Strategies for Engagement
Let me suggest some strategies that will allow you to be more intentional in your Gospel witness:
1. Think of your campus in terms of social opportunities.
What are the natural gathering points of students? When Paul visited Athens, as described in Acts 17, he went to the marketplace where people congregated. Is your marketplace the student union, quad, library, or bus stop? Use these gathering places for book tables, publicity, and hanging out with other students. Be creative.
Students at the University of Michigan recently built a replica of the Noah’s ark right in the middle of campus. They did this to arouse curiosity, and they actually held Bible discussions right on “the Diag.” They even attracted the attention of the daily newspaper. In general, the students made faith in God an issue on campus.
Other groups have sponsored Cliffe Knechtle as a visiting evangelist or a lecturer like Jim Sire. Still others have used drama or media presentations. In each case the students took advantage opportunities or created them. Where are the opportunities to create discussion about Christ on your campus?
2. Think of your campus in terms of people groups.
What groups of students stick together? The athletes, Greeks, minority students, music majors? Are there Christians in these groups? If not, pray for specific conversions and witness among these segmented students.
Some chapters with many commuting student members create a specific commuter program for those who don’t live on campus. Chapter meetings are held during the day time rather than in the evening.
Since we are very committed to being multi-ethnic on campus, pay specific attention to minority students. We are not committed to this to be trendy or to superficially pluralistic. Rather, our commitment stems from our belief in the unique ability of each individual and race to represent the image of God. As an alloy is stronger than a pure metal, so your chapter will be a stronger representation of Christ’s body on campus if composed of students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Being multi-ethnic is not easy, but it is a significant part of campus engagement.
Recently at the University of Rochester, a student who attended the National Leadership Institute felt convicted about his lack of contact with black students on campus. To create an opportunity for chapter members to build relationships with these students, he invited a black gospel choir to sing at an IV chapter meeting.
3. Think of your campus in terms of academic disciplines.
Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 10 that he desired to “capture every thought and make it obedient to Jesus Christ.” Integrating your faith with your college major is also part of campus engagement.
There are many ways to do this. For example, several years ago at the University of Wisconsin, the president of the IV chapter organized a seminar with the faculty in her business administration department to talk about business ethics. One of our Regional Directors regularly teaches a class in the religion department at the local university — because of a relationship he developed with the religion professor conducting the course. I have been involved in teaching classes in religious studies, philosophy, and family development.
Find out if any Christian resources in your community would be willing to participate in a classroom setting and then see if your professor would be open to such a dialogue. (Make sure that the person you recommend will be sensitive to the academic environment and the needs of the students. Your staff member can help you with this.)
4. Think of your campus in terms of influence networks.
What are those networks on your campus? The student newspaper, student government, and freshmen councils? Get involved with one of them.
It’s hard work, but I would love to see every InterVarsity group in the country have a member as part of the editorial staff of the school newspaper. Not only can such a person contribute more articles to the paper, but he or she can also significantly influence others on the editorial team as to what is communicated about Christian values and Christian activities on campus.
Other IV groups have worked very successfully with those in charge of freshmen orientation and have really made a significant contribution to the work among entering freshmen. It also is a wonderful time to let freshmen know about InterVarsity.
There may be other ways of looking at your campus. The intent is to engage every part of your campus community with the Gospel, so that everyone has the opportunity to respond to Christ’s claims on their lives.