Tips From A Colleague

A colleague of mine with Christian Leadership Ministries (CLM) recently sent me these two tips from one of the professors he is working with. Do you have a ministry idea that others could benefit from? If you do, please send it to me.

#1: Here's a hot ministry tip that I've not seen CLM mention: giving substitute or guest lectures in other people's classes.

Probably the most important thing I do in class each semester is let the class know on the first day of class that I'm a Christian. That way hundreds of students know that there is at least one Christian professor. When my colleagues are sick or out of town on business I love to substitute for them. The first thing I do when substitute lecturing is to introduce myself briefly. That way hundreds more students get to know that there is at least one Christian professor on campus.

#2: Here's my next tip for CLM:

Professors who find anti-Christian comments in their textbooks should tell the book rep. or write to the publisher that they are not adopting the textbook for use in class because of the anti-Christian passage. Don't be confrontational just be factual. I've done this twice now. The reactions I have gotten from publishers have been very positive. The first time I did it they put me in touch with the author and the author followed essentially ALL of my recommended changes (I've now adopted his book). The second time I did it the publisher asked me if I'd like to be a coauthor on the book to help produce the revised edition!

This is the gentle way to remove some of the anti-Christian rhetoric in academic books. Often the authors are unaware that what they are writing is incorrect. A good thing about doing this is that since text books tend to copy each other, if you get a few authors to change their ways, more will follow suit.

Scripture: Romans 10:15b - "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things."

Action Point: What suggestions would you give to other colleagues to improve their effectiveness?

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