For 32 years of being in the ministry of PSALM, there’s actually no formula on how to thrive fully as a campus minister. Rather than discovering the best practices I can do in campus missions, I focus on how I am going to thrive as a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only then I can stay longer in this arena of calling. 

We know that the first step is to encounter Him in a personal way, by inviting Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives. After accepting Him into our lives, there is what we call “transformation”. If you are a new campus minister, you are going to thrive for this transformation to continue in your journey with the Lord.

When we speak about THRIVE, it means to grow, to prosper, or vigorously develop well. I believe this takes a lot of processes or may have been learned the hard way for you to stand firm in campus missions. Now, how can you thrive as a new campus minister? I believe it is when you live by the power of God. Living by the power God is a life changed, A BLESSED LIFE.

1. A blessed life is the only life worth living because it is PLANTED IN THE LORD.

It is the one who lives in the will of God. It is compared to “a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8)

Like a tree planted by the rivers of water, you are very near to the source. And because of that, the tree is always healthy. As you are near to the Source, you are a healthy Campus Minister. You are a fruitful CM, inside and out, that wins souls and disciples the youth for Christ.

2. A blessed life is the only life worth living because it is PRODUCTIVE FOR THE LORD.

You keep on sharing the gospel because you do witnessing as your lifestyle. Witnessing is not a gift but it is a responsibility. You are responsible to every person who needs the Lord Jesus Christ. You help others know Jesus personally, you help churches grow, and you stay on mission with the Great Commission. You touch people’s lives, you reach out, and you get involved.

3. A blessed life is the one only worth living because it is PROTECTED BY THE LORD.

Trees planted deeply at the riverbank are like lives planted firmly in the Lord. Such trees or lives are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Into each life come storms and struggles, but for the campus minister or servants of Christ, you cannot be separated from His love. 

4. A blessed life is the only life worth living because he TRUSTED THE LORD.

If you trust in yourself, in your own strengths and capabilities, I doubt if you can continue in your calling as a campus missionary. Many trust in their own strength instead of the strength of God. That is why there is the tendency to turn away from the Lord, being blown in any and every direction with the winds of change. There is no set course, just a life blowing in the wind with no hope of meaningful living. Ultimately they go in the wrong direction, because there is no guidance from the Lord anymore.

Apparently, there is no such thing as a perfect workplace. There will always be problems to face either old or new worker in the field. Challenges will always try to develop our character now and then until we become mature in handling relationships and settling conflicts whenever needed. It is our character in Christ that must be consistently cultivated so we can fully understand the nature of our calling.

So I say, stick to your calling, keep on thriving by living a life planted in the Lord. Keep your roots deepened as you thrive for God. Be productive for the Lord. Don’t be afraid because you are protected by the Lord, do not worry when crisis comes, the Lord is always there to protect you. These are the things that you need to do seriously in your life as a new Campus Minister.

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” ~Daniel 12:3