The Web

Many campus ministries have web pages. Web pages are a plus, and will probably become a
necessity in a few years. You may be lucky enough to secure the help of a University Webmaster
or a volunteer in building your web page. There is a great deal of software that enables you
(or any amateur) to build and maintain your own web page, should that be necessary. Some
universities allow your web page to "live" at their web site. This is often a useful
arrangement for your ministry.

What should your web page look like? What should be included on your web page? For a sample of a great web page, check out the Campus Christian Community at Mary Washington College. You'll find it at: http://www.mwc.edu/ccc/ccc/index.phpl

Would you like to learn about creating a web page? Here is some information from Sloane
Simon-Adler, Youth Minister, St. John's Episcopal Church and Advisor to Episcopal Students,
Williams College, 35 Park Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 (413-458-8144), sesa@berkshire.net:

As you may know, there are many, many sites about web page authoring. You can find them listed at
Guides and Tutorials
Note that there is a link there to sites specifically for beginners. Of the sites (both
beginner and advanced) that I've looked at, those listed below are ones I thought would be most
helpful.

http://www.stanford.edu/~ttorres/Internet/toc.phpl (a *very* basic guide written in casual
language describing HTML and teaching basic tags. Great for those who really need to start at
the beginning.)

http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.phpl (an online, printable textbook
about HTML written by NCSA (creators of the Mosaic browser, way back when the net was new). The language and format are a bit more Scholarly than at the site above.)
http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey

http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/teachingtool/html.phpl

(This is Hotwired's site, Webmonkey. In my opinion, it is *the best* HTML teaching site on the
web and probably the only place you'll need to go. It begins at the beginning but moves
through very advanced HTML techniques including java-script and DHTML (dynamic HTML)-- and it allows you to practice what you've learned onsite! The first link above takes you to the home page. The second takes you to basic information about HTML. The link below will take those who understand the basics to the spot where you start to learn to do it yourself.)
http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/teachingtool/index.phpl

(N.B. Those looking for information on CGI scripts on the webmonkey site will find the most
comprehensive coverage through a link in the java-script tutorial section. To go to that link
directly: http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/C/CGI.phpl)
http://www.doghause.com/top15.phpl

(This site contains a concise list of the top 15 design mistakes-- a good place to start for
design don'ts.) 
http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual

(The web site design manual from Yale. It cites all the design manuals I've used, and from
browsing it, I am prepared to assert that it's a must-read for anyone who wants to create an
organized, appealing, informative site.)

http://www.killersites.com (The web site for the book Creating Killer Websites by David
Siegel. The book is well worth purchasing for those who want their site to have structure and
appeal.  (From what I've read of it, though, the Yale manual covers this information-- and the Yale
manual is available online.)

I also *highly* recommend The Non-Designer's Design Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice by Robin Williams, Carole Quandt (Editor). 
It's available from Amazon.com at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1566091594/o/qid=927670765/sr=2-1
           /002-2515792-9811845

There is also a book by the same folks specifically geared to web design, and I bet it's
fantastic! It sounds like they assume the use of WYSIWYG editors and not pure code, though, so
it's unlikely to contain coding instructions.

As far as tips on site design go, my number one tip would be to have a plan, a design. Know
what your goals are and why you are using the web to accomplish them, and *design* your site to
address those goals. 

On the subject of advising programmers, if people don't have time to learn more than basic HTML and still want a java-script-rich site, for example, a WYSIWYG Editor is the way to go. (For
those unfamiliar with the term, a WYSIWIG editor is like a word processor for web design. It
does fancy stuff like cutting and pasting, inserting images, building tables, etc. without
making the user deal with code.) 

I don't use them, 'cause they're expensive, and past versions turned out pretty bad code, but I
hear they're getting better. Webmonkey reviews the latest software and rates Dreamweaver2 best for PC's and GoLive best for Macs. 

I would still recommend familiarity with HTML before using a WYSIWYG editor, though. When you
know HTML, you can save time by using the editor, and when the editor messes up (which it
will), you can go in and fix the code yourself. 


E-mail

Even those of us who aren't very talented at building a web site can manage to conduct ministry
via e-mail.

1. Keeping in touch. Use e-mail it to keep in constant touch with people, schedule meetings,
send reminders of events, etc.

2. List-serve Bible Studies. Generally, Bible Studies involve a campus minister sending a
text, along with notes and commentary, to a list of participants. If the study is set up as a
list-serve, all subscribers can e-mail their comments and create an online discussion. 

