I’m Joseph, and I’m serving full time with a university campus ministry named Student Life. Student Life is part of Campus Crusade for Christ International, which is a world-wide organisation dedicated to seeing people won for Christ. I’m currently serving at The University of Auckland in New Zealand.

Student Life’s Mission

To change the world by turning lost students into Christ-centered labourers through our movements on campus.

Our mission can be broken up into four parts:

1. Win students to Christ, through evangelism.
2. Build students up in their faith through discipleship.
3. Train students to share their faith, and disciple others.
4. Send those students out win others!

These things are based on Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19-20):

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Why Students?

Although students only make up 1% of the world’s population, they will go on to control 80% of the world’s wealth and influence.

More and more of the students coming to our universities are international students. They will take back to their home countries the things that influence them the most while they are in New Zealand. At Waikato, about 30% of students are from overseas.

Put simply, Today’s Students are the future leaders of our society!

Win - the Details

We actively share the Gospel:

One of our major campaigns in the year is called Tune In. We have short survey cards for people to fill out during orientation week, and each card gives people an opportunity to get a free magazine, which deals with relevant issues, such as studying effectively.

The magazine also tells how to have a personal relationship with God. We talk through the magazine with students, as opposed to just handing it off.

In the first term in 2007, over 2200 people filled out a card at Waikato. Over 1900 of those were able to be followed up, that’s over 1900 conversations talking about God with students!. Following up these cards led to 7 people recieving Christ in 1 week!

Our weekly meeting:

We have a weekly meeting on campus, which provides a non-threatening environment to bring non-Christians to. We have guest speakers, interviews, and skits, which have to do with relevant topics, such as ‘How to be well connected in your relationships’. The gospel is presented in a relaxed, natural way in each meeting.

Build and Train - the Details

There are 3 main ways in which we build up and train students:

1. Action Groups (similar to home/cell groups) teach the basics to the advanced of Christian faith and life, build community and give support.
2. Discipleship is one on one time to help build the student further.
3. Evangelism Training teaches the student how to relate to non-Christians, how to share the gospel etc.

Send - the Details

Staff and students share the gospel with others on campus regularly. This teaches them how to share so that not only can they talk with their peers, but also their friends and family!

We have both short term missions in NZ (previous trips have included Piha and Tahuna beaches), as well as overseas missions sending students to share and work with staff in places such as Thailand.

The Result

In 2006, we recorded 14,021 gospel conversations with people on our local campuses. (This means that the conversation included discussing with the person how and why they could personally receive Jesus Christ as their saviour).

Over 200 people made a recorded decision to pray to receive Christ in 2006.

You Can Help Reach Students With Us!

I am looking for people to partner with me in sharing the gospel with students. The first and most important way you can help me is through prayer.

The second way is with your financial support. All Student Life/CCC staff members must raise their own financial support, which covers salary and ministry costs.

All money donated goes to the staff member it is specified for, rather than into a general pool. All money goes through the CCC NZ office, which means it’s all accounted for, and is tax-deductible.

If you choose to support me, you can receive regular updates from me about what’s happening in Student Life, prayer requests, etc.

Would you prayerfully consider supporting me? If this ministry sounds like something that you can identify with or believe in, then please contact me so that we can talk further.

Do You Want to Give Now?

You have three options at this point:

For those of you in the United States, you can donate to my ministry online via credit card. This is tax deductible for US residents.

You can contact me and we can discuss this further (for one-off or regular donations).

You can contact the Tandem Ministries office in New Zealand.