We’re back into the swing of things at Penn and the main focus is leadership. 1 Timothy 3:1-2 states, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach…”
This semester is a significant time for our students as we are seeing the fulfillment of 1 Timothy 3:1-2 happen before our eyes as we prepare for a “change of the guard” with our student ministry team leaders (MTL’s) and assistant Bible course leaders (ABCLs). We have big shoes to fill as many of our current leaders are graduating seniors this year. However, this provides a great opportunity for aspiring leaders to rise to the occasion to lead next.
As we anticipate leadership turnover, we are also strategically praying and planning on ways to equip and empower our student leaders to do the work of ministry here at Penn. One way we are going to do this is by training our MTL’s and ABCL’s in their specific roles, responsibilities, and leadership competencies. We have our first training sessions scheduled for this month and are praying and anticipating it to be a fruitful time of encouragement and building up of our student leaders.
This concept of leadership has specifically been at the forefront in our senior Bible course, as we talked through what it means to be a good leader, and how to finish well as leaders. This discussion led us into Matthew 7:22-23, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” This led us to ask questions like, what is success in ministry? How does God define success? Is it possible to have a fruitful ministry without the filling of the Holy Spirit? How does the idea of ministry relate to vocation? As we dug into these questions, students were challenged in their beliefs and what it means to truly follow God and His calling in their lives.
While preparing for and anticipating these leadership efforts, we are also training students in the Seeking God Lifestyle while urging, inviting, and challenging them to live out these principles in their lives, so that they may have a closer relationship with Christ and fruitful and impactful ministry in their lives.
In light of these efforts, we ask that you join us in prayer for:
- Those students who desire to be leaders, that they would be above reproach and walk in Christ-like character (1 Tim 3:1-2).
- That our student leaders would take seriously the mantle of leadership, and seek to first please God in their leadership efforts.
- That students would seek God in the “secret place” as they live out the Seeking God Lifestyle (Matt 6).
Grace and Peace,
Cory Lotspeich
Ministry Director
Christian Union Martus