3. Devotions. Generally involve the Campus Minister (or other volunteers) sending an
inspirational message to a list of subscribers. It can be as simple as a daily "spiritual
vitamin" (a brief, inspirational quote-not necessarily overtly Christian) or a weekly "Virtual
Chapel." See Appendix F for further information.

4. Know your Audience. This type of ministry often serves people who do not have a church
background. It may be helpful to write out verse references completely ("The third chapter of
the gospel according to Matthew, verses 1-16," as opposed to Matt. 3:1-16) and spell out
theological concepts such as the Trinity. People don't usually ask questions, as they would in
a face-to-face encounter.

5. Resources online. If you would like to utilize the Lectionary or other Biblical sources
online, check out the following sites:

http://www.io.com/~kellywp/lectionary.phpl (The Lectionary Page)

http://www.textweek.com (weekly texts online)

http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/homelect.phpl (Vanderbilt University Library
complete lectionary, with weekly commentaries and other materials for reflection. An excellent
service.)

http://www.bibles.net (Read the Bible Online, use a concordance, etc.)

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Ministry with/by/for Faculty and Staff


1. Lunch with Church folk. Contact area churches for the names of members who work on campus. 
Contact them. Ask them what excites them about their work.

2. Visitation. Visit Faculty and Administrators in their offices to introduce you; and about
their concerns regarding students, campus life, etc.

3. You've got mail...Get on the mailing list for the University's news/public relations outlet.

4. Brown bag lunches. Some have faculty input in planning, others are arranged by the Chaplain
or campus minister. Ideas: choose a book and meet each week to discuss a chapter; during Lent
host a Lenten Study.

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Space (The Campus Ministry Building,
office, theme housing, etc.)

1. Day care. A number of campus ministries are in the day care or before/after school care
business.

2. Safe space. Some ministries provide safe space for gay/lesbian/bi students to meet, in
order to protect them from potential harassment and to help protect confidentiality.

3. Twelve steps. Many campus ministry buildings host twelve-step groups.

4. Theme housing. Consider putting together "theme" housing, either on or off campus. 
Possible themes: Christian discipleship, spirituality, peace/justice, Whole Earth, Diversity. 
Students would live in intentional community and plan outreach programs such as Coffee House,
Recycling, Bible Study, etc. For advice contact Karen and Bill Thompson at Bowling Green,
(419-352-7534), karenth@bgnet.bgsu.edu or wthomp@bgnet.bgsu.edu.

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Cult Awareness


Unfortunately, there is a good chance that a cult is operating on or near your campus and
preying on members of your community. You need to know some basic facts about cults: What they are, how you can raise awareness of cults, and how you can protect yourself from vindictive
cult leaders. Here is a primer on Cults. The American Family Foundation Web Page provides a
good basic primer on cults: www.csj.org/aff/aff_contactinfo.php. You can also reach them at:
AFF, POB 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 34133, Tel: (941) 514-3081; fax: (941) 514-3451, e-mail
admin2@csj.org. 
1. What is a "Cult"? The term "Cult" is commonly applied to fringe or fanatical groups, and/or
groups that use so-called "mind control" techniques to manipulate members. I use the following
definition to determine whether or not a group is a cult: A cult uses mind-control techniques
to control every aspect of member's lives indefinitely.

2. Why do cults exist? Generally speaking, cults are a type of pyramid scheme, with a few
people at the top getting very rich. Power rather than money motivates some cult leaders,
however.

1. What is "mind control?" Most people assume that they will recognize mind control techniques
immediately, or that they are somehow magically invulnerable to mind control techniques. While
it is true that cults tend to attract the vulnerable, most people are vulnerable at one time or
other.

2. Why do cults target college students? College is a time of transition. College students
often experience periods of depression, loneliness and spiritual searching. This means cults
will experience a high rate of recruiting success among students. Also, students are young and
full of energy, making them ideal workers for cults. Al

3. What kinds of people belong to cults? Most cult members are well meaning (though misguided) people. You may find that some faculty and staff on your campus belong to cult groups.

4. How can I educate people about cults? It is best not to speak about specific groups. Cults
tend to change their names frequently to combat this type of negative publicity, and some cults
even file lawsuits against those who say negative things about their group. The lawsuits are
generally dismissed, but by then the defendant is often bankrupt. It is best to talk generally
about common recruiting techniques of cults. A helpful book is Combating Cult Mind Control by
Steven Hassan , Foreword by Margaret T. Singer, Paperback, 198pp. ISBN: 0892813113, Inner
Traditions International, October 1990. It is also good bring in outside experts to talk about
cults. 

