Engage24: Rob's Story from Collegiate Church Collaborative on Vimeo.
Engage24 is an initiative designed to engage college students across the United States & Canada with the gospel message. The concept is simple: We are challenging all Christian students to share their faith with one person on October 11, 2012 or 10/11/12.

For more information about Engage24, please check out website engage24.org.

The Engage24 project is sponsored by BCNet (Baptist Collegiate Ministry Network), a collaborative network of Southern Baptist collegiate leaders focused on reaching, discipling, and multiplying believers on and around college campuses. Funding for BCNet is provided by collegiate programs of Southern Baptist State Conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources, and the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Each August, as new students make their way onto our campuses, anticipation grows as we consider the question, “Who will I meet today whose life can be impacted by my life and ministry?” An appropriate question, as we certainly do what we do in the belief that we will be used of God to make a difference in the lives of others.

But let me offer an alternate question: “Who will I meet today whom God will use to have an impact on me?”

The first question implies that ministry is a one-way street, that we are offering a service for the benefit of others. And this is of course demonstrates the biblical teaching to value the interests of others more than our own. We should not approach others primarily for what they can do for us. But the idea of the “divine appointment” can work both ways.

Out of these divine encounters, lifelong friendships are going to emerge. You may see the person in front of you right now as an anxious freshman, both excited and unsure of her new chapter in life, but in time she will grow into a mature adult, and your relationship will evolve from that of a campus minister-student to that of adult friends. Just as is true with our own children, the context of our relationship with our students over time will be as adults.

Lately I’ve thought about this a lot. I’ve thought about those to whom I extended a hand from beside a snow-cone table and who in time became followers of Christ and even the leaders in our ministry. Along with the many activities I did with my students, mostly we just did life together. Mission trips, retreats, weekly worship and Bible studies, but also lots of laughter, tears, times of challenge and celebration. You know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s why we do what we do. But I’ve also thought about the ways they ministered to me and my family, how they loved our little boys as though they were their own, and how they affirmed and challenged me when I most needed it.

And the four years on campus were not the end of it. There were the weddings, the reunions, the celebration of new life and the passing of old, and the markers of life transition regarding careers and homes and health that make up reality for all of us. It has been rich and rewarding to see connections begun many years ago continue into the present.

I want to believe that I was used to make a difference in the life of every student with whom I crossed paths during my years on the campus. I certainly hope that is true. But now as a veteran, I know for certain that those students made a difference in mine. My life is a mosaic of every relationship God has blessed me with over the years, including every one of those students.

And I think about that first encounter at an outreach table, a Survival Weekend, or an open house event. Who knew?

So as you go into this new school year, with all the logistical details and frantic activity of these first few weeks, as you meet so many new students and the focus is on “right now,” you may want to keep this longer perspective in mind. As you stand beside that snow-cone table and extend your own hand, you may be shaking the hand of a person whose life will forever impact your own. Who knows?

BY ROBERT TURNER

Building Relationships

We have been building relationships with several Muslim students. One evening while hanging out with these students, two of them began to ask questions about Christianity. This conversation has been ongoing with them. This month we have been able to see fruit from our efforts. It was a great day to be able to baptize Ershad on February 14, 2010 We are still in the process of building these relationships. I would ask that you continue to pray for us in this matter.

Scott Belmore – University of Louisiana – Lafayette

The Soul-arium Train? A Slightly Different Approach to Evangelism Strategy.

This October the evangelism team of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Network sat down to tackle the issue of evangelistic effectiveness in BCM circles. We knew that several BCMs are knocking the ball out of the park evangelistically. We also knew (and this may sting a bit for some), that many BCMs aren’t tackling evangelism quite as well as they could.

As the evangelism team pinged discussion to and fro in our war room, we threw out all kinds of ideas about what we could do to help collegians become more effective in their evangelism. It was tough and it got messy…but at the end of the day we arrived at an idea, or better said, a question:

“What one concept could we champion that would help every BCM student engage people with the gospel?”

