This past Monday morning I had the great joy of speaking to about 225 students in Orlando, Florida. For almost three hours I challenged them to think biblically, dealing with subjects from the great gospel to theodicy, and from the exclusivity of Jesus to the wonder of creation. I have learned that students from middle and high school, not to mention college, long for teaching that helps them live biblically. And I love to teach them!
We make a grave mistake when we wait to begin developing leaders only after they reach their mid twenties. We should begin intense discipleship a decade or more earlier with middle school and high school students, not to mention those in college. I have given my life to teaching younger leaders. My friend Jay Strack and his ministry called Student Leadership University, which is where I spoke on Monday, has been one of the rare voices making the point that leadership training must include students from middle school onward. Thus, on Tuesday the trustees approved my role at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern to lead in training those who will minister to the coming generation of students and their families. I am excited!
NOTE: I just created a Facebook group called SEBTS & Student Ministry. Please join! In only a day we already have over 400 members, so there is definitely interest!
Over the past decade or so I have had the honor of speaking to tens of thousands of students (and parents!) in rallies, camps, DNows, schools, and other events. I have taught and ministered with hundreds of student pastors, and have written books and resources on the subject, notably:
Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium (Kregel
Join the Movement: God Is Calling You to Change the World (Kregel)
Also, a resource to help parents raise Great Commission children called Inheritance
(find out more on this here).
The heart of my ministry has been training college and seminary students called to vocational ministry, with preaching and writing serving as corollaries to that primary ministry. Now, I have added to my assignment as professor of evangelism the role of student ministry, giving me the opportunity to put a great passion of mine in the world of ministry where my life is centered.
NOTE: Our college dean Bruce Ashford, only in his mid thirties, is one of the emerging younger leaders with the world on his heart and a robust theological core. His vision for the college gives me great hope for the future. He is also an outstanding speaker at student events! We will be teaming to bring much harm to Satan’s kingdom in the days to come.
There are more students in the U.S. than ever in our history. At the same time there is a rising dissatisfaction with where student ministry is in the church and recognition that we have not been effective at preparing students for their freshman year of college, let alone the rest of their lives. Add to that the growing Christian School and Home School movements, and one could argue that never before has the U.S. needed leaders who see the need to raise a generation of students who love the family, the local church, and the lost. I believe Southeastern Seminary and The College at Southeastern will soon become known as the place to go to learn gospel-centered, Great Commission student ministry. Here is a little overview of what we offer.
The What:
We propose a gospel-centered, church loving, biblically lashed, family embracing, spiritually worshiping, Great Commission-focused approach, preparing students to spend their lives advancing the movement of God in the culture.
We envision a student ministry that is:
Gospel-centered, not activity obsessed
Church loving, not personality centered
Biblically lashed, not program driven
Family embracing, not overly segregated
Worship engaging, not entertainment-heavy
Great Commission focused ministry, not an inward focused “group”
Movement advancing, not institution maintaining
Raises the bar rather than settles for adolescent silliness
Preparing young adults for life, not finishing childhood for kids
NOTE: If you know any high school students or collegians who feel a call to student ministry, send them my way!
The How:
I. Academic
College-Christian Studies Major with a Minor in Student Ministry: this includes courses in student ministry foundations, personal evangelism, spiritual growth and discipleship, apologetics, counseling, and six hours of internship with a local church.
Masters–M.Div/Student Ministry: this degree also includes a six hour internship and will partner with other colleges and universities who have established student ministry tracks.
D.Min–A focus in student ministry can be attained by studying with me or other faculty and focusing the intense reading and project aspects on the subject.
Ph.D–The new Leadership Cohort already has students preparing to study with me as well.
Some of the finest practitioners in the U.S. have already contacted me, ready to come and meet with students to provide short term mentoring. In addition, I will invite students in the degree programs to meet with me in small group settings and in ministry opportunities for further mentoring.
We hope pastors, student pastors, and parents will see SEBTS as a primary destination for training in ministry to students as a part of the larger, holistic ministry of the local church.
II. Conferencing
In the coming years we will be hosting conferences to help students, student ministers, and parents become more effective as missional Christ-followers. Partnering with some of the finest in student ministry and our outstanding faculty, we will provide training events that are both rich in the gospel and broad in effectiveness. Building on the success of our recent conferences (Convergent Conference, Building Bridges, and our annual 20/20 Collegiate Conferences), we hope to become a key destination for ongoing training in student ministry.
III. Networking:
We are already forming networks with strategic ministries and churches that set the standard for training this emerging generation. Already some of the most outstanding churches and ministries in the U.S. have agreed to partner with us. Numerous leaders have volunteered to come at their expense just to hang out with our students. That is exciting!
IV. Prayer:
Would you partner with us in praying that God would do in this generation of students what He has done in the past:
–The First Great Awakening, which Jonathan Edwards said was mostly among the youth
–The Haystack Revival, which led to the birth of American missions
–The Student Volunteer Movement. Which led to thousands of young adults entering the international mission field
–The Jesus Movement, which led many to Christ (like me!) who still want to lead a revolution in Jesus name!
