The elementum Blog

This is part 3 of a 3-part series that gives you a high-level overview of the essential milestones and steps you need to take when starting a disciple-making college ministry that’s based in a local church. You can read part 1 and part 2 here and here.

The third and final milestone in the proce...

This is part 2 of a 3-part series that will give you a high-level overview of the essential milestones and steps you need to take when starting a disciple-making college ministry based in a local church. You can read part 1, which outlines the two steps for the first milestone here.

In this pos...

Want to start a college ministry that helps your church reach the students in your city? Pro tip: don’t start by launching a college-focused church service. Don’t start by creating a college Sunday school.

Launching a ministry by launching an event is like attempting to build a house by buildin...

A few weeks ago I finished reading the book Reclaiming Conversation: the power of talk in the digital age. I’d recommend it to anyone who has a leadership role in our digitally saturated world. Turkle’s primary point throughout the book is a familiar one – that technology is systematically disconnec...

Leadership is a calling that stretches and challenges you in ways that few roles can. If you’ve been leading for any amount of time, you’ve probably encountered resistance—the invisible force that seems to block your progress right when you’re stepping into something bigger. I know the feeling well,...

In our work helping churches start college and young adult ministries over the last decade, we’ve seen dozens of ministries that thrive while a specific point leader is present, only to collapse when that person moves on (usually the move is for great, God-led reasons). 

While there are times fo...

We’re nearing the time of year when many college and young adult ministries are preparing for fall retreats.  If you've been putting off planning a retreat because it seems like too much work or because you're not sure where to start, now's a great time to start.

 In the average semester the young...

For ministry leaders, understanding the life cycle of your ministry is crucial for effective growth and sustainability. This blog post explores a proven framework designed to evaluate and identify where your ministry stands in its life cycle. This tool can guide you in focusing on the right areas an...

If you’re a ministry leader who wants to help your people live out Jesus’ call to make disciples, then one of the best things you can do is ask powerful questions. 

Jesus questioned more than he taught

Jesus asked far more questions than he answered. Not only that, Jesus asks others far more qu...

A crucial reminder for those leading ministry and making disciples, whether as your full-time vocation or simply as a part of the calling of every Christian: Jesus is more important than your ministry.

Jesus is more important than the sermon you’re preparing to preach to 500 people this coming Sund...

Over the last decade of doing college and young adult ministry and helping churches think through how to effectively engage 18-30 year olds, my anecdotal experience has been identical to what national surveys confirm; the engagement of young adults with the life of the church continues to decrease a...

The following article is an excerpt from one of elementum’s modules in the process we coach our partner ministry leaders through as they prepare to launch a college or young adult ministry. 

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11 years ago this August myself and a few other college studen...