The Christian college was intentionally designed to be a setting where morals, values, biblical worship, prayer, and the Christian environment all met together.  Undoubtedly rigorous academic requirements would be present, but there was a desire for the soul to be equipped along with the mind.

That was then.  This is now.  It seems in the early part of the 21 century, things have begun to shift.  More and more non-believing, non-Christian parents are sending their non-believing children to Christian colleges not because they believe the Bible or want their students to participate in weekly chapel services.  Instead they desperately want their child’s character to be formed and/or reformed.

Much like a military schools of old, where discipline, character, integrity and personal responsibility are mandatory requirements to survive, the parents of today are sensing that without divine intervention their students are going to be menaces to society.  So they send them to private, expensive Christian colleges where both academics and character are co-mingled in the curriculum.

Smaller classes where accountability and attendance are essential.  Coaches and professors who demand respect and responsibility on the field and in the classroom.  There is the expectation of more Christian-like character in speech, interaction with others, especially members of the opposite gender, selection of appropriate clothing, and non-alcohol induced extra-curricular activities.

Unlike the major universities where is beer is plentiful and shaking up in co-ed dorms is par for the course, the Christian college attempts to instill in their students respect for others, diligence in priorities, servant-leadership, civic duty within the local community, and moral convictions like telling the truth, being responsible for your own actions, and making wise choices.

Call it militaristic if you like, but the outcome is starkly different.  Most, but certainly not all, graduates of Christian colleges are academically equipped and qualified for the job world, but they have other assets that many companies desire: character, honesty, moral bearings, and dependability.  

And those characteristics, my friends, are rare these days.

@Campbellsville University.  Of course, I am teaching a full load this time including classes in Leading Small Groups, Children’s Ministry, and Gospel & Postmodernity.  My Small Groups class includes 17 students who will each be leading a small group of their own.  The potential is to see over 100 student discipled in a network of small groups based out of our class.

Jennifer is also teaching Women in Ministry this semester as an adjunct instructor.  She has 22 in her class which is the most this class has ever had.  She gets back to her Ph.D. course work in February.

@KyBaptist Imagine Conference.  February 10-11, I will be one of the key note speakers at the 2nd Imagine Preschool and Children’s Ministry Conference at Parkway Bapt Church in Bardstown.  Last year there was over 500 people in attendance from around the state.

@BCM Valentine’s Service.  Jennifer and I get to share with the Bapt. Campus Ministry students this semester on biblical manhood and womenhood during their V-day worship service.  This will be the first time I’ve been asked to speak to a BCM group since we’ve been back to CU.  Very excited.

@Lowell Avenue Baptist Church.  In March, I will be leading an one-day Bible Study Teacher training event at Lowell Ave. BC, a church here in Campbellsville.  A great church led by Pastor Dave Walters and Assoc. Pastor Trent Creason.

@Lancaster Baptist Church.  I continue serving as the interim pastor of LBC.  We have agreed as a church to walk together in the 90 Day Vision which attempts to make an impact on every generation in Lancaster and Garrard Co. in the next 90 days (Jan. 8 till April 8).  We are praying for over 600 in attendance on Easter weekend, which would be the largest attendance in more than 8 years.  God is able to do abundantly more than we could think or ask (Eph. 3:20).

Finally, in March Jennifer and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary with a special trip.  Our anniversary is actually on April 6, but that is on Good Friday.  Not the best day to travel.  So during spring break, we will take some time to thank God for 10 great years together and rekindle our relationship with a no-kids trip to a warm location.

Person-to-Person Discipleship involves at least two people, possibly more, who have a general knowledge of each other.  It is more relational and communal.  There is a human touch and presence that can be felt. 

Person-to-Person discipleship might include:
- Listening to your pastor preach on Sunday mornings
- Attending a small group on Tuesday nights
- Being in an accountability group
- Having a one-on-One mentor
- Attending retreats, events, conferences, workshops, seminars
- Going through biblical and pastoral counseling sessions

Person-to-Content Discipleship is more individualistic and less communal.  It is when a Christ followers seeks out content for their own personal growth without any direct contact with another person.  For the longest time, this was done through reading Bibles, books and literature, but now it comes mostly in digital form.

Person-to-Content discipleship might include:
- Reading a study Bible
- Reading Christian literature on a Kindle or eReader
- Listening to a sermon podcast from any pastor in the country
- Perusing a Christian e-zine on an iPad or iPhone app
- Attending a worship service online
- Listening to the Bible read on CD or podcast
- Reading blog posts by Christian writers
- Receiving daily email devotionals
- Using online Bible study tools such as biblestudytools.com, blueletterbible.com, or mybiblestudy.com
- Taking a Bible course through an online university or seminary

As the digital age offers us more and more options for Person-to-Content discipleship, the danger to become less communal and more isolated grows.  We must remember that no matter how many virtual options there are, we must have people walk with us and us with them in this Christian journey.  Going solo was never part of Jesus’ plan.

