Section 3.5 - Campus Connections: A Field Guide for Campus Ministry by Barry St. Clair 

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GAIN ACCESS TO THE CAMPUS

  

As a new youth leader in town, Kevin knew one of the first places he needed to see was the local school. As he was settling into his ministry, a parent of one of his students called to let him know of an event at the junior high where he could meet some people. He walked into the cafeteria, connected with that parent, and was introduced to the principal, several students, and some other parents.

 

The doors of schools are often open during the week for games, concerts, pep rallies, and other activities. This was Kevin’s open door to the campus. No agenda, no program, no teaching or leading. He just showed up. That provided opportunities to build relationships, serve, and be known as a trusted person at the school and in the community. It also provided an excuse for students to introduce him to their friends.

 

“Hey, let me introduce you to my youth pastor,” they’d say. 

 

Sometimes their friends would ask, “What’s a youth pastor?” 

 

Kevin not only got to hear how his students described a youth pastor; he also got to know plenty of students he would otherwise never have connected with.

 

Kevin’s strategy for gaining access to the campus was as simple as showing up. As a result, his ministry has thrived through serving sports teams, speaking at career day, providing food for teachers, serving in hallways during teachers’ meetings and on school leadership teams—all by simply being present during events.

 

Grow Your Relationships

By nature, your ministry to students requires you to spend time with them. That doesn’t have to be on campus, but you take a huge leap forward if it is. That means you want to wisely and carefully develop relationships with the administration and teachers. You will have greater opportunities as you gain the confidence of the school administrators and teachers, and thus more freedom to come and go at the school. 

 

When you apply a submissive attitude and approach to the campus, you will, in all likelihood, have a ministry there. With that approach, what practical steps can you take to gain access to the campus?

 

1. Pray. Ministry on a campus involves a spiritual battle. That’s why you need to make prayer the foundation of your campus ministry. Pray—and invite others to pray—that the Lord will . . .

• provide natural meetings with school administrators

• give you wisdom and favor in those encounters

• let the love of Jesus flow through you in all your interactions

• open the right doors to the campus

• bring administrators and all others who don’t know Christ into a relationship with Him.

 

Those are big prayers, but remember God’s promise: “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). 

 

2. Meet the principal informally. If you have acquaintances who know the principal personally, ask one of them to introduce you. Extracurricular events offer an open door for informal introductions because principals usually aren’t immersed in major responsibilities at those.

 

Keep these thoughts in mind as you think about this informal meeting: 

Ask a mutual acquaintance to introduce you as a person who works with young people, not as a youth pastor—not because you’re trying to hide anything (you aren’t) but to avoid any stereotypes that would start the relationship on the wrong foot. Never be deceptive, though. If the principal asks where you work, respond honestly. 

 

Don’t try to force the conversation; let the principal initiate it, and let it flow. Speak positively about the school. Your only goal is to make contact, so don’t try to impress or push the conversation toward a goal. Be your friendly self and let the Lord build the relationship.

 

Conclude the conversation by telling the principal how glad you are to meet him or her, and then offer to help in any way you can if ever needed. Let the principal know you can be reached through your mutual friend. A casual, informal contact like this opens the door to developing the relationship further.

 

3. Write the principal a note. Within a few hours, write a handwritten note, thanking the principal for taking the time to meet you. Write something like, “It was a pleasure to meet you at the game. I look forward to seeing you at other events. Please feel free to call me if I can serve you or the school in any way.”

 

4. Call for an appointment. Within a couple of weeks, follow up with a phone call and ask if you can meet in person for a few minutes to talk about ideas he/she may have about needs at the school. Ask how you might help. If the principal asks what you mean by that, simply explain that you have a genuine concern for students in the community and would be glad to give some time to serve the school in a way that would be helpful.

 

Some guidelines for your call: Speak directly, express confidence (but not arrogance), have your calendar ready so you can quickly set a date for a meeting, and accommodate the principal’s schedule as much as possible. Temper your expectations; don’t expect to be treated as an answer to prayer. At this point, your interest may still seem suspicious. 

 

Once you set the appointment, express thanks and confirm the date and time of the meeting. If he turns you down, thank him and tell him you will look forward to seeing him again at the next school event you plan to attend, and make a note to seek him out.

 

5. Meet the principal formally. Assuming the principal gave you an appointment with him, then what do you say to him when in his office? Keep it simple, relaxed, and conversational. Establish rapport by sharing a couple of positive things you noticed about the school, your love for students, and your desire to lend a hand in any way that he would see as helpful.  

            

A few tips: 

• Pray before you enter the school. 

• Dress appropriately (not in jeans and a t-shirt). 

• Arrive ten minutes early and check in with the administrative assistant, reiterating in your conversation your appreciation and desire to serve.

• Say to the principal something like this: “I want you to know how much I appreciate your time. I know you’re very busy. The reason I wanted to get together with you is that I have a deep love and concern for the students in my community and the problems they face today. I want to help them in any and every way I can. It seems that one of the best ways I can help them is to help the school that helps them. I don't know everything that the school and its students need, but I do have a little time available. I would like to volunteer that time to help in any way.”

            

Let the principal take it from there. Don’t keep talking. Honor the time commitment, but also anticipate questions about your background and what you do for a living. If you’re a youth pastor, say so. Volunteer some details about your church while assuring the principal that you have no desire to proselytize students and will not share your faith on campus. Be clear that you will do anything that he deems as “helpful help” to the school.

