sending
Building Vision for the World

Think About It

What environment would most effectively help students exercise and build a heart for the world?

Students who invest time in world missions see their faith developed in the process of:

• making the initial decision to pursue a short-term mission,
• developing finances to support the mission,
• living cross culturally,
• seeing God use their life to reach another culture,
• seeing God working around the world.

Heart of the Matter

Throughout the Bible, the Lord has clearly communicated His desire to bless His people so they could "be a blessing" (Genesis 12:1-3).

Part of being a blessing is taking the news of a relationship with God to people who don't know Him. Ministries which include being a blessing as a non-negotiable value will reflect more life and vitality than ministries which solely focus on being blessed. Furthermore, a worldwide focus further intensifies the life and vision of a group of believers. A world vision can only add to what God is already doing in peoples' lives.

A concerted, focused international sending vision will accomplish multiple objectives. An international focus will add momentum, develop leaders, cause personal growth, and help students develop relational skills. Plus students will experience the adventure of taking the gospel to people cross-culturally.

Experience has shown that university students from anywhere in the world have an instant bond and connection with university students from anywhere else in the world. One of the most effective ways to reach students around the world for Christ is to mobilize Christian college students to take the gospel to their peers. Reaching students today means reaching tomorrow's leaders. This task is worthy of aggressively initiating new opportunities.

Steps to Take

1. Develop a vision for international ministry
• Decide on your purpose to send laborers (start new campus ministry, serve existing ministry, etc.).
• Determine a location.
• Ask how it will relate to your ongoing ministry.
• Strategize ways to stimulate prayer and outside support for ministry.


2. Determine to send students internationally to build their lives and have an international impact.
3. Connect with an established missions agency
   For more information contact Student LINC at 1-800-678-LINC.
   

Real Life Story

One church with a well- developed program of sending students internationally is the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, Calif. A few years ago some students participated in a Campus Crusade short-term summer project in Hungary. As a result, a commitment grew in the students to send a group from the church to Hungary. That grew into a project from the church of sending students there for the next three years.

Grace Brethren Church of Long Beach, Calif., has also been involved in sending students internationally. For two summers groups of at least four students have gone to Bishkek, Kyrgystan, to join the Campus Crusade summer project. This opportunity has given college and young adult members in the church a chance to tie into an existing project while remaining an identifiable group from their church.

Park Street Church in Boston, Mass., has formed a partnership with Campus Crusade not only on the international side of ministry but also on the campuses in Boston. Together the church and Campus Crusade are reaching students in Boston and in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where teams of students have gone for the last three summers. Some students have also been there on a STINT.

Application

1. Ask yourself some questions:
   
• What is our world vision?
• Would the people involved with us grow in faith as a result of an international focus?
• What resources do we have available to help our international sending focus?
• What specific people can I challenge to a short-term international opportunity?
• Has our student ministry reached the maturity to pioneer a new missions venture or would it be more beneficial to join an established mission program?
• Are there any international locations which are a natural fit with the people we already have involved with us (i.e., same ethnic group, language connection)?

2. Choose a location and determine an objective for your ministry.
3. Choose a style of ministry, the type of project, and timing that fits the objectives and builds vision for your ministry.
4. Determine the leadership and resources needed.
5. Recruit.