“The Critical Event” – a trained person taking a non-trained person to share their faith.
For Montana State Cru, The Critical Event is the most important measurement of staff’s success on campus. It’s what they celebrate.
click to read more about their Cru movement.
Ever since I heard that concept from Montana State, it has shaped much of our philosophy of ministry in regard to evangelism.
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 getting 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.
This last year we’ve taken strides to better measure how we’re doing on The Critical Event (because how can you celebrate something you can’t see?).
So last year we kept track of how many students had the opportunity to share the gospel. We saw 31 different students share the gospel in the fall. And a total of 79 over the entire school year. 79 students – many of whom had never shared the gospel before in their lives. Unbelievably encouraging for our staff and student leaders to see that!
Imagine the ripple effect of that…
Now, sharing the gospel one time definitely doesn’t make you an expert. But it gets you on the playing field. And it’s the first step toward building the skill and confidence to be a life-long evangelist.
So that’s the back end of the Critical Event – an untrained person getting taken to share the gospel. This year we are trying to be even more intentional in measuring the front end of The Critical Event. We identified a list of students whom we are calling “Trainers”- students who can confidently share the gospel and can take other students with them.
Day 1 on campus, our first priority for our staff will be to take each of these Trainers out to share the gospel. For our staff to model boldness in sharing the gospel. To get these Trainers back on the playing field, first thing in the fall (to shake off the rust of summer).
On that appointment, after we share with a couple freshmen, we are going to challenge the student Trainer to embrace his/her crucial role in The Critical Event and to live out Ephesians 4:12. The unbelievable opportunity they have to take other students to share the gospel for the first time. To model boldness to their fellow students.
Typically, the first few weeks on campus, our staff are out there following up freshmen like crazy. Alone. This year, our hope is that these student Trainers will mobilize a whole team of students to share the gospel with freshmen.
Our hope is that by the end of the year, our list of Trainers will grow dramatically as more students grow in their confidence and ability to share the gospel.
So that everyone will hear the good news…
What do you think about the Critical Event? Is it a good measurement of ministry success?
We’ve made the rule that you cannot share the gospel unless you bring someone along. That is something we want to continue to make a priority and a culture. It’s a win-win, because it’s an opportunity to share the gospel and equip someone else to feel more confident about sharing it with others. Also if the student doesn’t show up at least you now have more time to hang out with the student you brought along as opposed to just moping about another no show.
I love it.
I like it. One day, maybe we will shockingly say to someone, “You didn’t take someone with you?” THAT would be a culture change.
Also, I think giving students an opportunity to impact someone else could result in one of the greatest anchors of their faith. I still day dream about a young man I played a part in seeing come to faith and radically change into a follower of Christ. It sticks.