Dowdy thoughts on grads

Top objectives for the past month: reconnect with the graduates after the holiday season, build some momentum among them while the students are away at the project, think ahead and do some initial planning about our philosophy for this ministry.

Highlights: I was encouraged about their desire to connect with one another and the plans they made over the break to be together. We had some clear thoughts about the LPV, which gives me hope that those thoughts will flow out into the grad ministry. Reconnecting with Michael Hart (pictured in green shirt, he was on staff here in 2002 and has been attending Covenant Theological Seminary).

Lowlights: I felt like some of the graduates attended the project out of a lack of vision and I felt like some of their participation in the project revealed just how behind we are in receiving them and helping them grow in this phase.

Things learned/observed: So far it seems like the natural tendency of the grads is to think more for their fellowship/social needs and not their more holistic needs nor the needs of others. They also tend to try and re-create what they've experienced in the past in the ministry. Their experience so far has defined what is "good" and they continue to look for that.

Top objectives for the next month: We need to think more about our general ministry philosophy for the graduates, align the ministry with the church's cycle for the year, and receive well those coming from the project, connecting with what God has been doing in them on the project.

Discussing A New Definition Of Laborers

Because we all feel so greatly the call to build laborers through the campus for the lost world, we must reflect on what we are actually building. Are we effectively accomplishing our purpose? Are our disciples really laborers as they graduate? Are we helping them really prepare for a lifetime of laboring with Jesus beyond the campus?

One thing is clear, all of us are continually being built up and developed. We are not necessarily complete until we stand face to face before Jesus in heaven. So what do we want for each of our disciples? What would be a success? How should we define it? Is it another campus staff?

As we have reflected over our campus ministry in Brazil we have realized that we have been more campus focused than laborer focused. This has affected our view of laborers to the point that most everything we were doing pointed toward equipping and developing new campus staff more than helping each person become the laborer that God intends them to be [Col. 1:28-29]! This often left us and our disciples frustrated!

As we have reflected over this and many other questions over the past year, we have began to work on a new definition of what is a laborer. This will help us better quantify and measure our effectiveness in reaching our vision and purpose. It will also help us improve our discipling and equipping to prepare our graduates to truly labor for a lifetime beyond the campus! And it will also help clarify for people inside the ministry and outside of what we mean by laborer; help them evaluate if they are one and help them understand what areas of development and help they may need!

Here is the new definition of Laborers that we are working on: [we have chosen a plural definition since we believe God's context for laboring is in community]

Laborers are disciples of Christ who serve the Body in reaching maturity as they engage the world to help others live as disciples of Christ.

1. disciples of Christ - 3 characteristics of a gospel-centered disciple (Identity-John 8:31-32, Community-John 13:34-35, Mission-John 15:8) [Disciples]
2. serve the body - Unity, maturity, and preparation for ministry are the goal. This is the purpose of our giftings and roles within the church. Maturity of the body includes both quantity and quality. - Eph. 4:1-16, I Cor. 12:1-31, Rom. 12:3-8 [Servants]
3. engage the world - Laborers are equipped and motivated to multiply disciples for cultural and generational transformation. – 2 Cor. 5:14-17,Col. 1:28-29, II Tim. 2:2 [Transformation Agents]

Thanks for interacting with us on these things! Let us know what you think! RGL

Observations regarding new graduates

I wanted to post several observations I've been making about ministering to recent graduates in the hopes of trying to figure out how much we should realistically expect from these folks (no matter how mature they are spiritually when they graduate.) My desire is to know when we're not calling them to enough or when we're trying to push too hard (I hope this makes sense.) So here goes some observations:
1. We must continually remind our graduates of what they are a part of & why it's worth it for them to persevere in finding a job in our city & how really just in every area of life. Perseverence is not easy for today's graduates.
2. I really don't expect our graduates to have much of a personal ministry for at least 5 - 10 years after graduation. Exceptions are rare, but it just seems easiest to expect little fruit from them.
3. Living situations for our graduates is a key to helping them continue in their walk with God.
4. We must make heroes out of our graduates who make good choices. We had a girl move back to Khon Kaen & she just decided that she was going to live off nothing until she found a job here. It's exactly what she did and we need to champion her example.
5. The principles of discipleship/multiplication are the same for graduates. The timeframe is just extended. IE - We don't redefine what a laborer is, we just understand that it takes longer in this context.
6. The more we can give ownership of our LPV's to our graduates, the more motivated they will be in every area of their lives.
7. We haven't found the balance of having our campus staff follow people into the community yet.
8. A church facility is important when ministering to graduates. A facility brings stability.
These are just a few I've been listing right now. Would love other thoughts. Love, Brian