Engaging God's power (Regional Staff Conference)

Regional Staff Conference (RSC) is held every summer before classes start.  It's a time of InterVarsity from all over the NY/NJ region gathering together to develop leadership skills, renew our vision, and engage in each other's lives face-to-face.

This year, we studied Acts 3-5 together and responded to God through prayer and worship for the first half of the conference.

Typically, in group manuscript/inductive studies, there are lots of helpful application questions to think about, with maybe one or two of them that really resonate with me.  If even that.

God, however, seemed to have different plans for me this time around.  That's typical God, right?

There were a few application questions that came from each study session of Acts.  But as I observed how Peter, John, and the early church of believers responded to their mission and message as witnesses, ALL of the application questions seemed to resonate with importance for me.  And being the type of person who needs way more time to reflect on my answers than just the 10 minutes or so we were given, I sensed God saying that I needed to hold on to these questions and spend time working through them with Him at some other time.

Here are a few of the questions I'm tackling with Jesus:

1. Where is it that I do not believe the power of the name of Jesus reaches?
2. Where have I allowed ignorance to be my god instead of Jesus?
3. What could happen and what would be different if I actually believed the name of Jesus held power of everything?

I don't know about you as you read through and think about those questions, but as I've been reflecting on my own answers, I've had to be brutally honest about what my answers really are.  It's been interesting to see which questions were easier and which questions were harder to interact with.  God has certainly been challenging me to reassess and think critically around how I engage with God's power on campus and in my day-to-day life.

Leaders are Readers: The Mission of God's People

Harry S. Truman said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."  This 'Leaders are Readers' series highlights books I read and my reflections on them to bolster my leadership learning as I serve students on campus.

Today's book is:  The Mission of God's People - by Christopher J. H. Wright

There was one thought that kept floating through my mind every time I picked up this book to read another section:  I wish my students would read this.

It would give great fodder for conversation around what the mission of God's people is, why we exist as an IV group on campus, and how those two things collide.

It was a great reminder of who we are called to be as God's people, and gave me a more thorough biblical look at our mission, beyond what I was taught in Sunday School as a kid.

Plus, as you read it you'd come across these great nuggets of truth that were packed with punch.  Like this one:

"When a whole community was called to know God, as Old Testament Israel was, it was a comprehensive social agenda, not just a badge of nominal national religion" (pg 151).

Wa-pow!

Here are some questions I'm reflecting on now that I've finished the read:
1) What would our InterVarsity chapter look like if students served and led from a place of God's mission as God's people, and not out of obligation, guilt, or fear?

2) How can I use the content and framework of this book to communicate the mission of God's people to my students?

Why I'd recommend it to you:
1) It's an academic read, but it doesn't read like an academic read.  It feels more conversational and logical as opposed to intellectual and stuffy.

2) I thought the sections gave helpful reflection questions for both individuals and groups.

3) It is thorough.  And I mean thorough.  It definitely feels like a textbook you would give out to a seminary class.

4) It gives a full, biblical exploration of the mission of God's people, not just the New Testament or one passage in the Bible.

What I'd be aware of:
1) It has TONS of side quotes and such.  I found them to be distracting although once in a while enlightening.  I skipped most of them because I hate having to read the main content and then go back to the side quotes or vice versa.


2) It took me a long time to finish reading.  Now granted, I'm a slow reader to begin with.  But, it confused me as to why it took me so long when it was a relatively easy read.  I definitely had a little celebration party for myself when I finally finished it.  Just a potential warning, I guess.

Regional Staff Training: 3 reasons why I'm going to miss it

In case you didn't know, I graduated...again.  

Instead of a degree, though, I got an InterVarsity branded laundry bag.  Maybe it sounds lame, but for someone whose job inevitably gets her massive amounts of t-shirts, it's actually very practical.  And practical gifts are great!

Anyway, Regional Staff Training is NY/NJ's training for new staff.  It's a 4 day training that happens twice a year, for 3 years.  I've really enjoyed this aspect of my job, so here are 3 reasons why I'm going to miss Regional Staff Training:

1. It was a reminder that my colleagues are just like me.  At the beginning of every training module, our cohort shared a significant incident (whether negative or positive) with the group and our reflections on it.  It was such a valuable practice that reminded us that we were not alone.  We struggle with similar struggles.  We understand each other's hardships of this ministry.  We experience the grace God pours out to us.  It helps dismantle any form competition or comparison that may build up when we're not together.

2. We learned side-by-side and from each other.  One of my favorite and most helpful parts of RST has been the workshopping element.  There were segments of training where we would share with each other some aspects of ministry and leadership that we were struggling with, and then helped by sharing some ideas of what to do or some best practices we had.  Sometimes you just need someone who's not your supervisor to give you feedback and ideas. 

3. It was really fun!  The NY/NJ staff are pretty fun people.  We like playing games, talking, eating, reading, having adventures, and spending time with each other.  We respect each others' need for alone time and encourage the value of play and rest.  What a great way to develop camaraderie and build relationships in a non-work context.  

We celebrated together, mourned together, learned together, and laughed together as peers and colleagues at Regional Staff Training.  Why wouldn't I miss it?