For 2011, I met 5 of my 7 goals (71.4%).  Not too bad.  Those were:

1. Spiritual:  Finish Bethany Bapt Church well.
2. Financial:  Wipe out medical and credit card debt and pay for everyone’s (Jennifer, Isaac and Ethan) school tuition in cash.
3. Parenting:  Build the boys a tree fort and have a camp out.
4. Personal:  Get below 170 lbs for the first time since we were married.
5. Marital:  Determine Jennifer’s career re-entry plan.

I didn’t complete two goals: 1) career – find a publisher for Theology 4 Kids (my book).  I was turned down 3x’s.  Stink!  Or 2) financial - buy a new car in cash.  Both vehicles are still running fine and didn’t need replacing, which I am very thankful for.

So what’s on the horizon for 2012.  Here’s the list. 

1. Spiritual:  Finish Lancaster Bapt well.  Ending an interim pastorate is like landing a plane on an air craft carrier.  You have to do it perfectly or a lot of people get hurt.  This will be my 4th landing.
2. Financial:  Knock out a huge chunk of Jennifer’s Ph.D. tuition, maybe the whole thing in one year.  That would means a lot of extra work.  Summer school here I come.
3. Marital:  Celebrate our 10 year anniversary in a big way.  Can we say Honeymoon 2.0?
4. Parenting:  Read all the Gospels to my boys.  We are halfway thru the 7 Chronicles of Narnia books and it is going really well.
5. Career:  Find a publisher and get a contract on the book.  Gotta keep pushing and seeking the right fit for this project.
6. Personal:  Travel on the Apostles & Epistles Tour to Turkey & Greece.  This will complete my biblical lands cycle (e.g., Israel, Egypt, Rome, Italy, and Jordan).
7. Personal:  Select a charity and get involved at a higher level.  Preferably something the whole family can volunteer in and support from our community.

What’s your goals for 2012?

In January, I spent time in Amman, Jordan teaching teachers which was a great honor.  Jordan has quite a few biblical locations which means plenty of sight-seeing.  It also meant spending some time with a dear friend and brother.

In the winter and early spring, Jennifer got to teach her first two college courses at CU and began the admission process for her Ph.D.  After years of being a full-time stay-at-home mom, we came to terms with her future career plan, once the boys are in school.  She loves teaching and loved the college environment, so doctoral work became her goal.  She got into the Ph.D. program in Family at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In July, I finished being the interim pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville and in August became the interim pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Garrard Co.  God keeps providing ministry opportunities in strategic churches where I can, hopefully, be a blessing in times of transition.

In August, Jennifer started school and everything changed at our house.  Her work demanded an intense regiment of reading, studying, and writing.  Our weekly schedule shifted to include multiple “Boy Conferences.”  This is where mom is in my office (which she calls the chamber of secrets) and we boys entertain ourselves.  I became Boy Conference president in October.  Ethan did a great job as president last year. 

Also in August, I received the Non-Tenured Faculty of the Year award from CU.  I couldn’t believe I won.  These first 3 years have been so amazing.  Additionally, I was placed on the SACS 10 Year Reaffirmation team, which means great job security for the next 4 years.

Finally in August, we also had both of our boys in part-time school.  Isaac as a half-a-day kindergartener and Ethan as a 2-day per week glowworm.  Both at the Campbellsville Christian Church Center for Christian Education.

In September & October, it was all soccer.  We learned Isaac is pretty good and is built for the game – good speed, good accuracy, leadership in competition.  Ethan continues to show great skill and ability in all things athletic.  He will be a force next year.

In December, we celebrate that Isaac has read 150 books so far this year.  He is seeking a new school record of 243.  And Ethan has been on the green light all semester long, which is a miracle in and of itself.  Jennifer has made it through her first full semester in flying colors and will be teaching “Women in Ministry” this Spring at CU.  My interim at Lancaster BC is going very well.  Work at CU could not be any better.

God is faithful.  Serving Him is a joy and honor.  10 years of marriage with hardly no disruption.  Two great kids.  We are blessed beyond measure.

Public and private schools systems have long used “IEP’s” or Individual Education Plans.  This strategy progresses students at their own pace, either faster or slower.  The educator is tasked with knowing each student’s abilities and designing curriculum that is person-specific.

That approach is now shifting to student ministry in the local church.  But how will churches and youth ministry leaders adapt to this new generational trend?  I believe the future of youth and student ministry will also be individualized. 

