In 1983, the ministry, then named Campus Outreach of Alabama, adopted the mission statement “Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World.” Almost fifty years later, the mission remains the same. As God builds up laborers through the Campus Outreach movement, many launch to multiply in the secular world. Fewer choose to labor in vocational ministry, and some apply to work with Campus Outreach. There is no sense of “arrival,” just the understanding that these laborers are embarking on their next development phase. College graduates hired by Campus Outreach Birmingham as campus staff face a year-long onboarding process.
This onboarding begins with two-and-a-half days of revisiting the basics of ministry. Twenty-one new hires attended LAUNCH Training this July. They listened as staff walked them through “the why” behind our focus on the college campus. To do this, they broke down the mission statement to help attendees understand their commitment. They discussed the “average” staff member’s personal life: character needs and potential pitfalls. Personal ministry strategy was considered, and attendees were given practical advice about fitting these priorities into a weekly schedule.
This cohort will gather throughout the year to discuss practical aspects of multiplication using “The Four Es“: Evangelism, Establishing, Equipping, and Exporting. The cohort schedules these discussions to coincide with the ministry flow on campus. This allows them to spend time together focused on ministry principles while discussing practical applications to their personal ministries.
Kaden Smith and Summer Booth attended LAUNCH training, each in preparation to return as staff to their alma mater.
Kaden shared about a new tool he received called “The Funnel.” He said, “This tool demonstrates how ministry starts broadly and narrows to specific students becoming laborers over time. The visual helped me realize that ministry takes patience and time. I should remain faithful even when I may not see immediate fruit.”
During group discussion, Summer felt encouraged as several women shared about challenges she might face during her first year. “We discussed battling comparison, working well on a team, prioritizing rest, and cultivating community outside of Campus Outreach. Current staff women wrote us letters about different staff seasons and pointed us to Christ in all of it!”
Campus Outreach’s commitment to staff development and health does not end with onboarding. Staff are offered various opportunities for renewal and connection. Campus Outreach Birmingham sets aside “Vision Days” during the break between summer projects and the fall semester. All 89 staff members and their families arrive in Birmingham as LAUNCH Training concludes. Leadership fills these days with reports from summer projects, opportunities for fun, and family-style meals. This provides inspiration, motivation, and connection for all staff involved. Summer valued the extensive time to bond and said, “We had assigned seating at dinner! This helped everyone branch out and grow more connections!”
Kaden also enjoyed dinner as a “staff family,” saying it was his favorite part of the week. “I connected, laughed, and heard testimonies. I enjoyed the time with so many believers committed to the same work: “To glorify God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world.”
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