5. Are all cults religious groups? No. There are also political, psychological and
commercial cults.

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• Churches include us in their budgets ($24,00)
• Church Mission Groups (brought in the major portion of income, approx. $100,000).
• United Way helps support us ($10,000)
• Individual donations ($10,000)
• State Baptist missions funds ($6,500)
• Fund Raisers ($9,600)
• Spring Break Mission Groups ($875)
• Presbyterian Hunger Funds ($1,500)

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Local Mission/Service Learning

1. Praxis. Learn all about this popular service-learning program by ordering the Praxis
booklet from: Campus Ministry Section, GBHEM, PO Box 871, Nashville, TN 37202. Phone:
615-340-7404. For advice on Praxis contact: Mark Rutledge, 2 Biddle Court, Durham, NC
27705-5499, 919-489-9355 betmark@email.msn.com. 


2. Habitat for Humanity. Find a local chapter at www.habitat.org, Habitat for Humanity
International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709, (912) 924-6935, ext. 2551 or 2552, E-mail:
public_info@habitat.org. 

3. Social Service Agencies. Many ministries sponsor regular work trips to local homeless
shelters, soup kitchens, etc.

4. Volunteer Coordinator. Most Universities have a volunteer coordinator, but if yours does
not, consider setting up a volunteer coordinator's office through your ministry. 
Alternatively, you could simply publish a newsletter listing volunteer opportunities/agencies,
and/or set up bulletin boards on/near campus with volunteer opportunity listings.

5. Weekend Mission. Sort of a cross between local mission and mission trips. Plan a weekend
mission/immersion trip in a nearby large city. For ideas see The Shifting Sands of Campus
Ministry by Coleen Smith Slosberg (available through United Ministries in Higher Education,
7407 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28217. Contact Linda Danby Freeman at
linda_freeman@ecunet.org, 704-588-2182. See also INSERVICE under Mission and Immersion Trips.

6. Visit Classes. Some professors who are not participating in Praxis/Service Learning
programs will still allow you to come into their classes and "plug" local mission. Take along
photos/videos, sign-up sheets, and bring along student volunteers if possible.

7. Angel Tree: This program enables you to provide Christmas gifts for the children of people
in prison. Very well organized, and a rare opportunity for education about the injustices of
the United States penal system. Sponsored by Prison Fellowship, www.pfm.org, P.O. Box 17500
Washington, DC 20041-0500, (703) 478-0100. 

8. Citizenship classes. These can be tailored to fit the demographics of your community,
targeting groups such as Asian, Eastern European, and Latin American immigrants.

9. English as a Second Language Classes. Let's Start Talking www.lst.org has created a program for this called Friendspeak. The goal is to establish friendship with international students through one on one conversational English lessons using the Bible as a text. We try to present ourselves as friends, not as teachers. Establishing this relationship has borne fruit in that
when there is a crisis or a need, our international friends turn to "their American" to help
them sort out the cultural entanglements. For example, many Asians really fear an auto accident
and the court system, so if they have an accident, they will call their friend to help them
through the system. Matt Carter mcarter@bearkan.com Kansas State University, Manhattan Church of Christ, 2510 Dickens Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502 785/539-6581 (church) 785/539-6138 (home)

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Re-Creation (Creativity, Fun, and the Arts)

1. The Grand Alternative----An attempt to mobilize a group of groups against binge drinking
during a Grand Prix weekend or Gala weekend. 

2. Alternative Thursday. A Thursday evening with fun "alternatives" to the weekly
binge-drinking night, such as movies, a coffeehouse, midnight basketball, etc.

3. Coffee House. Some provide planned entertainment; others use an open mic format. Some
charge admission; some rely on donations and/or charging for food. Ideas for two "theme"
coffee houses follow: See also "Student Fellowship/Ministry of Christian Hospitality"
section. 

4. International Coffee House. We have a coffeehouse that is open on the weekends. But on
Friday afternoon from 4-6 it is used as the International Student Coffee House (ISCH). We have
students representing many countries but primarily East Asian and eastern European students
attend. We have simple refreshments (not the same as the evening fare) i.e. juice, crackers &
cheese, cookies, coffee and tea. It is meant to be a place where folks can gather, meet people
from different countries and practice their English. We started a half-an-hour "topic talk"
this past year at 5:00 that is optional. We invite folks from the university or community to
lead a discussion of a variety of issues. ISCH is unashamedly without any Christian emphasis -
but rather is open to folks of all (or no) faith traditions.