Ministry for the masses is out.  Ministry directed toward the individual is in.  How will this take shape?  Here are some ideas*:

Individualized Discipleship.  The i-Student Ministry will create individual, one-on-one discipleship plans for each and every student by creating avenues to grow them up as followers of Christ.  Large group teaching and small groups will work for a while, but will eventually find less and less effectiveness, especially as the group grows more and more diverse spiritually.

Individualized Info-Sharing.  The i-Student Ministry will not rely on blanket announcements, mass mailing, or ministry newsletters full of dates and details.  Instead, they will use direct communication pieces through one-on-one social media and text messaging individualized to the particular student.  If they attempt mass mailings or large-scale advertising, it will be lost or ignored.  This kind of communication doesn’t cut through the haze of distractions.  Therefore, one-on-one communication will be essential.

Individualized Ministry Development.  The i-Student Ministry will evaluate each student’s spiritual gifting, talents, passions, and skills, and design ministry projects specificaly for them.  Entire youth group mission trips will be exchanged for smaller groups of 2 or 3 doing a particular ministry project together, which is based in their individual interests.  Youth pastors will struggle to get the whole group to do a sports camp or build a habitat house together because certain students don’t want to do sports or construction.  Therefore, the ministry projects must be shaped around individual interests and skill sets, otherwise they will choose not to participate.

Individualized Worship Avenues.  The i-Student Ministry will implement person-specific music forms, liturgical practices, prayer experiences, etc., that are based more in the discipleship level of the individual, not the level of the group as a whole.  Wednesday Night Worship with a praise band, media, preaching, discussion groups, game, etc., will be exchanged for smaller worship avenues where students can categorically select things they prefer, such as: reflective, loud, silence, journaling, social, virtual, experiential, artistic, or recreational. 

In the end the i-Student Ministry will be less programmatic and more organic to the group.  We leave ministry for the masses and move toward the que of one.  In many ways this feeds the me-centered nature of the iGen’s, but will in the long run will develop deeper, more committed followers of Christ.

* Additional research conducted by Ms. Holly Davidson and the iGen’s Presentation Group in the Intergenerational Ministries course.

You hear this phrase all the time.  When people want to say something is authoritative, documented truth, the primary source for that topic or discipline, they use the phrase that it is ”the bible” on that subject. 

So here is my question.  Why do we use that phrase?  In a secular, post-Christian, post-religious culture as the United States is, why do non-believers still use that expression to describe authority?  They never say “this is the koran” on a company’s business practices or “this is the veda” on medical diagnosis.

I believe the expression is still used by many because deep down people still believe the Holy Bible is something wholy different.  It is not the same as other religious books.  I believe non-Christians who use that expression know there is explicit truth in the Bible, even if they don’t ascribe to that truth or even recognize it as relevant to their lives.  I believe most secular, non-believing Americans still view the Bible as authoritative, unique, distinct from all other books and because of that fact they’ve chosen to keep the expression in our American vernacular.  I am not sure if it will stay that way forever, but it remains in place today.

So when you hear that expression in your workplace or while talking to friends, ask why they use it.  It might be an opening to explain your views on the Bible and the truth it contains for your life. 

And that my friends is the bible-truth.

Millennials (22-32 year olds) want biblical teaching and preaching that is immediately portable.  In other words, they want to walk out of church with something that they can use that day, possibly even that hour, in their spiritual lives.  They want teaching that prompts quick, responsible action.

What types of messages and sermons are portable, you might ask?  Great question.  In a way, preaching in this fashion is quite different from 7 Ways to Raise Great Kids or 5 Steps toward Financial Freedom.  Millennials are not looking for this type of application-preaching that was in vogue 12 years ago.  They want messages that demand them to do something today.  Not philosphical ideas or suggestions. 

Steps toward financial freedom are good, but Millennials are asking “What can I do this afternoon to wisely impact my financial future?  What change can I make tomorrow when my bank opens?  What can I do right now with my online banking account?” 

Or in the topic of raising biblical children.  Millennials are asking what change should they make with their kids this afternoon on the way home from church or at the restaurant.  They want to know about more about discipleship methods for that night before bed?   Overall, they want to know what books and articles should they download and what resources can access right now on their cell phone while still at church.

I think the folks at Passion got it right 5 years ago.  Instead of having a missions area that promoted all sorts of mission organizations and opportunities for global involvement, they shifted to a “Do Something Now” area.  While they still had the missions area, the goal was not to sign up a student and get them an email two weeks later.  The focus was doing something immediately without delay.  Give to dig wells today.  Buy socks for homeless today.  Write cards to orphan’s today.

This needs to be translated into worship and preaching practices when Millennials are present.  Otherwise, they will check out…today.