Why Ministry Recruitment Day?
Once a year, pastors and听youth听leaders from all over Wisconsin gather in the gymnasium to present their ministries to the students.听They bring displays and decorate tables with pamphlets, information, and pictures (and maybe some candy or cookies!) designed to draw not only the students鈥 attention but also their interest in learning more about how they can contribute to the various ministry opportunities available听to them.听
Ministry Recruitment Day is听important; no one would argue against such a statement.听But why is it important?听Several pastors and upperclassmen were asked this question throughout the event itself,听and, as can be expected, many of them echoed each other鈥檚 sentiments. Each response was well-articulated and thought-provoking, and from these were drawn five overarching reasons as to why Ministry Recruitment Day is so important.听
Ministry Recruitment Day Allows Students to Recognize the Vast Number of Ministry Opportunities Available to Them
MBU is truly blessed in its location, being in such close proximity to a few Bible-believing churches. However, students often find it difficult to see beyond these to the other churches in the area.听One pastor commented on how ministry opportunities at the local churches fill up so quickly that many students听think there鈥檚 nothing left for them to do.听However, that鈥檚 just not the case.听
At听an event听such as this,听students are provided with the opportunity to learn about churches that they鈥檇 never hear of otherwise; many upperclassmen testified that they found their extension churches as freshmen through Ministry Recruitment Day. Pastors from as near as Watertown, Wisconsin, to as far away as Joliet, Illinois, traveled to MBU to听recruit听students, and churches like these have many opportunities for students to get involved in ministry.听Every听student has a place to serve, should they choose to pursue it.听
MBU is Built Around Local Church Ministry
One pastor,听upon being asked why Ministry Recruitment Day is important, observed that the entire ministry of听MBU听is geared toward preparing students to serve in local church ministry.听MBU recognizes the biblical authority of the church and does not try to fill that role in the students鈥 lives; rather, the听university听requires听students听to听attend church off-campus each week and encourages听them to become involved in the ministries available听there.听
Another pastor commented that this feature is unique to MBU and that many other Christian colleges either do not require students to attend church or听choose to听institute an on-campus church for the students to attend. While this practice听is听not necessarily wrong, it pulls prospective attendees from local churches and robs the students of the opportunity to minister in diverse settings, which leads directly听to听the听next听reason.听
Students Need听to Practice Serving
More than one pastor indicated the need for students to practice what they are being taught. As previously indicated, the core purpose of MBU is to prepare young people to impact the world for Christ. The way that this is done is through the local church, and students need to get involved听sooner rather than later听in order to听have an influence that will be effective in the long run.听
Teachers can inform students how听church听ministry works, how to run a children鈥檚 ministry, or how to participate in church functions.听However, all of this information is useless if the student does not learn in a hands-on way how to apply what they鈥檝e learned and how to acclimate themselves to functioning as part of the body of Christ, rather than simply attending church to meet a requirement.听Students need the local church, and the local church needs the students.听
Churches Need Help
Not only do students need experience working in church ministry, as full-time ministers and lay workers, but the churches can also use them greatly. Many of the churches represented in the gymnasium are small churches; their regular attendees number around fifty or less. These churches need help听in their ministries, and they need help听that听they can rely on.听
Small churches in the past have found their MBU student听members听indispensable. Students who reach out听have the opportunity not only to get plugged into a church but also to play a huge part in helping the church thrive and reach the community around it. 听
Incorporating ministry-minded young people willing to serve in any capacity听in听their churches is a huge asset to pastors, but the pastors can听be an asset to the students as well.听
Pastors Gain听the Opportunity to Invest in Young People
The students can influence the church, but the church also can influence the students. One pastor听gestured to the students scattered across the gymnasium听and said, 鈥淭his is the next generation.听I have the chance to impact听the next generation.鈥听
When students听become involved in听a church, the pastor has the chance to connect with them personally, mentor them, and provide spiritual guidance from the perspective of one who is听currently听living out what the students are learning about in class.听Coupled with hands-on ministry experience, the local church is an invaluable tool to the Christian student.听
Students and pastors alike have found Ministry Recruitment Day vital in matching ministry workers to the churches that they are uniquely equipped to serve in. Each member of the relationship plays a part, and each member needs the others. As students听minister听and pastors mentor, God blesses their faithfulness to His cause and to each other, and He is the Designer and Purpose of it all.听