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Spirit-led emails?

October 5, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

It is apparent how the Holy Spirit could lead you in a worship gathering, but what does it look like when you are staring at your email?

A lot of InterVarsity’s work is similar to other large non-profits – goal setting, supervision of staff, and filling out reports. It is easy to rely on my experience or intellect to lead these elements. Increasingly I’ve desired to be Spirit-led in these activities.

It’s been as simple as praying before a one on one meeting to ask God if there is a particular word to share with those I supervise (you do not have to say “this is from God”) or leading those I supervise through a prayerful, worship-led discernment process of goals (again this could be mainly internal if needed).

As I open up my email each morning I want my question to become, “Lord what should my focus be today?”

Tell me, how do you keep your focus guided by God as you work?

Photo credit https://www.facebook.com/IVCF2100/photos/a.124375720933031.10228.124088484295088/124378240932779/?type=3&theater

R.O.I. (return on investment) – one picture

September 30, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

One of my favorite prayers of praise to God is 1 Chronicles 29:10-13. This prayer of David was inspired by the generosity the leaders to the work of God. As the people in this passage saw their leaders give so “freely and wholeheartedly” (including David) they started to worship, which caused David to worship and speak this beautiful prayer.

A couple questions that arose for our team as we studied this passage:

Do we lead our communities with this free and wholehearted generosity to the work of God?
Are we drawn to worship God like this as we receive notification of the generosity of our partners in another donation, a meal served to students, a student mentored, or a campus prayed for?

How about for you? What does it look like for you to give freely and wholeheartedly to the work of God? As you see ministry through InterVarsity go forward through the generosity of so many would you join us in this circle of worship to God?

A prayer tip: prior to asking God for that which is on your heart read this section of scripture out loud 5-10 times, then speak prayers of worship to God in your own words, and after that bring your requests. I find that this helps me first to connect to who God is which significantly helps me as I bring him my requests.

Photo Credit: * Cati Kaoe * via Compfight cc

Steps to Jesus

September 30, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Do you ever wonder what the process typically looks like for people to come to Jesus in this generation?

Don Everts and Doug Schaupp researched the stories of students making decisions and saw a typical pattern of 5 thresholds that people cross on the way of following Jesus.

InterVarsity has training materials on these thresholds that are available for free to our friends. Check them out and let me know if you would like them.

Photo Credit: *phototristan via Compfight cc

How you make decisions matters

September 25, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Our work to reach and partner with people of every ethnicity and culture has impact on every layer of our culture.

One of the areas we’ve discussed as leaders is decision making styles. To do this each of us thought through the preferences we bring in and how we can become fluent in other styles (each have strengths and weaknesses). For instance, for our international student workers consensus decision making needs to be a well practiced skill.

An awareness of preferred style and an ability to work in other styles is important for our staff directors but also for our staff as they seek to empower students from every corner of the campus.

Our core strategy

September 22, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

“The prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

The past 24 hours I have been in 4 times of prayer with other colleagues in our movement. Each time my mind and heart have reconnected with God’s purposes and his presence, and each time we’ve sensed God’s direction and leadership.

Prayer, which is often best done in community, is vital to the work on campus. Unfortunately we are quick to forget this vital practice. Do you relate?

What ways have you been able to engage in prayer with others on a regular basis? Could you share a story of how God answered a prayer of your community?

Click here to partner with us in an ongoing way through prayer.

Hidden Potential

September 17, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

What do you love doing?

A place where my gifts and fulfillment (motivated abilities) meet is to uncover and develop hidden potential in people. I just finished meeting with a vital member of our regional team talking through her continued development. As I sit here, I am so encouraged.

Part of our work is to see motivated abilities in students, faculty, staff, and ministry partners, work with the Holy Spirit in the development of these abilities, and help the person discover their place in God’s story. This work brings me much joy.

How about for you? What are your motivated abilities?

Not just about arriving

September 16, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Over this last year our team has reflected on reaching goals that seemed impossible when they were set in 2008 (500 small groups, 50 chapters, 1 overseas student movement). We are now thinking not just about reaching them but how we arrive and who we are with when we get there. Our desire is to see staff that are saturated in Hebrews 12:1-2, students leaders from every corner, and connected ministry partners that are blessed.

Can you pray that God would continue his work of forming us (ministry partners, staff, and students) into the people that he desires when we reach these goals?

God is moving

September 9, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Blessed to spend the morning with Ashley Carter who is continuing InterVarsity’s work at Harris Stowe State University and to connect with ministry partners on campus. I am so encouraged as I leave the campus and excited to see what God does in the year ahead.

Please pray for Ashley as she engages on campus, particularly that she would see where God is calling her to invest and that she would find partners in ministry on and nearby campus. If you want to stay connected to Ashley’s work please fill out a contact form and let me know.

Perspective

September 8, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Reflecting this morning after watching this video: What I am giving my life to? Taking the long term view that Francis Chan describes is what we are inviting students into as we engage on campus this month.

Photo Credit: Andy Field (Field Office) via Compfight cc

Joining the Peloton

September 1, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

The ideal in ministry partner training in my organization (and many others) is to help a staff learn to ‘ride on their own’ in developing ministry partnerships and send them off. Our problem – everyone does not come from a network that knows, has all the resources needed, or supports organizations like InterVarsity.

This year I am working to help staff not ‘ride on their own’ but in a group of other staff, like a peloton. I am focusing my work with the Missouri staff team and a group of staff reaching Latino students in Southern California. Please pray that I can take my learning from many years of developing partners and watching the Tour de France 🙂 to help us move forward in this area.

Many from my organization are also attending a day long gathering on partnership development and justice.