Campus Outreach – Days 2 & 3
The last two days have been a blast! I love what I do and I am beyond grateful to god for the privilege to be a part of His plan to redeem the lost…globally.
Yesterday we had some outstanding class discussion. We didn’t cover as much as I had planned, but students are digging in and genuinely trying to grasp the transferable principles and how they apply in their context. Today, we were cooking. Great comments and questions plus we covered a lot of ground. The last two days of class looked like this:
- Develop a long term strategy for a campus ministry
- Key questions for assessing schools
- Restructure for a campus ministry(talked a little about Phil Rice)
- Becoming an Insider
- Understanding Contacting: To Be Seen, To Be Known, To Be Understood
- The Campus Meeting: Impact Meeting
Tomorrow we will wrap up the week by digging into student evangelism strategies. This is always my favorite part of this class. It will flow like this:
- The Campus Meeting: Insight Meeting
- Mobilizing Teens to Reach Their School
- Preparing for a Campus Ministry: The Youth Leader & the Students
Outside of class, we had even more fun. Mentoring can be the most fun you ever have in youth ministry. We left class and went to a mall for lunch at Chili’s. 
What a great mall with unbelievable views of the city looking out over an infinity pool. My students (I mean Dennis’ students) really welcomed me to the group. (Did I say how much I love what I do?) It was their first time to eat at Chili’s, it’s a pretty new mall.
After lunch, we caught a movie. We saw Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was my second time to see it, but this time it was in Spanish without subtitles. I really enjoyed it (probably because I just saw it 5 days ago).
To all the students in my class, “Thank you.” You have made this an unforgettable adventure this week. I hope I have another opportunity to hang out with you in the near future.
Hear the Christmas Story…Again!
This is from West Ridge Church outside of Atlanta. I know it is from last year, but still very powerful!
Unsung Heroes
I know I just posted, but I just received this video from one of the youth ministry students who is from Monterey, MX. His father is a pastor who does so much to serve the people of Monterey.
Campus Outreach – Day One
Okay, so I mentioned in my last post that Mexico City makes me feel at home, but I wasn’t quite sure why. Well, I think I know why.
PEOPLE:
Their Calling…God has so richly blessed this city with God’s people who love to see others hear about His wonderful grace. These people care deeply for their country and willing to sacrifice to see that happen in their communities. They have set aside the normal course of their lives to pursue “unsung hero” status. The ministry that they have been called to often presents great difficulties that would cause youth pastors in the United States to resign or announce that “they sense God is moving them to a new ministry.”
Their Hospitality…In the last 6 years I have the opportunity to teach youth ministry students at 3 of our international centers (Kiev, Kathmandu, & Mexico City), and without question God’s people have always received me like family. The people of Mexico City are no exception. But I want to express special thanks to my students and interpreter here this week. You are all brothers & sisters on the same mission and you make me want to love Jesus more.
Their Food…Okay, so this one is not very spiritual, to you. However, sharing a meal together is a very spiritual activity in the body of Christ. It brings us all to a place where we connect with each other in a heartfelt way. But here, that fellowship is accompanied with entrees that taste sooooo good. Thank you seminary kitchen ladies.
CLASS:
We had a very productive class today. We began the day with a review of our Youth Ministry Mission Statement and Philosophy and also reviewed the 5 C’s for Measuring Spiritual Growth. The rest of the day flowed as follows:
- Foundations of Campus Ministry
- Characteristics of a Movement
- Ingredients for Growth
- Benefits of a Movement
- Goals of a Movement
- Basic Principles of a Campus Ministry
- Initial Steps to a Campus Ministry (part 1)
Students also worked in groups to develop a survey to use on a school campus (MS=Secondary, HS=Preparatory). They will continue with that project tomorrow.
I’ll post another update on Wednesday. In the meantime, if you happen to read or understand Spanish, you can check out YMI’s Latin American Site. If not, take a look at this promo video for the National Center for Youth Ministry-Mexico.
Mexico City – En Route
I have been blessed to travel to various countries around the world. I have never visited anywhere and not been received warmly by God’s people. While my travels have not been extensive by any means, I have some favorite places that just make me feel at home. Mexico City is one of those places. I’m not sure what it is about the world’s arguably largest city, but if I had to pick a city to live in outside the US, the Mexico City DF would be in my top 5.
This trip is a very special one as I will return to teach youth ministry students at the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary. It has been over 3 years since I have been with these students and there are some new people in the program that I am excited to meet. It is one of the sweetest adventures when you get the opportunity to spend time with believers in another country who share your passion for the Great Commission and reaching young people and their families with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
It’s a great privilege to serve with fantastic leaders like Dennis & Janell Poulette with Youth Ministry International. However, this trip will be Poulette free and I get to spend time in the language barrier zone with my friend Huberto Perez. Hube is a graduate of the program and a local youth pastor who loves God & loves people.
I’ll post a few updates this week about our time as we push forward to recruit, train, place, & network youth leaders GLOBALLY!
Professor, Writer, Speaker, Trainer, Missionary
