InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ministry Commitments and Five-Year Vision

Updated January 2007

 

This document was developed by and for GradIV leaders as a guide.  It is reviewed annually by each Executive team and changed appropriately to increase its effectiveness.

 

Spiritual Formation

Goal: We cultivate intimacy with God and growth in Christ-like character through personal and corporate disciplines, including the rigorous study of Scripture and regular prayer that expresses our faith, love, and dependence on God.

Means:

  • Small groups (SG) that emphasize Bible study, prayer, personal devotions, and community during and after the meeting. 
  • Support the formation of single-sex accountability groups that foster the intimacy and opportunities for growth that small groups cannot address.
  • Large Group (LG) includes corporate worship, teaching, and prayer.

Metric:

  • 100% of members in a SG by their 2nd year (not limited to an IVGCF group)
  • At least every leader in the fellowship is invited into an accountability group.
  • Qualitative culture of personal devotions and growth

 

Community (and Outreach)

Goal: We gather as communities of graduate students and faculty to learn and worship, to challenge and care for each other, and to serve as a welcoming place for believers and seekers alike.

Means:

  • Foster “dense social networks” through SG, LG, leadership teams, accountability groups, and integration groups.
  • Provide opportunities for developing/strengthening interpersonal relationships through regular informal social gatherings and service to the community at large.
  • Create an inviting atmosphere for new attendees at LG, SG, and other community events.
  • Provide opportunities for others to join our community.  
  • Welcome graduate students with families by providing childcare at large group events

Metric:

  • 15 SGs – a growth from 10 in 2007, recognizing that SGs are the primary way of fostering community.  
  • LG is regularly attended by 100 people  (2/3 of total fellowship), where 60 people (1/2) are involved in 2007.  LG attendance is representative of the variety of disciplines studied at the university and year in graduate school.
  • Biweekly community-building activities (non-SG, non-LG) to encourage fellowship outside of more formal events.
  • Ongoing fellowship-wide service opportunities
  • Intentional greeting of all attendees at LG, making active attempts to incorporate them into the community through conversation and introducing them to other community members.
  • The leaders can say qualitatively that we are cultivating community networks with thought and energy.
  • Every new student is followed up with by a current member; renewed effort is made to meet students after their 2nd or 3rd semester. 
  • 100% of incoming Christian grad students know about IVGCF within their 1st semester
  • Active nursery at large group events

 

Integration of Faith, learning, and practice

Goal: We engage in learning and biblical reflection in every area of life and seek a unity of knowledge and practice.  We form leaders in every field who honor God's gifts and calling. We believe that the integrity of these pursuits will be a witness of his Kingdom to the academic and professional worlds.

Means:

  • LG are a forum to encourage and equip for integration.
  • Leaders model integration in all areas of personal and public life, such as the academy, industry, and relationships.
  • Encourage and support the participation or initiation of discipline-based organized discussion groups.
  • We seek opportunities to publicly engage the world as individuals and as a community.
  • We promote informal faculty-student mentoring

 

  • Metric:
  • Departing members cultivate integration wherever they go.
  • 50% of the members practice integration in a public forum.
  • Integration groups that appeal to people across varying interests and disciplines.
  • Maintain list of Christian faculty willing to mentor students; faculty and students paired on as-needed basis.

 

Evangelism

Goal: We demonstrate and proclaim the gospel within the university and professions with love and boldness, calling all to repentance, faith, and new life in Jesus Christ.

Means:

  • We pray together for non-Christians
  • We work together to lead non-Christians to Christ
  • We provide training in evangelism
  • We share our experiences in evangelism

Metric:

  • 100% SGs committed to regular prayer for non-Christian friends
  • IVGCF exec team committed to praying for evangelism in the fellowship
  • 50% of represented departments with department-centered prayer groups
  • 10% new converts during 5 year period with follow-up to secure discipleship
  • One LG per semester is specifically oriented toward non-Christian friends
  • Regular interaction with non-Christians via departmental networks
  • Provision of appropriate relational and/or program-oriented evangelism training and opportunities

 

Service

Goal: We serve within our own and in other communities to extend God’s Kingdom on campus and around the world.

Means:

  • We encourage members to be servants as individuals within their departments.
  • We provide opportunities for members to serve outside their departments.

Metric:

  • Qualitative cultivation of a heart and lifestyle of servitude
  • 50% of members are involved in regular service opportunities
  • 100% of SGs serve together at least once per semester (where 30% participated in 2007).
  • Keep and maintain list of service opportunities on chapter website

 

Diversity

Goal: We desire to be at least as diverse as the campus (ethnic, discipline, marital status) and, furthermore, to be leaders in reconciliation.  We pursue ethnic reconciliation by practicing grace and truth and by promoting personal and systemic justice. 

Means:

  • A concerted effort to promote diversity is reflected in our leadership teams
  • LG topics and worship style reflect the diverse background of our members and our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and ethics.  This may involve partnerships with other ministries to capitalize on their strengths with respect to diversity and reconciliation.
  • Leaders of IVGCF and UW-International Student Ministry partner together to appropriately address the needs of International students, lead students to the best place, and provide a welcoming place.

Metric:

  • Leadership and membership is diverse –
    • Departmental: hard sciences v social sciences v humanities
    • Degree: MS v PhD
    • Ethnic diversity
    • Family diversity
  • Awareness of the actual diversity goals and demographics of UW, and measure progress toward reflecting the make-up of the campus at large.
  • Diversity represented at the staff level, specifically a female ethnic minority.
  • The fellowship engages in intentional conversations about racial/social justice and reconciliation.

 

Leadership
Goal:  To recognize, practice, and mature the varied leadership gifts of individuals in our chapter so to serve the chapter, and prepare individuals for works of service after leaving graduate school. All levels of leadership will have a common ministry vision that is shared with the whole community.
Means:

  • Leaders growing leaders.  Current leaders, particularly in SGs, identify the leadership skills of their peers and support emerging leaders to practice their leadership gifts.
  • Equip emerging leaders in biblical leadership through regular training by current leaders.
  • Emphasize involvement in accountability groups for mutual support of each leader on an individual level.
  • Continuity and timely leadership transitions

Metric:

·         Throughout the fellowship, we have one leader per every five followers.

·         Training includes twice-yearly SG leaders training, Leadership Development group, and an all-leaders meeting the summer prior to the school year.

·         Development of leaders is sufficient to meet replacement needs and expand. 

·         All leaders feel they are part of a team and not over burdened. Leaders leave leadership having served well while not being worn out and used up.

·         Leaders on Exec and teams can verbalize how their role contributes to the larger vision of IVGCF.

·         The selection of the Exec team begins in January of each year.  Exec teams are in place by June.  All involved leaders participate in training and vision-sharing.

·         Exec members reorient members of the fellowship to 5-year vision at the beginning of each school year

·         Exec team members regularly attend large group and fellowship-wide events

·         Members of the teams know the chapter's vision and understand how their responsibilities play a role in achieving our ministry goals.

·         A two-month overlap of leaders provides continuity of chapter leadership and an organized handoff of vision and duties.

 

Church

Goal:   We encourage students and faculty to be active members in their local congregations.  Every leader is a contributing member of a local church community.

Means:

  • Regular church attendance and emphasis on involvement.
  • Members are helped by others in finding a church.
  • Encourage churches to support us and connect to us.

Metric:

  • Every leader in IVGCF is meaningfully invested in one (and only one) area in the church.
  • An updated church list is maintained on the web.
  • SG leaders assist members in being part of a local church.
  • Church leaders are invited to fall welcome picnic each year