New Exec Leaders Training Weekend #2
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
On July 9-11, the new student executive leaders team met for their second weekend of summer training. We went camping at the Albion Hills Conservation Area and spent the weekend expanding on some of the visioning of the last training weekend and committing to some details for the coming year. This weekend was also co-lead with outgoing leaders Reuben and Ainsley. Reuben and Ainsley handled all of the arrangements and food preparation for the weekend and I facilitated the planning sessions.
There wasn’t that much time between this weekend and the previous training weekend (only two weeks), but it was amazing what happened during those two weeks. All the hostility towards the vision for campus ministry had completely dissolved and the students were actually excited about its implementation!
Within a few hours; the students had brainstormed ideas of what to study for the upcoming semester (1 and 2 Peter), how they wanted to structure large group meetings, how they wanted to transition into small groups, and loads of creative ideas for outreach amongst the larger student body! The one item, I really wanted the students to be excited about and have new vision around was how they set-up Campus Groups Day and how they would choose to be present during Orientation Week. These are two important events that occur at the beginning of the year, and how the students leaders approach these events is often reflected in the number of new members who join the group. Campus Groups day, is an 5 hour event that happens in the first week of school, where all of Gould Street is closed to traffic, and all the campus groups have a table to represent their group. Often these tables have sign-up sheets and general information and pamphlets about the group, as well as something to draw people in like games, prizes, etc. The student leaders were inspired to do something different with these events, choosing to not merely be present, but BOLDLY represent the group and themselves by using the skills and talents amongst them. Vanessa, a fashion student offered to make T-Shirts for the all the student volunteers that would be eye-catching and serve as a parable. Moses, a new media student offered to make posters and flyers for the event and communicate who we are by giving us a new website. The excitement that Vanessa and Moses had was contagious and inspired the other student leaders to brainstorm ideas of how they could use their skills and talents to outreach to students during the first weeks of school!
After our first planning session, we had some time to explore the Conservation Area, it was unfortunate that many of our afternoon activities, mainly swimming, were not possible in the Conservation Area and some of the surrounding parks, but we were able to spend some time bonding and laughing in our car adventures! Dinner proved to be an ambitious meal, and had its own set of complications, but in the end everything worked out and was delicious!
After dinner, Reuben led us in a session about forms and general information in regards to interactions with the Ryerson Student Union. It was very informative, and he brought examples of past forms. I was deeply touched by his investment in the new leaders and his desire to set them up well for the upcoming year.
Following this time, there was a brief discussion about the dividing up the defined roles. Everyone was excited and ready to jump in, and the roles the students chose, seemed to fit with their skills and passions. Brian, who enjoys structure and organization offered to set up the bookings of rooms for meeting and the arrangements for booking A/V equipment, as well as taking care of the financial forms required for reimbursement from the Ryerson Student Union. Moses, who enjoys art and design was excited about doing the website and promotional material for the group, as well as helping with snacks for our meetings. Jenna, who is gifted with superb interpersonal skills offered to be in charge of communications and be responsible for sending weekly emails and updating our facebook group, as well as putting together a community contact list so members of our community can be in contact with each other. Vanessa, this year’s president, will be in charge of overseeing the above roles as well as other tasks associated with the mentoring and discipling of members of the leadership team and larger community.
Following this session, we made a variety of desserts around the fire: ‘smores, banana boats, and an experimental cake baked in a orange. Everything was delicious!
The next day, after breakfast, we cleaned up the campsite. We had our last session, on the beach. We did a lectio divina, on Matthew 11:28-30. This passage really spoke to the reality of the group, as many were weary from carrying heavy burdens on their own. We spent some time in reflection and prayer. It was beautiful and peaceful doing this exercise on the beach, though at times it was a little too peaceful, as the students kept falling asleep! After we wrapped up this session, we had lunch and concluded the weekend.
This weekend was full of new experiences for me as it was my first time camping in a tent. It also was a redemptive experience having the students run with the vision and be excited about its implementation. It also felt like already this team of students were beginning to work together well, each had something valued to offer and was excited to do so. I also felt like a part of that team, there is so much that I have received in training and wisdom during my absence from students this past year that I am excited to share! I see opportunities to train these students in how to be invitational, how to call each other deeply, how to lead fully as themselves and appreciate the gifts they are and bring to the Kingdom.
I feel like I’ve used this word a lot in this post, but I am truly excited to see what God will do with this team in the coming year. And I pray that I will be part of His plan.
New Exec Leaders Training Weekend #1
And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:3-7, NIV
On June 25-27, I had the pleasure of joining the new student executive leaders of the Ryerson IV community on their first training weekend. The weekend was co-planned by myself and the outgoing co-presidents of the fellowship; Reuben and Ainsley; and took place at Reuben’s family farm.
The weekend was packed as we spent time getting to know each other, debriefing last year and visioning for the upcoming school year.