5. Gay/Les/Bi/Trans Coffee House. Once again we open up our coffeehouse under a different name - the rainbow coffeehouse-and we decorate it slightly differently on Tuesday evenings as a
place for the glbt community to gather. Primarily folks in the glbt community and their allies
have staffed it. We felt it would be good to offer an alternative to the bars.

6. Film/Play/Art Exhibit Discussions. These programs are especially effective in conjunction
with "controversial" works that touch on religious themes.

7. Tie-dye booth. A great community builder. You supply dye and rubber bands and cheap
t-shirts at cost (return leftover shirts to store); invite students to come and tie-dye for
free.

8. Friendship bracelets. Contact Denise Clapsaddle at Dclapsaddle@yahoo.com for information
on making simple, inexpensive bracelets to hand out to new students. Attach a "welcome"
message from your ministry.

9. Post-It. Another inexpensive giveaway, you can include your ministry logo, contact info and
a brief message on post-it notes, and hand these out to students.

10. Labyrinth. Install a canvas Labyrinth in the ballroom of the Student Center for a day or
two. At least one campus had a pretty amazing response both from the campus and from the
greater community. (They had let several local groups know it was coming.) Just set it up and
provide some handouts. It's good to hang around all day to answer questions. It would be a
good program to hold a couple of times during the semester. One nice thing about the
labyrinth is that it can be used by people of any faith tradition or no faith tradition, which
makes it a real gift to the whole of the campus, not just to the Christians. Now, if you all
haven't gotten on-board with labyrinths yet, there are some good web sites. Start with the one
from Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Grace Cathedral's site also has a list of people and
locations with permanent and movable labyrinths. You may be able to find one in your vicinity
that way. See www.gracecom.org. 

11. Kwaanza Celebration. Kwanzaa observance at usually involves a meal of "traditional African
American cuisine", explaining the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and usually a short speech and
then entertainment (music, dance, etc.)

12. Drumming Workshop. Contact the World Music department at your University to find someone
to sponsor a drumming workshop. This is a Universal crowd pleaser.

13. Soul Café. Here is an idea from folk at University of Illinois, Chicago. They have
regular "Soul Cafes." .It is a time where soul food is served and persons can mix, learn about
the ministry, and hear music or a speaker. Contact Byron Robinson, Ernestine Pierce, or Dorcy
Tate. 

14. Christian goes to the Movies. Once a month meet to view and discuss a movie. Choose
movies for the controversy they create or for their unique viewpoint on religion/spirituality. 
Suggested movies: Jesus of Montreal, Last Temptation of Christ, Contact, The Mission, Places
in the Heart, As Good as It Gets, Do the Right Thing, Get on the Bus, Gandhi, A Dry White
Season, Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Black Robe, Heavenly Creatures,
Breaking the Waves, Cry Freedom, Mississippi Burning, Corinna Corinna, Wings of Desire.
(Warning: Preview the films before showing.)

15. Host a traveling "Love Clinic," which helps people deal with relationships in healthy,
Christian manner.

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Community Building

1. Random Acts of Kindness Week. Hold a Random Acts of Kindness week and ask student
organizations and faculty/staff departments to host canned food drives, volunteer at a soup
kitchen, etc. Collect "Random Acts of Kindness" stories about acts of kindness done by people
on your campus and publish as a booklet or in school paper. Hand out "Random Acts of Kindness" stickers. For more ideas, see www.actsofkindness.org. 


2. Non-Violent Conflict Resolution workshops.

3. Quick response in times of Crisis. When members of the University community die, when a
controversial incident occurs on campus or in the news, it is good to create programming in
response to these crises. Responses may include: Memorial services, candlelight vigil,
distribution of some sort of memo or poster, discussion or lecture related to the issue at
hand.

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Religion and Intellectual Life


1. Book Discussion Group. Suggested books: Resident Aliens; Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks
Sexuality; Lord Teach Us; Mere Christianity; Life Together.

2. Science and Theology Brown Bag Luncheon. Gathering of professors, precocious students, and
staff, to discuss relevant issues from a variety of points of view. Includes multidisciplinary
group, and multi-faith group.

3. Discussion of NCMA Occasional Papers. These are perfect for on-campus discussion groups. 

4. Education as Transformation Project. For information on this network of over 200 campuses,
contact Project Director Peter Laurence at peterll@concentric.net.

