Ministry Report
Campus Ministry Student Center

May 22, 2004
Mike Von Gunten, Deacon

Origin of the Ministry

As the campus ministry deacon my role is to support Russ in his work. Russ plans and manages the campus ministry program, and I help as needed. Russ and I have long thought that having a place on campus for students to meet would be a great asset to his work and that has become the focus of what I am doing to help him. We have formed a committee and I am chairman.

Mission and Commitment of the Ministry

We are exploring the possibility of obtaining a place near campus for Campus Ministry use. We believe this to be a tremendous opportunity to make new Christian at the most favorable time of their lives. We also believe that this is a tremendous undertaking that will require the support and commitment and hard work of the entire congregation.

Background

July 16, 2003 Initial meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing a student center for Rams for Christ. In attendance were Russ Whitten, Mike Von Gunten, Chappy Wells, Gary Richards, and Seth Tourney. I was chosen to be chairman.

Aug 12, 2003 Meeting to hear from members with experience with a Christian student center. Six Meadowlark members discussed their experiences which were overwhelmingly favorable.

Aug 19, 2003 The committee tells the Meadowlark elders of our desire to investigate the possibility of starting a student center here at CSU. They ask us to go ahead with the research.

Aug 24, 2003 The idea is presented to the congregation and receives favorable response.

Sept. 2003 Committee meets to plan how to research existing student centers. A questionnaire is developed and 8 universities to contact are picked.

Nov. 11, 2003 Committee meets to discuss findings. New regular committee members are Sharon Von Gunten, Ben Hill, and Tracy Hill.

Dec. 18, 2003 Committee meets to discuss findings and work on the proposal to be made to the elders and subsequently to the congregation.

Jan. 29, 2004 Committee meets to work on the proposal.

Feb. 18, 2004 Committee meets to work on the proposal. New regular committee member is Dan Jones.

Mar. 4, 2004 Committee meets to work on the proposal.

Current Status

The committee is currently:

· Finalizing an estimate of the cost to begin a student center

· Finalizing an estimate of the cost to run/maintain a student center

· Final proposal nearing completion. Its main sections are:
1) The Meadowlark Campus Ministry
2) The Student Center Concept
3) Research into Student Centers
4) Proposed process for establishing the student center including:
A) Ownership
B) Type of facility
C) How it will be purchased
D) Funding the foundation
E) Campus minister and interns
F) Management
G) By-laws and Policies
H) Dissolution

The core committee members are Russ Whitten, Ben Hill and me, and to some extent each of our wives. There are 11 others who have expressed an interest but have only been able to attend a few of the meetings.

Future Work

Present the proposal to the elders in June, 2004. If the proposal receives a favorable response, the committee will present it to the congregation as soon as possible thereafter. If the proposal receives a favorable response, the committee will proceed with the work proposed. This would begin with the legal paperwork, marketing and fund raising throughout the summer.

Where help is needed

We still struggle with getting the whole committee together and having consistency from one meeting to another. While understanding the size of this undertaking we, myself included, are hard pressed to meet as consistently as is needed. Some new blood on the committee is needed. We would welcome any interested Christians with time to dedicate to the process as we move forward from here.