By: Mindy Erdmann, Cleveland, OH
The theme of last spring’s Urban Plunges was “What is the Gospel?” We explored this question by studying chapters from Isaiah, reading and discussing magazine articles, watching the movie The Mission, and hearing from pastors and other workers in the city answer this question out of their context of urban ministry. It was a powerful time.
I have decided to keep this theme for upcoming Plunges. I also have been feeling that this could be done in such a way that non-Christian students would be interested in participating, and could hear the message of the Gospel from many different angles over the course of the week.
Recruitment of non-Christians for the Plunges
I do not want non-Christians to participate in these Urban Plunges unless they have a significant relationship with, and are invited by, a Christian student who also participates. I do not want to water down the content of the Plunge, although I do want to be sensitive to those who are not familiar with Christian “lingo” and culture. I will make it very clear at all stages of recruitment, preparation and the week of the Plunge itself that this is a Christian event, students are going to be seeing and hearing things from a Christian point of view. There are other points of view out there, but the purpose of the Urban Plunge is to look at the question “What is the Gospel?” in the context of the city, not to look at the question “What is the City?”
Because of the direct Christian content and perspective, non-Christians might not feel comfortable without a significant friendship with someone on the Plunge whom they can ask questions or to whom they can express confusion or frustration. It is also important that these non-Christians have someone who can follow-up with them after the Plunge.
My plan for recruitment is to ask each staff member for the names of Christian students on their campuses that have significant networks of non-Christian friends. I would then like to meet with these students, explain to them the format and content of the Plunge, and ask them to prayerfully consider participating and inviting their non-Christian friends. I think these visits should take place in late October and early November (leading up to Fall Conference). I would follow up with these students throughout this semester leading up to registration deadline for the Plunge (which will be mid to late February).
The other major recruitment strategy for this is prayer. This is a risky idea, and you do not want to proceed unless you are in constant communication with Jesus at every step, listening and asking Him to lead. As you listen to God, you may discover that this is not the right time to pursue this, or that there is another way to use Urban Projects as an evangelistic opportunity. Please join with me in bringing this before the Lord, and invite your students to do so as well.