5. Science Discussion. Gather Science faculty to discuss articles in Zygon.

6. Religion Dept. Meet with Religion Department Faculty and find ways to work together. 
Consider co-sponsoring a "Theologian in Residence," founding a Chair in Religion, or starting a
Religious Studies Major or Minor if your campus does not have one.

7. Council on Religions. Organize a Council on Religions for your campus. Sponsor interfaith
activities that help students learn about other religions in a non-threatening atmosphere, such
as an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service (see "Worship and Devotional Life Section.

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Vocation


1. Intersections: A Dialogue of Faith and Career. Invited Alums in identified professions to
meet students. They 90-minutes sessions begin with a brief introduction by the professional. 
Then they are asked to respond to "Where do you find your faith intersecting with your
profession?" They are encouraged to be specific and use stories. Questions and conversations
follow.

2. Mission Work. Encourage students to explore spending a few weeks, months, or even a year or more doing mission work after graduation. Invite young adults who are doing (or have done)
mission work to talk to students. Contact organizations such as Christian Appalachian Project
(Christian Appalachian Project at Volunteer Program 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, KY 40446 1-800-755-5322 or 606-792-2219. We can be faxed at 606-792-6625, email:
volunteer@chrisapp.org. For more info about cap contact capinfo@chrisapp.org, , or see the web site www.chrisapp.org) Jesuit Volunteer Corps (www.jesuitvolunteers.org, PO Box 25478,
Washington, DC 20007 (202) 687-1132 FAX (202) 687-5082 E-mail jvi@JesuitVolunteers.org) 
Lutheran Volunteer Corps, Habitat for Humanity (Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat
St., Americus, GA 31709-3498, (912)924-6935, ext. 2200, Fax: (912)928-4157,E-mail:
colchal@habitat.org. Check out the web site for Habitat at www.habitat.org), Volunteers in
Mission, (UMVIM 159 Ralph McGill Blvd. #305 Atlanta, GA 30308 404/659-5060 (phone)
404/659-2977 (fax), or check out the web page at: 198.139.157.15/jurisdictions/Volunteers/index.phpl), Teach for America
(www.teachforamerica.org, Teach For America Admissions, PO Box 896 New York, NY 10108 Phone:
(800) 832-1230 ext.225, Fax: (212) 425-9347. Presbyterian Mission organizations such as the
Young Adult Volunteer Program (check out the web site at www.pcusa.org National Volunteers
Office Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 100 Witherspoon Street, Room M001 Louisville, Kentucky
40202-1396, phone 1-800-516-8487, Fax: 502-569-8739.

3. Future Seminarians. An important traditional role of the Campus Ministry is to provide
support and guidance for those considering attending seminary and pursuing a career in
ministry. Some campuses provide opportunities for seminary recruiters to meet with students. 
Some campuses provide some sort of ongoing support for students considering this vocation, such as: annual retreats on the topic of vocational discernment; meetings with people in a variety
of ministry professions who answer questions about their careers; ongoing groups of students
that meet for support.

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Alumni Ministry

1. Stay informed. Get onto the Alumni news mailing list. 

2. Newsletter. Send an annual newsletter (and fundraising appeal) to alumni who were active in
your ministry. If you are having trouble locating these alumni, ask recent grads for names and
try to contact them through the alumni office. Consider placing an article or advertisement in
the Alumni Newsletter. 

3. Reunion. Host a reunion for alumni and use this as an opportunity to connect with them.

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• Puerto Rico: A Caribbean Paradox, 29 min. introduction to Caribbean history, languages
  and culture. 
  
• New Hope in Central America, 27 min. An encounter with the five nations at the center of
  two continents. 
  
• After the Storm: Power and Peace in the Middle East 29 min. introduction to 5,000 years
  of history and some of the geography, economic, political and religious factors that have
  shaped world affairs. 
  
• Jordan's Stormy Banks: 1991 26 min. A history of relations between Jews, Muslims and
  Christians that draws on the perspectives of Christian denominations and ecumenical
  bodies for interpretations. 
  
• The UN: The Earth's Hope, 29 min. A survey of the UN's struggle with peace and justice
  issues. It asks, what is freedom and security? 
  
• The Golden Creek 18 min. on issues facing the elderly and ways to make life full and rich
  for the aged. 
  
