LOCALLY SOURCED
Campus Ministries Changes: Covid-19 and Beyond Nate and Laura (and baby Asher) Amodio bring us up to date with their ministry with InterVarsity.
This first question is a bit broad, but what were some of the effects of the pandemic on InterVarsity (IV) and its campus ministry? How did IV cope with all the shutdowns and students being sent home? The abruptness of the shutdowns was jarring. Seniors had a particularly tough end to their time in college; there was a lack of closure, grief, no in-person good-byes. As widely recognized, the limited social interactions and a lack of community from the pandemic have led to a decline in the mental and physical health of Gen Zers and college students across the country. InterVarsity staff had to adapt quickly to each campus and its unique restrictions and timeline. A lot of collaboration and resource-building took place in figuring out how to make Zoom gatherings hospitable, lifegiving and spiritually stimulating. Also, IV’s national department put together resources and events for students (such as weekly, high quality live-streamed events). In addition to the students, IV made sure its staff was cared for with “distress days,” which were no questions asked days off to help navigate anything from childcare responsibilities to health concerns, racial trauma and so on. Staff was also provided personal retreat guides, Paraclete Groups and other spiritual resources. There were also some highlights as we did ministry during the pandemic. We met interested students at 33 unreached campuses (just in Indiana and Illinois) this year thanks to digital ministry. A staff planting at Chicago State had a 15-member Bible study over Zoom that started solely through direct messages over Instagram. At Indiana University, a student from Hong Kong, spent his first semester taking online classes while still in Hong Kong. Every Tuesday, he’d wake up for a 7 a.m. Zoom Bible study with the InterVarsity students. Now on campus, he already has a community of believers. A chapter for students with disabilities that had been meeting at College of DuPage blossomed into a nationwide movement as these students gathered online and reached new students through social media. It’s good to know that the shutdown didn’t shut down IV’s ministry. But the two of you have moved into new roles with IV. What are they? We both now work for the Indiana and Illinois region of InterVarsity. Nate is starting his third year as ministry
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partnership development coach, mentoring and coaching staff during their fundraising process. Laura is a field operations director, working to improve the systems and events that support regional staff and students. She is in her second year in this role. IV often uses the term “formation.” Can you describe it for us, and what does it encompass for new staff? First, new staff attend formation classes led by senior leaders in our region their first two years on staff. The hope is to help staff thrive in their relationship with God and others as well as develop professionally. The modules covered in Formation classes are: Character and Calling, Relational Adeptness, Chapter Building, Cross-Cultural Ministry and Evangelism. Describe IV’s commitment to staff training. Why is this crucial to campus ministry? Working in campus ministry, while exciting and impactful, can also be tiring and difficult. InterVarsity wants to develop staff who can invest in campus ministry for the long haul, so they put a lot of energy into staff development through formal training and cohorts as well as less formal collaboration and mentorship. We want staff to grow holistically as disciples of Jesus, not just in raw ministry skills. What’s the best thing about training new and returning staff? What are some of the challenges? Our staff come from and minister to all sorts of backgrounds.