As the committee fussed, discussed, and warred together, we realized that the greatest challenge in motivating or influencing Christian students to share the gospel is simply helping them to engage people in evangelistic conversation. Most Christians know the gospel well (and yes this is somewhat of a self-evident statement), but so many college students are challenged when it comes to sharing it. So we arrived at our goal—we want to help students to engage lost people with the gospel more effectively.

Enter Soularium. Developed by some Hippies in the northeast, Soularium is an evangelistic engagement tool that uses pictures to segue regular conversation into spiritual dialogue, and ultimately, to a gospel presentation. The Soularium creators explain further:

“Soularium provides 50 images and a few simple questions to allow you to enter and explore the lives of people around you…[it] allows you to come alongside another person on their journey by exploring where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they’re headed. Asking questions and genuinely listening can open a door to significant spiritual conversation about Jesus.”

As we thought about Soularium and its application, we began to realize that because of its simplicity, Soularium can be used in a variety of ways and in many different contexts. Further, just by using the dialogical approach of image and questions, college students are really able to engage more deeply and relationally into the lives of the persons with whom they share.

Soularium is by no means a “silver bullet” of evangelism, nor is it intended to replace successful evangelism tools and methods currently in use. What it is intended to do is increase the engagement of your students into the lives of non-believers, and ultimately, to bring more people in to the only relationship that can save.

As the person explains why certain pictures resonate with him or her, a dialogue opens that can allow the sharer to see into the life of a person’s soul.

If you’re interested in learning more about Soularium, check out the Soularium website at http://www.campuscrusade.com/WSN/soul.htm. If the price scares you a bit we’ve got good news. Through a cooperative program partnership with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), we are able to get you Soularium kits at deeply (Marianas trench-like) discounted prices. For more information, contact Ethel Stewart (estewart@namb.net) at NAMB.

Enjoy your ride on the Soularium train.

The Soul-arium Train? A Slightly Different Approach to Evangelism Strategy.

This October the evangelism team of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Network sat down to tackle the issue of evangelistic effectiveness in BCM circles. We knew that several BCMs are knocking the ball out of the park evangelistically. We also knew (and this may sting a bit for some), that many BCMs aren’t tackling evangelism quite as well as they could.

As the evangelism team pinged discussion to and fro in our war room, we threw out all kinds of ideas about what we could do to help collegians become more effective in their evangelism. It was tough and it got messy…but at the end of the day we arrived at an idea, or better said, a question:

“What one concept could we champion that would help every BCM student engage people with the gospel?”

As the committee fussed, discussed, and warred together, we realized that the greatest challenge in motivating or influencing Christian students to share the gospel is simply helping them to engage people in evangelistic conversation. Most Christians know the gospel well (and yes this is somewhat of a self-evident statement), but so many college students are challenged when it comes to sharing it. So we arrived at our goal—we want to help students to engage lost people with the gospel more effectively.

Enter Soularium. Developed by some Hippies in the northeast, Soularium is an evangelistic engagement tool that uses pictures to segue regular conversation into spiritual dialogue, and ultimately, to a gospel presentation. The Soularium creators explain further:

“Soularium provides 50 images and a few simple questions to allow you to enter and explore the lives of people around you…[it] allows you to come alongside another person on their journey by exploring where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they’re headed. Asking questions and genuinely listening can open a door to significant spiritual conversation about Jesus.”

As we thought about Soularium and its application, we began to realize that because of its simplicity, Soularium can be used in a variety of ways and in many different contexts. Further, just by using the dialogical approach of image and questions, college students are really able to engage more deeply and relationally into the lives of the persons with whom they share.

Soularium is by no means a “silver bullet” of evangelism, nor is it intended to replace successful evangelism tools and methods currently in use. What it is intended to do is increase the engagement of your students into the lives of non-believers, and ultimately, to bring more people in to the only relationship that can save.

As the person explains why certain pictures resonate with him or her, a dialogue opens that can allow the sharer to see into the life of a person’s soul.

