying benefits are vital to ministry: prayer, encouragement, support, companionship, and accountability.
On campus, the Exec must develop a spiritual teamwork. They and the other leaders need prayer partners, teammates, and ministry buddies. Without these intentional and purposeful networks, the spiritual casualties of fatigue, discouragement, and burnout can seemingly predominate. Ministry partnerships are essential for creating durable ministry and sustaining those in ministry.
3. The model of multi-ethnicity
Acts is a great illustration that ministry with a multi-ethnic character is not simply some recent fad, but rather a concern deeply rooted in Kingdom values. From the start, the Apostles were told that they would be Christ’s witness not only in their homelands, but also in the neighboring countries and ultimately in the most distant lands. Pentecost symbolized what was to come. Amidst the international throng, each person heard the wonders of God spoken in their own language.
The apostle Paul assembled a team of people with diverse backgrounds. It is quite possible that his team was an object lesson to the Mediterranean world of the way God unites people. For example, when young Timothy was added to the team, regardless of the fact that he was half Greek, God then ushered them to the new continent of Europe.
Some of the newly founded groups of believers were more diverse. Philippi provides an interesting example. Lydia appears to have been an Asian women, living in Greece, heading up a business. The jailer was probably an uneducated local. The formerly possessed slave girl may also have become a follower as well.
Acts is filled with “bridge people” — people who, because of racial backgrounds, had increased identification with and access to certain groups of people. Timothy was able to interact with Gentiles, as well as Jews. Aquila and Priscilla, who appear to have been gifted with the ministry of hospitality, were able to extend their hospitality to many kinds of people. One man they reached out to was named Apollos. Apollos was a Jew, a native of Alexandria (in Egypt, a part of Africa), who came to Ephesus (in Asia Minor). Eventually he went to Achaia (in Europe). His background and abilities allowed him to represent Jesus Christ in different cultures, countries, and continents.
The campus of the 1990’s is increasingly diverse. Its ethnic composition changes as various minorities gain greater access to the university.
The challenge to InterVarsity student groups is two-fold: 1) to make the fellowship a welcoming place for any person expressing interest; and 2) to develop ways to engage the entire campus, in all its ethnic diversity, with the good news of Jesus Christ. This second point is central to InterVarsity’s vision — to undertake ministry with a multi-ethnic character. In this ambition, most groups will wisely attempt to build meaningful bridges to one segment of the university populace at a time. If the group diversifies too quickly, it is almost certain that the impact will be diluted. Smart strategy can build bridges and open doors in rewarding ways.
4. Starting points for campus engagement
Throughout his missionary journeys, whenever Paul entered a city, he began explaining the Gospel at the synagogue or wherever Jews and God-fearers gathered for worship. The people to whom he spoke represented those who were inclined to believe in God, one God. They were familiar with the Scriptures of the Old Testament. They knew something of the character and purpose of God. They were the religious, those with worldviews predisposed to accept Paul’s message.
On today’s campus, the religiously inclined and those with a degree of cultural Christianity in their backgrounds may be the people most prepared and receptive to the good news of Jesus Christ. God is at least a word they have heard, and most can spell it. Their notions of God may be quite mistaken or inaccurate, but they at least have a notion that is somewhat related to the Judeo-Christian concept. They probably think Jesus was a good teacher who was on friendly terms with God.
Others, who are also “religious,” might be unfamiliar with churches, but they may actively long for meaning and fulfillment in their lives. Their efforts to satisfy their hunger may have been extremely misdirected, perhaps like the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Still, they have an identifiable interest.
Finding these people on campus will mean one of two things. You might need to go to events, meetings, or places where these people express their interests and hunger. Or, you might need to create hospitable environments that will attract and welcome them.
Bridges of friendship, whether in the dorm, classroom, or student center, are basic. Establishing a warm, welcoming atmosphere in large group and small group contexts is important. Since people are so very different, a fellowship needs to have numerous entry points or avenues of access so that seekers can be comfortably integrated.
How can your fellowship meet the religious on their own turf? Where are those spots? What activities and gathering on your campus express “religious” interest?
5. Other spots for campus engagement
Throughout Acts, Paul’s team engaged many other segments of society after witnessing to the Jewish segment. Their witness moved out into: homes and neighborhoods, the marketplace and business districts, academic forums, and even government institutions. The people in these settings — slaves, merchants, intellectuals, skeptics, governors, kings — were given the opportunity to hear the Good News. No one was too small or too great.
On campus, we need to recognize and reach out with the Gospel to the corners of our campus, not just to those who seem most likely to respond. We need to minister to those who are immersed in darkness. God cares about all people, whoever they are. Atheists, athletes, intellectuals, socialites, extroverts, introverts — God cares about everyone on campus.
Admittedly, no fellowship can address all of these groups at the same time. But every fellowship should be seeking God’s guidance as to where to stretch out an arm of love, care, and witness.
6. Circumstantial opportunities
I am convinced that the early church and her missionaries had a well-designed strategy. I am equally convinced that they didn’t feel constrained by it when God pointed them in other directions or opened unanticipated doors for ministry.
Paul and his team’s ministry in Philippi illustrates this. Things unfolded as planned as they witnessed at the center of Jewish worship. Yet, when the demon-possessed slave girl seemingly interfered, they did not ignore her. They encountered her.
True, the jail house was also outside of their original itinerary. Once there, however, Paul and Silas seized the opportunity to witness to the other prisoners. As a result, the jailer and his family became Christians.
Paul could have sulked in frustration or indulged in self-pity. Instead, he chose to affirm God’s sovereignty and faithfully served Him.
Our plans and strategy should be a result of diligent prayer and careful preparation. As part of our preparation, we must remain spiritually sensitive to spontaneous opportunities for ministry that God places before us.