Disclaimer: I am 90% sure this is the shortest TED Talk, but if you find one shorter, send it my way!

This short article will make the most sense for our students connected in at DC Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at American University, but I hope anyone taking the time to read it finds that it is useful in some way.

How To Start A Movement

This is worth the five-minute watch, I promise!

In a sense, the big idea is that to make a difference (to start a movement), it makes a lot of sense to join in what others are already doing!

We tend to overvalue (in our country, in our city, and on our campus) people that start things over people that join things that have real history and a chance at a long legacy.

As returning students at American University discern and decide how to navigate all of the recent announcements we’ve made about staffing and programming shifts — can I offer a word of pastoral and personal encouragement?

And before I do, I want to name this reality: You aren’t obliged to listen or heed my advice.

But I do want to share something with your best interest at heart. And if you’re still reading, I think you’re inviting me in to at least share some thoughts for you to prayerfully consider.

A Few Thoughts

Make time, create space, and pursue the relationships with other students that are also returning that you’ve found within our community and that have been life-giving for you.
Don’t try to re-create programs or organizational rhythms, but instead, have meals and coffee with people (one-on-one and in groups). I promise, this will create more meaning for you in the short-term and long-term.
Yes, we are asking you to let go of things but don’t let go of people.
Don’t assume you need the things to stay connected to the people. It’s a hard lesson I’ve painfully messed up with in previous transitions.
Jump in to another campus ministry, knowing that it’ll be different than Chi Alpha but in some ways, might be better! Don’t look for perfection, it didn’t exist in our community and won’t exist in your next one.
My friend Andrew leads CRU, my friend Paul oversees CO. My other friends, Olivia and Father Joseph, do a great job leading AU Catholic and Alpha Course. A newer friend of mine, Dr. Rev. Livingstone, works at National United Methodist (right across the street) and loves connecting with her students at AU (and meeting new ones!). Text or DM me, and I’ll get you connected to any of these folks!
Go deeper with your local church!
Don’t have a local church? Ask someone from our community or try out one of these two nearby: Restoration Church or Antioch Church at Embassy Church.

Okay, that was much longer than I planned. But I hope it gave you some things to process. Feel free to reach out and I’d love to chat more over coffee! And remember, I will be here in the Fall for one-on-one’s with existing Chi Alpha students on Fridays and then for a lunch for that same group of students.

I promise this won’t be easy, but I do think we might be able to learn something from the pain of it all.