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Getting Properly Equipped for a Life-Long Journey
By Katie Hajenius
Our long-term quest within XA
is not just to have thriving and
healthy groups on campus. Our
goal is to make disciples who will
change the world in whatever
sphere the Lord provides for them
on campus and for the rest of
their lives.
Having the “end” in mind may be
a valuable starting point for us. In
order to train our students to have
the mindset that missions is a
lifestyle, here are some practical
things we can do right now.
From their freshman year on,
teach them to think “missionally.”
It’s about “being,” not merely
doing; it’s lifestyle vs. event. It’s
about being deliberate: my neighbors,
the waitress, my professor—
always being ready and willing to
build kingdom relationships with
people.
As campus pastors, lead by
example. Let your students see
you reaching out and serving your
neighbors and other people in your
community.
Model to your students the concept
of frequenting the same restaurants,
businesses, coffee shops
and local hang-outs over and over
in order to build relationships with
people in the community. Bring
students with you and encourage
them to do the same.
Find Godly, Kingdom professionals
in your church who can mentor
your students and speak at XA
gatherings. Expose your students
to what’s down the road, What do
the next 30 years look like in the
Kingdom sense, while juggling a
family, mortgage and career?
Do service projects that get
them beyond the campus and into
the city.
Help model and develop the
basics firmly in their lives—areas
of their prayer life, hunger for
God, intimacy with Jesus and
passion for the Kingdom. This will
stick with them down the road
when they leave the tight-knit XA
community.
Have seniors do a senior project
that involves serving and connecting
in a local-church context.
This will help your students begin
to adjust to the church. You can
help them in their transition
and it can make the overall shift
from college into the workplace
more fluid. At the same time your
primary focus is on the freshmen
and upcoming leaders. You’re still
covering your seniors but you’re
releasing them more to put into
practice what’s been instilled in
them these past several years.
Cast vision for students to
consider their career locations
not based on opportunities but on
values and intentionality—choosing
to get a job where other likeminded
believers are also in the
marketplace. If we send them out
in teams into the marketplace and
the world, they are more likely to
succeed.
Katie & Guido Hajenius served
as the Chi Alpha Directors at The
University of Arizona and currently
serve as the Southwest Regional
Missions Resource for Chi Alpha.
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