Pioneering Campus Ministry

by Matt Herman

The university campus is the most strategic mission field in the world. It's a statement recited often in campus ministry circles. But who is going to do something about it? If the future of our world runs through the institutions that shape minds and hearts, then surely God is calling us to take the Gospel to all universities and colleges-especially those without any significant witness to the life, death, resurrection, and hope of Jesus. While the vision and calling of God to disciple college students on new campuses is vital, the path is foggy. Pioneering campus ministry is a multifaceted process, and many find it too daunting to attempt. Campuses have distinct personalities and histories that require a missionary heart and aptitude for learning. It requires commitment, but it is lined with fulfillment and rewarding transformation. In Pioneering Campus Ministry, Matt Herman will help guide you down the path of thinking like a campus pioneer. From looking into the way Jesus pioneered His group of young adults, to the stages of growth, this book examines how to think through the nuances of pioneering ministry. Matt Herman has served as a campus missionary director for over 15 years. Brought up in a campus missionary home, he has been surrounded by university missions his entire life. His involvement in campus ministry as a college student was pivotal in his personal faith development and he is passionate about helping college students also experience the life changing power of Jesus Christ. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife and three children.

146 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2021

Reviews

[Justin Vistine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely written from an analyst’s point of view, and I think will best serve as an overview of what the pioneering process might look like, rather than a manual for how to pioneer a campus ministry. Included are some basic qualifications, attitudes, and characteristics that someone must have to lead effectively, as well as some big picture insights as to what to do in different stages of pioneering, and also how to adjust to differing cultures on campuses. I think this book needs to be given to students who God is potentially stirring to pursue ministry, and this is just the right amount of information to potentially nudge them towards the dream of going somewhere and starting a community where none exists. This is definitely a needed tool, as not many books are written on the subject, but it wasn’t exactly the tool I thought it would be when I picked it up