I am entering into year three of the student ministry at James Island and this year we are believing God for big things. I prayed and sought the scriptures for a strategy to accomplish the goals we set for this year. The goals are ambitious but not as crucial to the strategy and plan to get us there.
One of my favorite books of the bible is Nehemiah. The book is a great story of a man who with boldness and purpose brought faith and pride back to his people despite adversity inside and outside of his camp.
I studied this book and found quite simply my strategy for ministry.
BURDEN
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Neh 1:3-4)
For any strategy to work it must begin with a burden. A desire to see right a wrong, fix what is broken or change the status quo. Nehemiah heard that his people were broken and hurt and he felt a great burden to DO something.
My burden comes from the fact that less than 20% of 2100 students in our area are in church…much less a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
PRAY
11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” (Neh 1:11)
This prayer is important for a few reasons. 1) It is a reverent prayer that keeps the authority in focus. Too often our prayers are arrogant pleas for God to bless our plans. 2) He prays for success. Some people have growth-guilt. They feel guilty if they seek success. They feel guilty if they count people or evaluate their environments. Success isn’t bad. Success is good IF the success is the Lord’s success. If the motives are to bring glory to Jesus then it is a very worthy goal.
PLAN
“If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me” (Neh 2:7-9)
This was a BOLD plan, to go to the King and ask for a leave of absence to go rebuild the walls and spirits of a foreign people…and for money and safe passage to boot!
If you make a plan…be strategic…know what you want and what you need and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
EXECUTE
“16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” (Neh 4:16-17)
Though Nehemiah came against some obstacles, he never wavered from executing the plan. Even in the face of danger.
This year, I will have setbacks. I will have team members that will not rise to the challenge. I will have students do silly things. I will have budget constraints, however I must keep the plan in front of me and must execute the plan in the face of any obstacles.
WORSHIP
“5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”(Neh 8:5-6)
When all is done and we look back at the years journey and we see the goals have been met and the blessings have been great, we will declare the word of God and worship him with gladness and proclaim…AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!
This is the Nehemiah strategy that Surge Student Ministry is using as we continue to Reach the lost, Redeem the generation and Restore the family of Charleston SC.
What do you think?
Sean Rheaume 