[soc.religion.christian] Training & skills in God's service: the summary

lvron@saturn.lerc.nasa.gov (Ronald E. Graham) (01/03/91)

On 12/11/90, I posted a request for assistance on the above subject.  I
was looking for Bible references, for use in a weekend conference session
with college graduates affiliated with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship,
that would apply to the following questions:

o  How can we use our professional skills and training to contribute to
   the life and mission of the Church?
o  How can we translate service to God on the college campus to service to
   God later on, after graduation?

I got four responses to this request.  This is a summary of the responses, 
along with what I know right now will be included as part of the conference
session. 

The Moderator responded with a concern that IVCF members be involved with
local churches while in school.  At first, I saw this comment as having 
limited relevance to the questions I was really asking, although his concern
is valid.  Now, I see that the best way to prepare for service in the Church
is to engage in it.  On-the-job training.  The classical problem of campus 
groups, however, is that most students will not continue to attend the same
(generally near the campus) church after graduation: this means that even 
those members of IVCF who have been active in church for four-and-some-odd
years prior to graduation are back to square one afterwards.

Plus, IVCF, like most campus Christian groups (I think) actively encourages
church participation for its members already, so the conference will gain 
only a little by reinforcing this.

Mike Murphy, murphy@mips.com, brought up the same concern as the Moderator,
and also included the following verses for consideration:

     o  Ephesians 4 & I Corinthians 12 (the body of Christ & gifts)
     o  I Timothy 3 (role and qualifications of deacons, deaconesses, etc.)
     o  Hebrews 10:23-25 (importance of fellowship)

The passage in I Timothy will make the final cut - I'll explain why later.

Geoff Allen, geoff@pmafire.inel.gov, also suggested I Timothy 3, and 
suggested the specific ministry-forms of teaching Sunday School and singing
in the choir.  I am constrained not to do this sort of thing by the fact
that all the conference attendees will be attending different types of
churches, with different approaches to specific ministries.  The conference
goal will be to give Biblical background and encouragement for attendees
to seek their own forms of ministry expression, in the context of their
own church.

John Baldwin, johnb%duke.srchtec.uucp@mathcs.emory.edu, came up with a 
spinoff idea that was something I had in mind myself for about a year.
Outrageous!  But I can't talk about it openly yet.  John and I are praying
over it over the holidays and we'll bring it up later, unless God appears
to indicate that the door is closed.

So: here's the conference session rundown:

Friday discussion (led by myself)
     o  Goal: to form a bridge between student life and Church life
     o  Key passage: Hebrews 10:19-25, 32-39
     o  Pre-conference study questions:
          - how does your relationship to God now compare to what it
            was when you were in school?
          - how has your relationship with the Church affected your
            spiritual life?
     o  References: James 4:13-17 (a warning not to plan one's professional
        career too far ahead ;-))

Sunday discussion (led by myself again)
     o  Goal: to determine how God wants to use us in the life of the Church
     o  Key passage: Romans 12:1-8
     o  Pre-conference study questions:
          - what is it that enables us to learn God's will?
          - how is the use of our gifts to be governed?
     o  References: I Timothy 3 (a summary of behavioral and growth issues
        faced by church leadership)

In between, there will be other sessions, in which I will participate but
not lead, which involve ecclesiology, worship, breaking of bread (both 
kinds), teaching, and evangelism.  I have also collected lists of passages
for handouts on these subjects: the need for lay ministry, blocking service
options.  The handouts may be used for exercises during the weekend if time
permits.

The session is part of MannaFest '91, the IVCF regional conference for this
area, and will be held February 22-24 at the Holiday Inn on Ohio Rt. 8 in
Hudson OH, next to the Ohio Turnpike.  If anyone wants more information, 
please feel free to ask.  Via e-mail if possible.

Thanks to the four of you who responded.  Happy holidays.

RG

"At Parbar westward, four at the causeway and two at Parbar."  I Chron. 26:18
Amen and amen!  ;-)