School is back! Even here in the Republic of Texas school is officially rolling (we held on to summer as long as we could).  What now? You spent your summer, or part of your summer, or part of a past summer making Him famous overseas. So how do you continue that on mission lifestyle back home?

This week will feature a short series of blog posts to instruct, encourage, and equip you to do just that. You are on mission. There is an ancient work of God on your campus ready for you to join. Live to make Him famous.

The Core Values

At Base Camp you learned the iGo Core Values: Bottom Line, Ancient Work, Joy of the Sower, and Hope of the World. As we taught them, we added that embracing these core values will not just make your overseas experience more effective. They will also help you begin to live on mission. So let me remind you of the core values today and point you in the direction of applying them at home and on your campus.

The Bottom Line

The foundational core value we call the bottom line is that God’s glory is ultimate. Everything that God does, and subsequently everything that we experience is ultimately designed to bring God glory. This is God’s first and foremost goal: to be glorified in all the earth. The bottom line reminds us that this is not about us. And this stands for anything and everything. Replace this with whatever you want. Your mission trip? Not about you. Your present situation? Not about you. Your struggles and afflictions? Not about you. Your class schedule? Not. About. You. So embrace the bottom line on your campus. Listen for God’s voice and walk in obedience. Trust Him to use you in whatever way He wants to bring Himself glory. Sit at a different lunch table. Take some risks. Invite someone to church. Take a stand for something no matter what it costs. For His glory and for His fame.

Ancient Work

You joined God’s ancient work overseas, and as your perspective has changed you can now see that God also has an ancient work here in your hometown, at your school, and right there on your cul-de-sac. The truth behind the ancient work is that we don’t start anything, we don’t finish anything, but God allows us to join His ancient work. Where has God been working on your campus? How can you join in that work? And as you embrace this truth, you begin to be able to trust Him with this work. Making Him famous in your school? Not up to you. God is going to do that, but He sure would like to use you in the process. Join Him.

Joy of the Sower

So on day one this week we challenged you to pray. On day two we asked you to change your perspective, and on day three we encouraged you to serve. As you pray, God uses your prayers to plow the soil. As you serve you continue this process, maybe even planting some seeds. And as God begins to open up doors for you to share truth of the gospel, you are sowing seeds of the gospel into the lives of your friends classmates. So rejoice! Get together with your LTG and celebrate a little. God doesn’t need any of us to accomplish His work, but he just used you to plant a seed of the gospel into the life of another student. Allow the joy in that to really sink in. This work He is allowing you to do will not be easy. You may not see any results. But you can rejoice knowing that God helped you be faithful with His work.

Hope of the World

This core value is the truth that the local church is the hope of the world. Of course, we know Jesus is the true hope of the world, but His plan (His only plan by the way) is to make His hope known through His church. What that means for you as a campus missionary is that you represent His church (your church) on that campus. It also means that if you are disconnected from His church (your church), then you are no longer connected to His mission. He uses churches to reach the world, even your high school. Especially your university.

We here at iGo love groups like FCA, campus Bible clubs, BSM, Fighting Porcupines for Christ , or whatever other way you connect the gospel with students on your campus. But please, please remember that those things aren’t the church. Those things can be so helpful and so much good can be done there, but the best campus ministries are simply extensions of the church, not replacements for it. So as you sow seeds, make sure you are inviting your friends to join you at church. And make sure you are well connected to your church as well. This is how you bring hope to your campus.

We are praying for all you iGosians out there making Him famous on your campus. Embrace the core values and let us know how it’s going.