• The Journey is Home: a film about Nelle Morton 29 min. (Includes a leader's guide to
  discussion and Nelle Morton's book, The Journey is Home, Beacon Press.) A journey
  through a life a woman committed to feminism, religious education and to the church. 
  $100 order from: National Training Center,1310 Whitby Road, Richmond, VA 23337,
  (804)354-9953.

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Fund Raising


While donations are the most reliable fund raising source to cultivate, it is useful to hold
fund raising events, which can raise the profile of your organization. Even an event that makes
only $100 is a success if people attend it and it helps to extend the work of your ministry. 

1. Pancake Supper. A successful fundraiser for us for the past two years has been a Pancake
Supper (both years we've done it on Shrove Tuesday), held in a local church - a truly
collaborative effort. College students, Koinonia Campus Ministry board members and church
members all work together -(and both years the churches have donated all proceeds to Koinonia, though our initial proposals have been to split proceeds). It's been a fun project for us,
everyone enjoys working together, AND it is a good way to engage with a local church. It's a
great way to bring a previously uninvolved church on board, and also works to strengthen ties
with an already involved, supportive church! For more info contact Susan Frisbee,
607-746-6527.

4. Sponsorship. Programming drives most successful fundraising appeals. Asking churches
parents, alumni and faculty members to support student participation in a particular mission
trip or retreat generally gets a good response. Asking individuals interested in a particular
issue (e.g., Breast Cancer, AIDS, Bible Study) to make a donation to support a specific program
(such as a lecture or a distribution of Bibles) is also a good tactic. Make sure to provide
donors with information about the outcome of the program and/or invite them to participate, as
appropriate.

5. Sources of support. University departments will often co-sponsor events and provide
programming funds. Local judicatories and some local and national church offices provide grant
support. Information about these grants is regularly sent to campus ministries.

6. Bake Sales. The old standby. We have found that holding them in areas where office staff
passes by increases donations. Expect to make $100-$150 per bake sale.

7. Annual appeal. Include interested faculty, alumni, parents and don't forget students.

8. Raising More Money E-News. Denise May at United College Ministries in Northern Virginia
recommended this. Check out the raising More Money web site http://www.raisingmoremoney.com. 

9. DEATH BY CHOCOLATE. This program has generated as much as $700 and we are getting ready to plan our third year. We had over 200 come through last year, and over 30 entries from local bakeries. We do it the week before Halloween. 

10. Golf Tourney. We have started a scholarship for our strongest students and are going into
our second year. We get sponsorships for each hole and that raises a lot of money. Then we
make a little on the fun of golfing together. Another golf tourney, in Ohio, makes $10,000+
in one day. They charge $150 per entry or $500 for a foursome. Golf course donates tee times
for charity (tax benefit). Only cost is for trophies

11. Fund raising sources for mission can include: 

• Churches including the mission trips in their budgets 
  
• Church Mission Groups 
  
• United Way helps support us 
  
• Individual donations 
  
• State Baptist missions funds 
  
• Fund Raisers 
  
• Spring Break Mission Groups 
  
• Presbyterian Hunger Funds 

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APPENDIX A: Two Spirituality Workshops

Here are some spirituality workshops I did this past year. Each one has a theme, is intended
to be very experiential and designed to last about 90 minutes:

#1 Laughter
Opening/Gathering - do some ice breakers

Relaxation - Breath prayer - breathe deeply, let it go

"Power Money, persuasion, supplication, persecution - these can lift at a colossal humbug -
push it a little - weaken it a little, century by century, but only laughter can blow it to
rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." 
Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger

Video Clip - show a clip from a comedy (I used the Marx Brothers)

Funny Times Reading (this is a monthly newspaper which has nothing but comedy stuff in it such
as Dave Barry's column, etc.)

"Humor is a prelude to faith and Laughter is the beginning of prayer"
Reinhold Niebuhr, Discerning the Signs of the Times

Video Clip - Bugs Bunny

Song - "The Sick Note" by Pat Cooksey (find it in "Rise Up Singing")

"Strange, when you come to think of it, that of all the countless folk who have lived before
our time on this planet not one is known in history or in legend as having died of laughter."
Sir Max Beerbohm, Laughter

Video Clip - Pink Panther

Skits
small groups, each person selects a character and a profession from a hat. The group selects a
location from a hat. They have two minutes to create a skit.

Song - "The Corvette" by John McCutcheon 

Reflection: What happened? What does laughter do? Why are things funny? How does it feel to
laugh? How do you feel now? Why is laughter important? Etc.

