1. Survey or information tables
Contact administration.
Explain to the administration you would like an information table to determine student interest for a potential ministry on campus, and that you also need a room to hold an organizational meeting.
Usually, you’ll want to go through your campus’s Student Organizations department. Most any group can become a club through Student Organizations if there is student interest.
The table and surveys
Make the table look attractive (handouts, giveaways, etc. if you have them.), and if you can have a display made that looks professional you should. You can easily access branded supplies here.
When you write the survey, design some good filtering questions, and make sure there is a place for a phone number to follow up by text.
Many people may be intimidated to walk up to a table, so make sure you are also greeting and reaching out to people nearby, inviting them to come and take the survey.
Watch for students who seem excited about the vision and make it clear they want to get involved. Consider sharing the key volunteer challenge or setting up a time to meet with them later over coffee.
2. Affiliating
You can also consider linking arms with other, similarly-minded ministries. There are probably over 1,000 independent ministries on campuses all over the country. If we work together, we can all be more effective at reaching the campus.
Alignment
First, it’s important to say that different organizations need to make sure they are aligned when it comes to their Statements of Faith and overall mission.
Formal or informal
Sometimes a group is mature, aligned with our mission, vision and values, is familiar with Cru, and would like to affiliate with us.
You can formalize the relationship in writing, which can be a helpful way to make sure you continue to work together with the same mission and purpose.
The second type of affiliation is informal. Some groups may feel like they are being “taken over” if there are official papers involved. In informal relationships, build trust and work together by sharing encouragement and resources.
Sometimes, a formal partnership will emerge as you continue to trust God together to reach the campus.
3. Finding a local church with students
Find the church.
Churches with big student populations can be another quick way to gather a group to begin creating multiplying disciples.
You can start by searching for local students, asking other Christian students you know, or even the church you already attend.
Connect with church leadership.
Next, meet with the college/youth pastor or youth group leader and share the vision of what you’re doing. The vision to share is stewardship. God has entrusted them, as a church, with these college students.
If they invest them back on campus, as a student group that meets on campus, that investment could double or triple (six students meeting on campus could become a group of 18). That growth will only benefit the church.
There are lots of logistical ways to follow through with this arrangement. The easiest is to ask to meet with the college students after church and share this vision of meeting on campus and becoming a recognized group.
4. Finding a niche
On some campuses, sometimes the biggest obstacle to gathering like-minded others can be that there are a number of national ministries already on the campus.
On such campuses it’s helpful to be thoughtful about finding a niche in the campus community that other ministries are not reaching. That niche could be ethnic-focused, international, Greek or athletic students.
Due to a large InterVarsity ministry, getting student leaders with Cru at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) met with a great deal of frustration. Later that same year, through an Impact Movement contact and a church partnership, an African American ministry was planted on the campus that drew 100+ students out weekly.
5. Using an event
Sometimes permission for survey tables and rooms are not granted. In some cases it is possible to rent a room on campus (usually through Conference Services).
Many schools will rent out space or a room to local venders or out-side groups that are willing to pay for the space. Sometimes you can rent a room in the Student Center and put on an event that can gather critical mass. It could be a concert, an evangelistic talk or a party.
After 6 months of trying to get a ministry started at Kutztown University, the administration refused to do anything to help us except rent us a room in the Student Center.
It was right before Easter so we publicized for a talk on “Evidence for the Resurrection.” Over 40 students came out and provided the 12 students we needed to become a recognized group and finally get a room on campus.
6. Utilizing publicity
Publicity, ideally, is not a stand-alone strategy for getting a ministry going. However, due to certain restrictions it might be the main way you get a ministry going or might be the only way. In all cases, it’s important for you to be aware of what publicity avenues are open to you.
On some campuses you might be able to get a room for an organizational meeting but have no other way to get contacts. You can put up flyers all over campus for the meeting. Use social media to share about your community. You can find some tools and ideas here.
Whether, posters or social media, it’s important to be thoughtful of what campus media is available and how you can use it to help gather the critical mass to start a ministry.
7. Church partnerships
We have already discussed finding a church with a large student population. This, however, is not the only possibility for a church partnership. There might be great churches to partner with who currently are not attracting students.
Look for the major churches in town that align with Cru’s doctrine. You are looking to get a few churches worth calling and talking about the idea of partnering to reach the campus.
Your initial conversation can be vague and visionary. What you would like to do is set up an appointment to meet with the pastor to discuss working together to reach the campus.
In these meetings, discern who, if any, have the best resources to begin a campus ministry (students, a volunteer or pastor, and money). Other criteria are proximity to campus, passion for reaching the campus, relevancy of the church and its worship, and alignment to our mission, vision and values.
If you find a good match then you will schedule subsequent a meeting to work out details of the partnership.
You might get some input on your first partnership agreement from someone with more experience. Get help here.
AVOID POSSIBILITY PARALYSIS
As a closing encouragement, one of the greatest obstacles, and opportunities in creating a new discipleship community is the multiplicity of options.
The amount of options, combined with a fear of making the wrong choice, can cause a sort of paralysis.
A couple things can be helpful. Rather than sweeping thing under the rug, get help to problem solve. Also, put things down on paper so you can see your choices clearly is helpful. Last, make prioritized lists that tell you what has to get done, in what order and on what days you are going to do them: a very streamlined strategic plan.
When the options are overwhelming you need a road map. Take the time to draw one up, with a Cru staff member or another student leader if needed.