The harvest is plentiful, but . . .

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. — Luke 10:2 (NIV).

Last night I had the opportunity to join the MidAtlantic Undergraduate & Faculty Ministry staff team for their Regional Staff Conference. A significant portion of our time focused upon interceding for co-laborers on particular campuses to engage in InterVarsity’s:

Purpose: “To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities that follow Jesus . . .”

Vision: “To see students and faculty transformed. Campuses renewed. World changers developed.”

Earlier in the evening Dwight Schwartz, MidAtlantic Graduate & Faculty Ministry Area Director, shared the importance of the ministry partners across the campus as we engage the whole campus mission. Yes, to be about rich  campus renewal  and to encourage/see deep  transformation and development of those in the context of vibrant  establishing and advancing witnessing communities  requires dynamic ministry partners across the whole campus community . . .

• undergrads, grads, postdocs, residents . . .
• adjunct, pre-tenure, tenure faculty . . .
• researchers, lecturers . . .
• coaches — academic and sports 🙂  . . .
• facilities/grounds staff, cafeteria staff
• “secretaries”,  administrators, deans, provosts, president, board members . . .
• admissions, financial aid . . .
• student life
• health care services, security . . .
• chaplains . . .
• parents, spouses, kids, relatives through a variety of campus relationships
• More . . . yes, feel free to add to the list 🙂

AND the ability to step in and at least begin to glimpse/process the campus from the perspective of other members of the campus community, to grasp what it is like to be “in their world.” As you know, for Emerging Scholars I have a particular passion for exploring/navigating the  complexities of ascending/relating to what I refer to as the academic chain of being  as one rooted in Christ and Christ alone.

AND partnership across the significant InterVarsity ministries (click the “On Campus” tab at InterVarsity.org  to receive a taste of the amazing richness and diversity of InterVarsity’s campus labors. Note: explore the other tabs and scroll down the whole page so you don’t miss other ministries such as InterVarsity Press (IVP) and the Urbana Student Mission Conference).

AND ministry partners from the larger Body of Christ — in addition to local congregations, denominations, and various other ministries, not losing site of the fact that InterVarsity is a member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students  (IFES) with opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ as they prepare for vocations blessing many across the globe.

AND the larger culture/community.

Yes, there will be more on this in future posts, in the mean time as I prepare for a significant conversation end of month conversation about next steps for the Emerging Scholars Network, please join me in prayer for discernment.

Secondly, I’d like to hear from you in the next two weeks . . .

• how to refine Emerging Scholars Network as whole.
• the value of mentoring and what structures you’d recommend (local, conferencing/special events, google hangouts, text/video interviews posted on the blog, etc) — do you desire mentoring and/or having a mentor. If so, is there a particular focus you desire for mentoring.
• whether you’d like to partner on your campus, in your Christian fellowship, via social media (thank-you to those who have sent me proposals and pieces!), hosting a speaker/symposium, and/or a disciplinary endeavor.
• tips on improving the blog, Facebook Wall, Twitter, website, etc.
• interest in a closed on-line forum, Goodreads discussion, creating a Pinterest page . . .
• Other suggestions/thoughts about  Emerging Scholars Network. Let it loose!

Yes, I love to brainstorm, experiment, and take concrete next steps with ministry partners such as yourself. But no, I have not forgotten Luke 10:3. I am praying for you. If you have not already sent me a prayer request (or you have an update), please email me.

 

Updated some text font and some wording: 8/15/2013, 12:27 PM.