#2 Music

I lost my exact program for this, but it was pretty cool. I invited a woodwind quintet to come
and play several songs. I interviewed them about why they played their particular instrument,
why that style of music. I also asked them about how they played together, what were some of
the dynamics. How did they deal with differences, etc.

Next I got the group singing. We sang "Blowin' in the Wind" and "If I Had a Hammer".

Then I asked the group to self-divide into smaller groups and talk about their own musical
experiences - listening or playing.

Then I made a list of all the favorite performers - quite a variety, including many I'd never
heard of before.

Then we sang again - Simon and Garfunkle

Then we talked about the value of music and reflected a bit on what we'd done.

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Appendix B: Personal Views on Covenant Discipleship We have had CD groups, off and on, for 8-10 here at the Wesley Foundation at  William and Mary. Earlier we used Covenant Groups on Campus as our resource guide; last year we used the briefer resource published by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC. Personally, I like the older, out of print resource better.  I have done CD groups with as few as 2 (a student and myself) and as many as 7 members. We meet weekly for an hour; spend a lot of time (a month or more) discerning what we want to include in the covenant. This is sometimes somewhat frustrating to the students who want the process to go more quickly, but in the long run the ownership of the covenant is essential.  Basically there is a preamble, the specific items of the covenant, addressing the broad areas of 1) piety and devotion (items dealing with one's relationship with God, e.g. prayer, worship, Bible study, silence, etc) and 2) compassion and justice (items dealing with relationships with others and the creation), and a conclusion. Anther resource we have on hand in the CD Quarterly, which is produced out of Nashville by a group in the Board of Discipleship. I have found that helpful at times. Usually I have led a group for a year with the intention that student leadership for the coming year will emerge out of the group. Thus, since 1989 I have led a CD group only 3 years; the other years CD groups have been led by students. It is absolutely essential, also, for participants to understand that this is a very unusual type of small group - more task oriented than most. And that it only meets for one hour. This time constraint, and the process of going around the circle with each person reporting on how they did on each particular clause of the covenant, necessitates a strong commitment to keep moving through the process without spending a lot of time exploring why someone did or did not keep a particular clause during the previous week. Also, individual members of the group may decide to have additional clauses that apply only to them, e.g., one guy in our group this year worked hard at not cursing - that was not an issue for the rest of the members; I had a clause to stay in touch with my son who is at college. These personal clauses are addressed after all the group clauses have been addressed during the meeting, and people can add or delete them as they wish during the year. Grace and peace, David Hindman Our Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois organizes Covenant groups every semester.  Sometimes a group stays together from fall through the spring, so occasionally the spring semester sees a few new members to the old group instead of a brand-new group. We organize by schedule, which is to say we have an "orientation meeting" early in the semester where we ask questions and talk about what Covenant Discipleship is all about (including a number of good scriptures and a perusal of our calendars). Then we form groups according to compatibility of schedule. I have also been given responsibility for "church" Covenant groups (meaning, not students, but members of our host church, Wesley UMC, meeting in the same building).  Currently, this summer, we have one student group and one non-student group active. The first few weeks of meeting involve lots of brainstorming and hoping, forming the group's Covenant. We all put in ideas of what we think faithful living is about for us, and then gradually weed it down to a manageable number of promises that EVERYONE feels comfortable with. Personal clauses are acceptable, too. We use the "categories" method in writing Covenants, which means we come up with 1-3 promises under the categories of "Worship," "Devotion," "Justice,' "Compassion" and "Self-Care." The self-care part was added by a former associate, and we liked it, so we make it part of every covenant. We "check in" according to these categories, too, so a typical meeting starts with prayer and "how is it with your soul?" followed by a round-the circle report of "How did it go with Worship this week?" As for its effectiveness... not surprisingly, it depends entirely on how the individuals use it. There are always members (students and non-) who never quite understand the importance of the structure, and use the group for their personal support group. As the staff member, I sometimes do a good job of "subtly" redirecting the conversation, and sometimes fail miserably at confronting this problem. I have had students who report in, week after week, that they have not done ANY of the things on the Covenant, and don't think that's a problem. I have also had students virtually turn their lives around because they have never