By Steve Shadrach

Reviewed by Rodney Norvell

 

Looking for a comprehensive book on starting a campus ministry and operating it with a vision for reaching students, then this book is powerful stuff. Steve Shadrach is the Director of Mobilization for the U. S. Center for World Mission. Having lots of experience with campus ministry, Steve has put together a book that will help fuel anyone looking to reach college students for Jesus and can add needed refueling for collegiate ministries that are adrift and needing purpose.

The book starts by looking at foundational issues that are needed to prepare leaders and students alike to reach others for Christ. There is no denying that Christians must be inspired to lead, have strong character, have Godly convictions to follow, follow those convictions to impact others, but they must also think strategically in order to be successful. Though sometimes criticized for being too strategic in his ministry Steve is right on target in knowing that Christians must seek to be more intentional about reaching out.

To begin the book he tells eleven testimonies of young people who literally changed their world. He includes someone to inspire everyone, from Zinsendorf, to the Haystack Five, to Lottie Moon. The book is worth its money just to hear these stories retold, but he gives many Christian basics in an outline form helping students form a solid foundation for outreach. Steve knows the student culture and all his chapters are numbered lists like “Four Qualities Every Christian Laborer Must Possess” to “Five Applications to Reach the World through Students”. While this seems repetitive, it is extremely effective in helping readers to memorize some of these wonderful basics. Plus the book can be used as a whole or broken into sound bites used to teach a group. He even separates many of his thoughts into 51 pages of special appendixes to be used as lessons in and of themselves.

With the fuel coming from a solid foundation in Jesus Christ, and working on living out a healthy character full of integrity and developing a firm understanding that Christians are to purposely tell others about the Savior; then Steve shows that dedicated students are ready to be called to action. He calls this the flame. In a big challenge throughout the book he is calling students to live intention lives not only dedicated to reaching other students for Christ, but strategically acting on that vision. The second half of the book is very practical application. Though hard to swallow at times, because of how specific he is in his conviction and strategy.

The vision cast in the book focuses on reaching new believers, equipping them as disciples, training them as reproducing leaders who in turn will do the same with others. The vision is one of spiritual multiplication and not one for stocking the church with well developed workers or even one that looks for spiritual gifts to build a Christian’s self esteem instead of the Body of Christ. In short Steve is serious about this calling and thinks that we should be asking a lot more of our college students than entertaining them or giving them tons of information to pack away to use when they grow up. He couldn’t be more right in thinking that now is the time for students to live out their faith. His challenge is not the easy path, but definitely has shown for those students and laborers that are willing to accept it they will indeed have an impact on the world.

This book is not for everyone. It is challenging and at times critical of ministry systems that he views as being too broad and shallow to really have any impact. It is also brutally honest in revealing that many campus ministries consist of long term Christians with few converts or new believers. He openly embraces para-church organizations, as he has worked with many in the past, but cautions them to be sure to connect people ultimately to the Body of Christ. At the same time he is inclusive and welcomes church and denominational ministries that are focused on evangelism and discipleship; however he is justly critical of big groups with no depth or conviction that function as social organizations.

I recommend this book to serious students that want to produce and reproduce a legacy of reaching lost students and not just drumming up a crowd. It is for the mature and not those wanting a feel good read or self-help in overcoming the struggles in their own life. This book has both a vision and strategy for ministry.

 

Book costs about $13

Published by Authentic Media

and can be found at Amazon .com and Barnesandnoble.com