Spiritual preps for the new school year

By Mark Robinson

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The new semester is exciting for everyone — but especially for the campus minister, who is on the front lines of shaping disciples for Christ.

In the coming weeks, campus ministers can better focus as they think and plan out the new school year:

• Tackle administrative tasks early. Handle office work, phone calls and emails early in the day — before the “tyrant” called “Urgent” takes over the schedule;

• Prioritize prayer;

• Pray early and often;

• Encourage a staff member or student to stop and pray with them throughout the day;

• Keep prayers focused to help build a culture of prayer;

• Foster a culture of evangelism;

• Make transformation stories part of daily conversations;

• Celebrate and share how God is working in students’ lives;

• Keep the main thing the main thing. Preparing tacos for 300 is important — but spiritual growth is their true purpose;

• Love family well. As they serve intensely, be intentional about loving their family even more intensely;

• Record God’s faithfulness. Make notes of special acts of God to reflect on later when life slows down;

• Stay rooted in the Word;

• Don’t neglect your personal time in Scripture; and