Each year I say this, yet each year I am amazed at how quickly it happens; this team of leaders began to bond! As a result of the minor earthquake that occurred (centralized in Ottawa), there were some delays in Vanessa’s arrival to Reuben’s house. I was surprised and touched as all the students chose to wait up until 1 am and pile into a van to go collect Vanessa from the train station. It was an unexpected team building activity!
The next morning after breakfast, we studied Exodus 35, the building of the Tabernacle, which I had just studied at a staff conference a few weeks prior. The students really delved into the text and made insightful discoveries. I left them with application questions of what are the skills and talents that you are freely offering to God this year; and how can we invite other to freely offer their skills and talents in the community?
In the afternoon we spent some time debriefing the past year, and then spent some time enjoying Reuben’s farm.
After dinner, we watched the movie, Ocean’s Eleven and spent some time in discussion afterward. Coming out of the movie was the big idea of striving toward a seemingly impossible goal and what were the costs and benefits associated. It was at this point that I led the students in an exercise where they dreamed of seemingly impossible ideas for what ministry could look like in the coming year. Some of their ideas were entirely possible if they approached it with willing hearts and a bit of training. Some of their ideas about sharing the gospel with their friends and striving towards a multi-ethnic community warmed my heart and made me excited to see what they would do in the coming year! After this discussion, I cast the vision I had received for campus ministry.
The initial response to the vision was a lot of questions and a bit of hostility. The students were not sure about some of the big changes carrying out this vision would entail. We ended the evening with a decision to “sleep on it” and return to discuss the next day.
The following morning we all attended Reuben’s church. I always love attending the churches my students either regularly attend or attended, as I enjoy being in places of their spiritual history. Following the service, we went back to Reuben’s place and had lunch and resumed discussion about the vision for the upcoming year. The students had a few more questions, but overall felt like they wanted to move forward and see how we could begin implementation of the vision. We ended the weekend together by praying for each other as we returned to our busy summer schedules.
Afterward, everyone was heading back to Toronto, and I invited them to help me paint my new room. I expected only a few to say yes, and was surprised when everyone agreed! We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening painting the walls of my room and eating pizza! It was an unexpected and fun way to end the weekend, and whenever I look at my walls I think of the great day we had painting!
Ryerson’s year-end banquet
Group shot of Ryerson's year end banquet
After spending a year off-campus, I was given special permission to attend Ryerson’s year-end banquet in April. I was excited to see the students and hear stories of the past year. In addition to this being the final meeting for the year, it was the final meeting for a few students who were graduating; all of whom I’d had the pleasure of knowing and working with all four years they had been students. The banquet consisted of a potluck-style meal, a time for sharing stories of the year, a send-off for the graduating students and a few fun interactive games.
Though I was a little nervous seeing the students again after being away for some time, I was happy to be there. When the time came for sharing stories of the past year, everyone in the room said something, and I was astounded; everything they were saying about ways God had ministered to their hearts and to this community were the exact same ways God had been ministering to my heart and to my regional staff team community! This is the second time a realization like this has happened this year. The first time it happened was at Urbana. For even though I wasn’t working with Ryerson students, I did spend my free time with them, and found that despite my absence there were still many things that connected us and drew us together. It served as confirmation, that when the day came for my return to campus that the transition will be relatively seamless, that just living in the fullness of who I am in Christ will provide connections with students.
I was especially struck by the ways students were stepping into risk in the coming year. Each member of the new leadership team: Jenna, Moe, Brian, and Vanessa; are all responding faithfully to the call to leadership, despite some great costs. Jenna will be serving in leadership in her second year of her degree, and is one of the youngest and newest members of the community; she is also serving on a team of students who will all be graduating in the coming year. Moe will be serving in leadership for the first time with this community and he will have time constraints as he serves in leadership and finishes his fourth year of his New Media degree. Brian is the only returning leader from this past year and will be facing time constraints as he serves this community and finishes the fourth year of his Business degree. Vanessa will be serving as President even though this will be her first year in an official leadership position in this community; she is also entering into the fourth year of her fashion degree. What further amazed me is that each of these students accepted these roles without any confirmation about whether or not they would have a Campus Minister with them next year, stepping out in faith that they will be met by God as they follow His call! Please keep them in your prayers for the coming year.
As part of the send-off for graduating students, I was asked to present an award. This award had been in the Ryerson community since before my time, it is called the Richard Baker Award. Richard Baker, now a Ryerson alumnus, was president of the fellowship many years ago, and served as a model for younger students of what it means to be committed to being part of and serving the IVCF community, especially in one’s senior years. The award is presented to students who have been part of the community and have served in various capacities throughout their years at Ryerson. I was proud to present this award to all 5 graduating students: Ainsley, Reuben, Kelly, Iven, and Joel. Each has used their gifts and talents to serve this community in so many ways and have blessed my life and the lives of those in the community.
After the graduate send-off, we played a few interactive games and ended the evening. Though the banquet lasted almost 4 hours, the time flew by! I was full of life afterward and further excited for the day I return to campus!
2010 Grads: Kelly, Reuben, Ainsley, Iven. Missing from photo: Joel
The Arch 