Below are just a few of the MANY ways we have designed “in the framework of your daily life and RU ministry” for you to engage in both individual and corportate fellowship between RU leadership and followship:

• First, we encourage you to arrive as leaders 15 minutes before class. This is a wonderful opportunity to not only greet new students, but to engage in conversation with your current students. Talk about their week and how glad you are to see them. Ask them questions and show that you truly are interested in their lives.
• Secondly, sit with your students! Don’t get caught sitting alone or with the same student each week. If you sit with your spouse, invite students to sit with you! Occassionally, you and your spouse may even sit apart in order that you each may minister and fellowship with your students. Many of your students come on Friday night to spend time with YOU!
• Second talk should always be focused on following the itinerary, but in so doing, make sure you announce church fellowship opportunities. Mention the service times and available Bible studies, outreach programs, prayer meetings, etc. Let your students know that they are welcome to come! Many times we make the mistake of assuming that they already know this, but guess what??? They don’t! A personal invitation will go a long way! Often, students are not even aware of all the activities that occur during the week. Make a special effort to inform them of all opportunities to fellowship with other believers.
• During the third talk, make it your practice to sit with different students. This not only prevents the feelings of jealousy, but also shows them that you consider them as important. It is easy to “get in a rut” and always sit in the same location, next to the same people; but many times, we are neglecting a student who really needs our attention. Go out of your way to get out of the rut!
• Attend Happy Hour (at least for a short time) every single week. This is an extended time for Christian counsel or fellowship that is similar to dessert after the main meal…it is something that you don’t want to miss! This is a special time of sweet fellowship after God has just spoken to their hearts. It doesn’t have to last an Hour, but it does have to be Happy!
• Implement the new ministry of prayer we in Rockford refer to as “Last Call”. Last Call is the Last chance of the night to Call upon the Lord on behalf of your class. In Rockford, after everyone is dismissed, there are several men who attend Happy Hour for a few minutes, talk to a few students, and then meet at the altar to spend some time in prayer for our class.
• Implement the Hang Over ministry at least once per month. (The Hang Over ministry is for those who like to Hang out after class is Over.) Those who want to participate meet at a local restaurant after class for food and fellowship. In Rockford, there are usually between 30-50 people who attend. We meet at a local 24-hour diner. (When we first started this ministry, we contacted them to confirm we could bring a large group each Friday.) As a director, I often offer to buy the meal of first time visitors. This is a great way to “go the extra mile” with your students. In Rockford, we have found this to be a great way to teach our students how to fellowship with other believers.
• Create a strong bond with your students by building loyalty and faithfullness to your RU Sunday School class. When they come to the “2^nd RU class” on Sunday morning, it is very beneficial to see familiar faces!
• Take people to lunch on Sunday. I’ve had more people join our church over my willingess to eat a sandwich with them on Sunday afternoon than anything else I’ve ever done! On Friday night, invite them to the “2^nd RU class” which meets on Sunday morning. Then, invite them to stay for the church service, after which you will take them to lunch…your treat! But the real “treat” is building the bridge for this student to help them as they transition into this new life they are living.
• Sit with students at every service. More than one student has confirmed to me their feelings of inadequacies when they enter a church service. Make them feel welcome. Meet them at the door. Invite them to sit with you.
• Offer to counsel your students before and after services. This is a wonderful opportunity that far too many leaders do not access! Do you have students who ask to meet you during the week? They want more of your time? Ask them to meet you at church and spend time with them 15-30 minutes before or 15-30 minutes after a service. This meets their need, but doesn’t take any of your family time. AND…they get the bonus of hearing from your pastor!
• Take pictures of you and your students and post it on facebook (with their permission). Make them your friends on your social network systems. Make sure you have thier blessing, as this is still a confidential ministry, especially in their early days at RU. There are some instances where students will not want others to know of their location, etc. Be considerate of their feelings. Give them time to grow in the Lord as He mends their broken relationships.
• Schedule your “Battle Is On” for one Saturday a month. This is a time of outreach in which your chapter can engage. We suggest that you mandate your leaders, motivate your students, and invite your church members to participate. (Your leaders are only required to administer the 2-3-4 plan and give 30 hours a year to their local church.) On these twelve Saturdays a year, have three hours of outreach opportunity and meet back at the church for burgers. And…each participant who gives 30 our of 36 hours a year recieves the 30-36 plaque award! This will greatly excite your Friday night group as they endeavor to reach others.
• And finally, this is important and relatively new. I am encouraging our challenge leaders in Rockford to attempt to have a quarterly “activity” with each of their groups. Whether it be a Bible study in your home, where the leader or guest speaks, or a night of bowling or watching a ballgame. Make it light, fun, and memorable.

All of these forms of fellowship can be found within your average week in RU. You can turn students into church members without spending additional nights out of your home! The key is to build strong relationships as you fellowship with your students during all normal church activities.

If the leadership doesn’t entertain their followship with some sort of fellowship, what makes us think our relationships will be strong enough to maintain their discipleship? Worship alone, will never produce a lasting partnership; give your time in good stewardship to those whom God has given for your apprenticeship.

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Jeremiah 29:14, “And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

About halfway through my program at the Women’s School of Discipleship, my daughter would hardly speak to me. If she did, it was to be obedient; but not because she wanted to. It was exactly what I deserved. Though she is my step-daughter, I had begged God for her and a great relationship with her, to the point of there being no difference that she was really not my child. I had become so ungrateful for what God had given me. I had thrown away what God gave me.

To say I came here willingly or that I wanted to stay in the Women’s Home would be a BIG lie. So when I read this verse the words driven and captive really grabbed me. I took this verse to God and asked for her back. After this I got to spend the entire summer with my daughter, and God knit our hearts together once again.

So…last Saturday, I went with Erika to take her daughter, Tabi, to Midway airport. On the way there I told her how earlier that week I had to make a decision about something before we left for work, and I wasn’t really sure if I had made the right one. In times like these, I always ask God to give me a sign to show me it will be fine. I prefer to see a cardinal. So, on the way to work that day on the shuttle a cardinal flew right up to my window and away! Praise God, it was what I needed.

In the van, I couldn’t help but look at Erika and remember when just a year ago we were praying and asking for our daughters back. We talked about that and praised God for what He has done for us. Our summer with our daughters has been an answer to our prayers.

But, that is not all!  When we got to Midway airport, right in front of the entrance to the concourse is a huge pointillism sculpture hanging from the ceiling. It is a sculpture of a cardinal!! It was amazing. And right in the middle of it is a tiny white bird.

I’m so thankful God to spend the entire summer with my daughter, and she is now in bible college! I’m thankful to God for the opportunity for giving me a place to be driven to and be captive in order to get a relationship with God!! I don’t want to ever take advantage of what God has given me ever again. Thank you God a thousand times over!!

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