            

If you are asked for more of an explanation for why you want to help the school, explain that, like the principal, you have a calling to invest in young people, and doing that in their everyday environment is a helpful way to be a positive influence in their lives. 

            

Know in advance how much time you are willing to volunteer so you can commit on the spot, if needed. When the conversation is over, express thanks for the time you’ve been given. 

            

Don’t be surprised if the principal has no idea how you can help. Your only goal at this point is to begin opening doors by establishing a relationship with the school’s primary authority figure. Be available to continue building that relationship, but be aware of the following “don’ts”:

 

• Don’t give the impression that you’re an expert on students and schools.

• Don’t insist that you have a right to come on campus.

• Don’t make promises you can’t keep. If you can volunteer only one day a week, communicate that clearly.

• Don’t share your opinions about such controversial subjects as abortion, church and state, prayer in schools, or anything else that might alienate the principal. Just keep the conversation centered on the school and how you can help it.

• Don’t let the principal intimidate you. Although you should speak to this authority respectfully, you are also peers. 

• Don’t make demands. That’s not how we represent Christ. We know God is in control and will work through human authorities to accomplish His will.

• Don’t ask “what can I do for you?” They are too busy to come up with a reason for you to be there. Come with a plan, such as “I understand you need volunteers for . . .,” or, “I understand you’re looking for mentors/tutors.” If you discover that he/she is a Christian, then you can say: “Our group prays for students, teachers, and administrators. Are there some ways you would like us to pray for the school?”

 

6. Write another thank you note. Again, express appreciation for the principal’s time and reiterate your willingness to help out. Include your contact information. 

 

7. Pursue an opportunity to serve. If the principal has zeroed in on an area of need, then ask permission to pursue helping in that area—even if is something you would not have chosen to do. If the principal comes up with nothing, ask a teacher, coach, or another staff member who has oversight and responsibility for another area if you can volunteer your time to help, making it clear that you want to serve.

 

8. Continue to communicate with the principal and build the relationship. Do this in any ways that are open to you. Attend at least two school activities where you will likely see the principal, reintroduce yourself, and continue to demonstrate your interest in the school and its students. 

 

At some point in this process, you can mention that you have an opportunity to serve, and you would like to do it if he approves. For example, “The wrestling coach has invited me to help with the team, and asked if I could record videos of the practices so the wrestlers can work on their moves. I just wanted to make sure that is okay with you before making a commitment.” 

 

Then wait prayerfully (and silently) for a response. If the answer is yes, you’re good to go. Write another thank-you note in the next week or two. 

 

If the answer is no, don’t be discouraged. Respond politely and appreciatively. Write another thank-you note to express appreciation for your request being considered, for all the principal does for students, and for the privilege of getting to know him or her recently. Reiterate that you will still be available to help in any way if the need arises.

            

Keep going to extracurricular activities. The principal or an assistant is required to attend these, and when you see one of them, continue a friendly tone of conversation. Keep looking for ways to serve outside of campus and school hours (concessions at ball games, driving the bus for the band, etc.). And keep praying for the principal and the school daily. If the door is not open yet, wait for it! God will eventually open a door for you to serve. 

 

9. Remind yourself to treat the principal as a person, not a barrier or steppingstone. Continue to honor him or her and present yourself as a person of integrity. If you’re asked to do something, do it responsibly. Periodically talk to the principal by stopping by the school office and/or saying hello at events. Send notes of appreciation and, if appropriate, let him or her know you are praying for the school. Congratulate the principal for any school achievements in academics, sports, or anything else.

 

Going on Campus During School Hours

Many youth leaders try to get permission to come on the campus during lunch or to lead an early morning Bible study. In some cases that works, but it’s best not to spend time with students during school hours unless you have an official invitation from an administrator, teacher, or coach to do so. Otherwise, you appear to be serving your own agenda rather than the school’s. Since you don’t work for the school, and you have no job description or accountability, the last thing a principal needs is another problem to deal with—or even the hint of a potential problem. 

            

If eating lunch or attending an early morning Christian group is open to you, then go for it. If students can go off campus during lunch, then go. If you are invited to watch a team practice, then go. But if none of these opportunities are available, then pursue personal conversations in after-school hours. 

            

Personally, my youth pastor friend and I established a relationship with the principal at our local school following the steps above. Our first volunteer work was sweeping the floor before basketball practice. Years later, the principal asked my friend to speak at the baccalaureate service. He once told another teacher that he wished our type of campus involvement happened more often and on other campuses—and this was in a county known for its closed schools. We had the continuing privilege of serving on campus because we followed God’s principles of submission and honor. That approach will work for you too. 

 

Your Next Steps

We encourage you to keep a notebook or journal of ideas, action steps, and resources that will help you advance your ministry. You can use the following questions and suggestions for brainstorming and developing your goals and plans. 

 

• Putting yourself in the principal’s office (where I spent plenty of time for the wrong reasons when I was in school), what specific concerns would you have if someone offered to serve or help at the school? Make a list. And as you think about that principal/administrator as a real human being with a life full of real needs and feelings, what words, attitudes, and actions are most likely to alleviate concerns? Make a list of these too. 

 

• Review each numbered point above and develop a simple, step-by-step action plan to follow in getting to know school administrators and looking for a way to serve. 

 

• Enlist partners, including your prayer triplet to pray for you and with you and to hold you accountable to the plan.

 

Resources

• Search your school or school district website for a “Volunteer Handbook.” Many schools and districts make these available, giving more local input on how schools view volunteers and engage with them.