As we do every year, the InterVarsity’s Cabinet spent three days together before Labor Day weekend. We studied Scripture, enjoyed a soothing boat ride on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, and celebrated Paula Fuller’s fortieth birthday. (Paula is vice president and director of Multiethnic Ministries.)
We were also blessed to have two skilled consultants join us: Dr. Mee-Yan Cheung-Judge from the United Kingdom and Chris Houston from Canada. In distinct ways, each taught us how to analyze our Fellowship, much as a medical doctor would examine a human body.
One of their first questions to us was: “What activity is at the heart of InterVarsity?” In other words, what is our core ministry?
Our leadership team’s response was clear. While we have many fabulous ministries extending our influence like InterVarsity Press, Urbana, Global and Urban Projects and camps, our “core ministry” is indisputably to students and faculty on the campus. While this is certainly not a radical thought, it is one worth constantly reminding ourselves of.
Campus Ministry
Our core ministry is made clear in the first sentence of our Purpose Statement: “To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty.” And what an amazing call this is!
At the Cabinet level, we have vice presidents who work to align all our ministries with our core. For example, Jim Tebbe (Vice President for Missions) mobilizes Urbana 06, Global Projects and Urban Projects to better serve chapters; Bob Fryling (Executive Director of InterVarsity Press and Senior Vice President ) selects book topics relevant to the campus, recruits staff authors and builds credibility for InterVarsity with churches; and Karon Morton (Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer) partners with Jim Lundgren (Vice President and Director of Collegiate Ministries) to better link our camps and regions.
National Initiatives
Each of our six National Initiatives is centered on our core ministry. For example, our Growth Initiative, overseen by Jim Lundgren, is moving ahead with two task forces—Chapter Planting and Chapter Building. A few weeks ago a major donor made a generous pledge that will enable us to boldly move forward to expand our work on new campuses.
Likewise, I am excited by the great work being done by Evangelism Director Terry Erickson’s team on the Evangelism Initiative (under Barney Ford, vice president and director of Strategic Ministries). An “evangelism champion” has been appointed in each region, “evangelism mentors” have been raised up, new GIGs curricula have been developed (GIGs are Groups Investigating God), and a theology of conversion drafted.
In a similar manner, the other four National Initiatives are also designed to both build our internal strength and to further our core ministry on campus: Multiethnicity (led by Paula Fuller), Leadership Development (led by Barney Ford), Field Staff Funding and Alumni (both led by Andrea McAleenan, Vice President and Director of Advancement).
Conclusion
Do we see needs outside of our core area of ministry? Of course we do. But we understand that every need is not our call. What we can do is focus on the campus to bringing students and faculty to Jesus and preparing them for Kingdom service in the world. Our “core ministry” is the campus. All that we do must align with it. When we do that well, we will see lives transformed, the campus renewed, and the world change in ways that honor God.
