On the weekend of October 16-17, ASA hosted a weekend retreat aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of our Adventist Students Association. Invited delegates representing Adventist tertiary ministries around Australia gathered at a conference centre near St Albans, just an hour north of Sydney.
A major purpose of the weekend was to facilitate dialogue between the various communities and ministries, and a lot of ideas were shared. These conversations continued over shared meals and in the minibus, strengthening valuable social networks.
The other primary job of the Sustain ASA Retreat was to identify ways that we can improve the function and continuity of ASA. It was obvious that we need to expand beyond the traditional Local Society model, and strive to be relevant to the full spectrum of tertiary ministry initiatives happening around the country. Happily, delegates were agreed that a national association is worthwhile.
All of the participants agreed on the following as a summary of the weekend’s discussion, and we can now use this document to help guide ASA into the future. Continual conversation will be required to ensure that the national association of tertiary student communities remains relevant and beneficial.
St Albans Declaration
October 17, 2010
We, representatives of tertiary ministry initiatives across Australia:
- Have recognised the urgent need for tertiary ministry activities across Australia.
- Affirm the initiative of the AUC executive committee to commit to university chaplains in each conference. We encourage conference areas who are unable to commit paid university chaplaincy resources to actively seek lay members who can operate in such a capacity until paid chaplaincy is arranged.
- Resolve to strengthen the operations of ASA to enable it to:
- Allocate money to support tertiary ministry operations in regions lacking local financial support
- Facilitate a national tertiary student event
- Provide leadership training, networking, visioning, and planning
- Facilitate idea and resource sharing including a contact point for connecting people to tertiary ministry resources and expertise
- Provide advocacy for the interests of the Seventh-day Adventist church on university campuses and to provide advocacy for the interests of Seventh-day Adventist students to the general church.
- Maintain a database of tertiary students to facilitate communication and support of students moving between regions.
- Recommend the appointment of a national-level paid secretary to support the administrative functions of the ASA leadership team. The administrative tasks are detailed in part point 3.
- Recommend incorporating into the national-tertiary level administration a support level made up of graduates and other interested people to provide advice, resources and stability.
- Encourage conferences to develop committees to provide the same role described in point 6.
- Resolve to support a process of re-evaluation of the ASA executive with a view to streamlining the membership of the executive and renewal of the ASA constitution.
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Hi Lachlan,
It all looks good to me. These resolutions will bring new flexibility to the association that is sorely needed.
keep it up Lachlan.
Cheers
Nick
Our hearts goes out to the SDA students at Public Universities. It is often one of the neglected area of ministry in our church. Having been involved with setting up SDA clubs at Monash and running ASA conventions while a student, I sense the urgency to have a ’sustained ministry’ to students.
For the last ten years we have been involved in campus ministries at Melbourne, Swinburne, Monash and Victoria Universities. We praise the Lord that 53 university students have been baptised. There are now two campus worships at Melbourne and Monash Universities and plans for our third campus worship in 2012.
What are the ingredients for a sustained ministry? Below is a summary …
It is hard to explain all via a blog but I thought to share with you a summary of what are some of the campus “back to basics” are:
- need committed student leaders
- supported by young adults (bible workers or members)
- care group on campus
- club affiliated not only for nurture but for outreach
- care group run by students
- each young adult to disciple, care and support a student leader
These were the back to basic ingredients for a successful campus ministry.
1. Students
You need at least 2-3 students that are interested / willing and wanting to reach their friends. These are not the Laodicean SDA students that are only interested in their studies and not soul winning or sharing their faith.
2. Supported
Young adults / Bible workers / pastors – are key to support these students. Many times during critical months when students are preparing for exams etc. Young adult support can help to fill in the gaps.
3. Care Group
Start with care group first; if you can get a location close to the campus it will make it easy for the seekers / students to attend – that will be the best. Preferred to be home of a student or family willling to host them. Proxmity to seekers are CRITICAL for growth.
Friendship invitation to care group is the first level of out reach. If there are ‘Andrews’ amongst the SDA student then they can reach other students to come. The best form of outreach is via friendship network
4. Get student club affiliated / make it official by the Uni
The benefit is that we can book rooms, run orientation tables, weekly outreach tables etc. Thus a systematic outreach on campus.
5. Students to run the Care Group
If adults (Young adults / pastors / bible worker) run it for them; then they will never own it. You must train – using FAST Discipleship (www.fast.st). train the students to grow in spiritual depth. They need support and help. The issue for the student growth is not functional leadership but spiritual leadership.
6. Support students
If the students feels that they are ‘being used’ for otureach — then it is not good. We must support them first. The student leaders too need encouragement and support through their life issues / needs. They face issues like expectations, exam pressures, relationship issues, adapting to uni life etc.
We have Bible workers serving full-time on campus supporting students. You are welcome to visit our campus ministry work at Melbourne Uni, Monash Uni and Victoria Uni.
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