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.

The reason for my correspondence is because we would like to provide our participants with free resource materials related to young adult ministry from organizations available to provide support. Would you have any promotional materials for our delegates to have to get to know more about your ministry?

Our training event is this upcoming April 4-6. I realize that this is very short notice, and I apologize for that. If you would like your resources to be included with our delegate’s seminar packages, we’d be happy to include them.