had someone to be accountable to before. One, in particular, stopped smoking, got help for his drinking problem and his learning disability, and finally graduated with much pride and celebration. He still calls me often to check in with his soul. I believe that Covenant Discipleship can be a way of training up new leaders in the church, as well, although I have not been able to do much of that (directly, anyway). Under the "worship" category, we do have "offer service to the church," and several students have volunteered to be ushers or liturgists or communion servers because of that clause, but nothing much deeper at this point. I would love some suggestions about how to do this more effectively. I hope this is helpful to you! I would be happy to answer any other questions you might have about how Covenant works for us. And I'd be delighted to hear about how other people do it! Peace, Sara Isbell,  Program Associate, Wesley Foundation, University of Illinois Return to Contents Appendix C: Bridging the University Gap: A Creative Approach  BACKGROUND A planning group convened by United Campus Ministry at Ohio University began in the spring of 1998 to develop a project to bring students together across the gaps of race, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnicity. We held 3 gatherings in the fall of 1998. About 20 students attended these across a wide variety of diversities. These events distilled for us a focus for our work, for which we are now ready to seek funding from colleges, departments, offices, and groups at Ohio University. THE PLAN Under the leadership of Kathy Devecka, local consultant and former faculty member in the OU School of Theater whose specialty is drama for social change, The Ohio University Campus Ministry has developed a repertoire of short, interactive dramatic presentations. The focus will be on using common conversations or incidents to involve the audience in dialogue with the characters. For example, "Do you think he is gay? He doesn't look gay," Or "Why is she late. Those people are always late," or "I didn't know you were Jewish. Why didn't you tell me this before now?" The drama is available to community organizations, Greek organizations, religious organizations, classes, international student organizations, and a variety of other campus groups. We have presentations available lasting 60, 90 or 120 minutes depending on the group's needs.  Experience and research has shown that this interactive approach (the actors do a scene; the audience interacts with the actors in character; actors do a second scene developing these characters further, more discussion) is able to confront sexism, racism, heterosexism, anti-Semitism, etc. on a level that goes deeper than the intellectual. Students identify with the characters, feel strong emotions about what they see, question and argue with the characters; get involved with one another. Co-sponsors so far include: Hillel Jewish Student Center, Dean of Students, Center for Community Service, Institute of Applied and Professional Ethics, Martin Luther King Committee, the Colleges of Communication, Education, and Arts and Sciences, United Church of Christ Commission on Racial Justice, Presbyterian National Higher Education Office. THE BUDGET - Winter-Spring 1999 INCOME Grants (already received)    - Presbyterian national campus ministry office  $  500     - Commission on Racial Justice, United Church of Christ  $  250 OU co-sponsors  $  2,400 Other co-sponsors  $  750        TOTAL  $  3,900 EXPENDITURES Drama consultant - script, coaching, directing                                     scheduling performances, evaluations $ 3,600 Advertising  $ 200 Copies, materials $ 100        TOTAL  $   3,900 United Campus Ministry at Ohio University, 18 N. College St., Athens, OH 45701. The Rev. Jan Griesinger, Director. Phone (740) 593-7301; FAX (740) 592-4846 web site:  http://www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx081; e-mail: aa747@seorf.ohiou.edu Return to Contents Appendix D: Star Gifts  kindness  caring  sharing  giving  compassion love  openness  pardon  understanding  discipleship  servanthood  stability  hopefulness  innocence  prayerfulness  praise  gentleness  knowledge  happiness  laughter acceptance  self-control  restraint  mercy  truth  peace awareness  tolerance  wholeness  guidance  hospitality  foresight  trust  learning  proclamation  encouragement  trustworthiness  inspiration  wonder  flexibility  grace  graciousness  integrity  helping  witnessing  generosity  perceptiveness  purity  prayer  service  steadfastness  determination nurturing  renewal  purpose  peacefulness  faith  consideration fellowship  unity  teaching  singing  celebration  perseverance  judgment  discipline  courage  confidence  clarity  honor  contentment  imagination  commitment  friendship  freedom  creativity  devotion  joy  strength  power excitement  harmony  reliability  goodness  reverence serenity  humor  boldness  genuineness  illumination vision  dependability  endurance  listening  accountability speaking  sincerity  writing  music  motivation  art  building  crafts  planning  organization  drama  cheerfulness  focus  balance  helpfulness  comfort  leadership  discernment  obedience  thoughtfulness  responsibility patience  forgiveness  humility  faithfulness  hope  tenderness  enthusiasm  evangelism  healing  loyalty rejoicing respect  insight  selflessness  righteousness  assurance  justice  honesty  wisdomlanguages  cooking  sympathy  empathy  sensitivity  time  conviction  delight  responsiveness