In Cru, we talk a lot about being “Student Led, Staff Directed”.
But I fear that staff communicate to students, often more by actions than words: “We staff would love to reach this campus on our own but since we don’t have the manpower to do it, we’re gonna need some of you students to help us out.”
Bud Wilkinson, legendary former head coach at OU was once asked, “what contribution does professional football make to the fitness of America?”
He answered: “A professional football game is a happening when 50,000 people desperately in need of exercise sit in the stands watching 22 people desperately needing rest”
I wonder how similar our ministries are to Bud’s description of a football game: Staff running around frantically trying to share our faith, put on weekly meetings, lead 2 Bible studies while students applaud from the sideline.
What’s at stake is more than ministry effectiveness on our campus. We are training students in the Biblical Priesthood of Believers for a lifetime of effective ministry. Is ministry just for an elite, professional class? Or is every Christian a minister/priest/ambassador?
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. – 1 Peter 2:9
So what exactly is the role of staff in a Student Led ministry?
The Apostle Paul wrote that the role of a Christian leader is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” – Ephesians 4:12.
On our team we talk about success for our staff is to get as many students as possible onto the playing field. We want to help as many students as possible to  experience being used by God to change someone’s life.
As Steve Sellers said at the National Cru Staff Conference: “Students can do ministry. We can help.”
In what ways do you think we, as staff, communicate: “staff can do it, you can help”?
What are some ways your team helps students get onto the playing field?
photo courtesy of Johnny LucusÂ