What's the difference?
I've been rolling this around in my head for the last few weeks and I decided to do a post on it. As the campus ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, we have always had the mission statement, "Turning Lost Students into Christ-Centered Laborers." All of us know this and use this statement to raise support, guide our schedules, lead our SP Processs, and as our reason for joining staff.
At our staff conference Steve Douglas our President unveiled our new "focus." I call it that because I'm not sure if it's a new mission statement for the whole of Campus Crusade, or just a new vision that he has for us. I've asked other staff and I've gotten a range of answers so for now, we'll call it a new "focus". The new statement goes like this, "Building spiritual movements everywhere, so everybody knows someone who truly follows Jesus."
My question is what does this mean for the campus ministry? Does this new statement replace the old, come along side it, or are they the same? Should our ministries and priorities change and be lead by building spiritual movements or was that always part of turning lost students into Christ-centered laborers?
So as I've thought about this, my first step has been to ask the post's title question - What's the difference? Are these statements the same or do they have major differences. Here's what I have so far:
Christ-Centered Laborers
Spiritual Movements
At this point, this is as far as I have gotten ... this is where you come in. I have a few questions for my fellow bloggers and our readers.
This post is just a start, I'll try to answer these questions as we go too! Looking forward to hearing from you ...
At our staff conference Steve Douglas our President unveiled our new "focus." I call it that because I'm not sure if it's a new mission statement for the whole of Campus Crusade, or just a new vision that he has for us. I've asked other staff and I've gotten a range of answers so for now, we'll call it a new "focus". The new statement goes like this, "Building spiritual movements everywhere, so everybody knows someone who truly follows Jesus."
My question is what does this mean for the campus ministry? Does this new statement replace the old, come along side it, or are they the same? Should our ministries and priorities change and be lead by building spiritual movements or was that always part of turning lost students into Christ-centered laborers?
So as I've thought about this, my first step has been to ask the post's title question - What's the difference? Are these statements the same or do they have major differences. Here's what I have so far:
Christ-Centered Laborers
- Evangelism & Discipleship are key (lost, turning, laborers)
- Student Specific
- Talks of Lost students
- Goal: Christ-centered laborers
- Action: going to lost students to see them "turn"
Spiritual Movements
- Movements are key (building movements)
- Wider audience - Non specific (CCC as a whole)
- Talks of lost students and students who follow Jesus
- Goal: Movements Everywhere
- Action: finding students who will build spiritual movements
At this point, this is as far as I have gotten ... this is where you come in. I have a few questions for my fellow bloggers and our readers.
- Do you see other similarities or differences that I have missed?
- Can you do both and be effective or are they too different?
- What changes would you see needing to happen if we focused on building spiritual movements?
- Which one motivates you more?
This post is just a start, I'll try to answer these questions as we go too! Looking forward to hearing from you ...
posted by Alisha at 9:24 AM
5 Comments:
Its seems to me that the old model speaks of what we wish to do to lost student: Turn them into Christ-Centered laborers. The new focus seems to tell us what these laborers do: Build spiritual movements. That's my best guess. If that is true than it seems to compliment and define that old model.
I remember when the "Turning Lost Students into Christ-centered Laborers" was rolled out many years ago. What caused a stir among some staff was that it appeared to be saying that ultimately WE were the ones responsible for true conversion. CCC gets accused of being Arminian, and so this statement seemed to only add fuel to the fire.
After many discussions, and hearing the caveats from up front from leadership, it was apparent that -of course-ultimately conversion and sanctifcation are a work of the Spirit. what the old statement was really saying is that we are developing Christ-centered leaders (and even that is a brief summary, I realize).
The statement raised some questions at first. Like, "where is the Gospel?"
But if I am thinking the best of those who came up with the statement--I assume that it was done with prayer and contemplation--and that it does take into account what the old statement was fuzzy on....that we can't "turn" anybody into anything really. We can't expect mass conversions, especially as we go and preach the Gospel in the more difficult unreached areas of the world. But we can be about helping place or challenge believers to be in places where the Gospel can be heard by every person. Really, I think this statement is trying to get the heart of the idea about being intentional in reaching every ethnic, socio-economic and/or ethnic group in the world. In reaching the whole world, you are not talking about political boundaries--but every tribe, tongue and nation that make up any given political boundary.
I would like to see it be a little more emphasized on the Gospel, but I think the heart of it is there in that we are talking about people who know and follow Jesus of the Scriptures---those how have a "religious affection" for the person of Christ.
I totally agree with you guys - I really don't have a strong opinion that's why I wanted to see what others thought. As I've thought more - I really like what Rev said.
We've always called our student to build "movements everywhere". That's what Target Areas are. We've been doing it, but it gives words too it. Maybe it's more practical application than a mission statement?
I like both together, but I don't want to loose the evangelism / discipleship focus of "turning lost students into Christ-Centered laborers." But those "turned" students building movements - that's what we want to trust God to do!
After thinking a little more, I think we may need to add a little still to "movements everywhere" if it's solo - something about taking the gospel out through those movements ... We don't just want Christians to know non-christians but be missional and share the gospel with them. Maybe that's common sense but maybe not?
Keep the answers coming because I'm loving the responses so far!
I personally like the new focus better. It at least for me, builds in me a feeling for more action, and feels more focused onto something to work for.
The problem is that even in that we recognize that we are not the ones "turning lost students into Christ-Centered laborers," and we don't want people to see us as thinking this way, we must also recognize that it is STILL not us who are "building spiritual movements everywhere, so everybody knows someone who truly follows Jesus," but God working through us, using us, and just including us into His plan of it (and I don't want to be left out of it).
ALisha, i'm glad you aired this question....honestly i've been wondering how they fit together, too. I like the new one, but i'm loyal at heart, so cling to the old one. I'm still thinking but i'm glad you've got me thinking about it....Keep it up!
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