If you’re interested in learning more about Soularium, check out the Soularium website at http://www.campuscrusade.com/WSN/soul.htm. If the price scares you a bit we’ve got good news. Through a cooperative program partnership with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), we are able to get you Soularium kits at deeply (Marianas trench-like) discounted prices. For more information, contact Ethel Stewart (estewart@namb.net) at NAMB.

Enjoy your ride on the Soularium train.

A New Apologetics Resource

Bart Ehrman is probably the most influential skeptical New Testament scholar in North America. He teaches at UNC (Chapel Hill). In September 2008 Mike Licona, Apologetics Coordinator for NAMB, spoke at the NC student evangelism conference. After a breakout, a student approached him and said that one of her professors was having them read one of Ehrman’s books, and it was killing her faith. She looked somewhat desperate and asked if there was anything out there that answered Ehrman. Licona was fortunate to have a DVD of his debate with Ehrman and gave it to her. He spoke with her BCM director this past spring, and the student is once again strong in her faith thanks to help from the DVD.

Here is a new resource for you to use: www.4truth.net/ehrman
This is a professionally produced interview with Mike Licona on Ehrman. There are four short video segments that can be streamed or downloaded in high-definition. Also included are discussion questions for each segment which can be downloaded. Please check it out

Mike Licona
Apologetics Coordinator
North American Mission Board
770.410.6346
Free Resources at www.4truth.net

Evangelism Sermon Review of Harold Bullock's "Evangelism-the Process"

By: Eddy Pearson, Christian Challenge/ Baptist Collegiate Minister and Jedi-Master

Evangelistic fruit grows on a relationship tree. What we see through programs like EE and CWT is that a prior relationship has been built and people have been prepared for the gospel.

Major problems in Evangelism: Efficiency and effectiveness

Bullock’s evangelism strategy or steps to bring people to Christ that he has found effective:

1] You meet new people who do not know Jesus [work, health club, clubs on campus, etc.]

Set appointments. Remember that you are not paid to be an evangelist at work on in class. Schedule a lunch or study time. Identify yourself with Christ from the beginning and be honest about who you are as a person. You come from a Christ oriented world view. The seed that goes in the ground is the word of God. You plow and plant the seed.

2] Invite people to a time [dinner, lunch, golf, shopping …] with other Christians or people pressing on to know the Lord.

3] Get them to an informal group event [sporting games like intramurals, Agape meals, game nights, etc.]

4] Get them to a formal group event [a spiritual event with a group identity. [I.E. bible study, large group meetings, retreats] The threat level is high threat because they happen inside buildings with a door. Imagine that you attend a Hari Krishna meeting with 200-400 other Hari Krishna’s would be a high threat to you.

Six and Sevens

Harold found that people who came to Christ after 1-2 contacts typically fall away. Yet, 6-7 gospel sharing times see people come to faith in Christ and they stick.

You can see a flow occurring with these steps. We like to see the gospel shared 6-7 times btw. steps one through four. You want individuals to see 6 or 7 people’s perspective on the gospel and how they live the gospel out.

Luke. 14: 25-27

Investigative Bible Study by Jim Peterson’s book has a good IBS/IEG

The gospel is more like agriculture than it is Industry. The more you plant and tend, the more you harvest.

Peter Drucker says, “Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness is doing the right things.”

Christians approach evangelism like “sorties”, where we meet and go to the enemy territory and make a few strikes and go back to the castle. Jesus was gladly received by sinners. We need to be involved in non-Christian turf areas.

Evangelism takes effort. Personal inconvenience is a part of the process and you will have to rework your schedule.

We can invite every one to an emphasis event or night, for example, and you will see that most do not attend.

Where are you at in steps 1-4? What is your range within steps 1-4?

Questions:

An intriguing talk to listen to and I recommend it peers across the nation in collegiate ministry. A question I have is where do we see the process of evangelism in scripture?

How do you know whether it is the 4th-5th or 6th time that the gospel is being shared?

Please give any feedback and I have some ideas, but let’s see what others believe about the process.

If you'd like to listen to the sermon click the link:

Go to: http://discipleshiplibrary.com, Click topics, Click evangelism , Click Harold Bullock’s “Evangelism - the Process”