The Apostle Paul reminds us that there are some who plant AND there are some who water. In both cases, God brings the growth (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). While we catalyze more movements on more campuses, we must remain utterly dependent on God to bless and sustain his work through us.
Of InterVarsity’s many strengths, I appreciate that we manage “BOTH-AND” tensions like BOTH planting new chapters AND growing existing ones. Jim Collins states, “instead of being oppressed by the ‘Tyranny of the OR,” highly visionary (organizations) liberated themselves with the ‘The Genius of the AND’—the ability to embrace the extremes of a number of dimensions at the same time” (Built to Last, HarperCollins, 1994, p.44).
Organizational Essence
Often, InterVarsity consciously chooses not to pick between two seemingly competing options. At our best, we see the beauty of holding matters in balance. This organizational quality is one reason we find ourselves in the “shrinking middle” of Western Christendom, but that’s another topic.
As we pursue our 2030 Calling, there will be many competing values to manage. That’s part of our DNA and legacy. Below are examples of polarities that we already embody. (I have included in parentheses the authors/books that discuss these further):
- Strive for personal AND corporate renewal (Trent Sheppard, God on Campus)
- Pursue personal reconciliation AND address systemic justice (Brenda Salter McNeil, Roadmap to Reconciliation)
- Believe in personal evangelism AND God’s sovereignty (J.I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God)
- Call leaders to take risks AND to take Sabbath (Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership)
- Practice spiritual disciplines of abstinence AND disciplines of engagement (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline)
- Believe that it only takes a moment for someone to become a follower of Jesus AND yet it takes a lifetime to progressively become like Christ (James Choung’s True Story and Real Life)
- Reach students AND faculty
- And one of my personal mottos: “mission first, people always”
These and many more managed polarities make us who we are. I long to preserve and steward these as the EVP of Field Ministries. I am grateful that GFM has modeled such stewardship.
Our 2030 calling places greater emphasis on seeking the welfare of the entire U.S. campus landscape. Some have expressed as a primary concern a fear that rapid expansion could dilute holistic discipleship. That’s a valid concern that I want to vigilantly guard against. I have confidence that as InterVarsity multiplies its DNA, we will see our core commitments manifested on more campuses.
In addition, if we are to see revival, we need to embrace the “genius of the AND.” I believe we need to BOTH fuel our apostolic impulses to all the places God calls us AND we need to saturate select campuses with as many dimensions of the kingdom of God as possible. Breadth and depth are both essential.
Strategic Engagement
As part of our strategic planning process, I have proposed that InterVarsity increase investments of time, people, and resources at 100 strategic, culture-making institutions. You could call these “every corner” campus movements. At these colleges and universities, I envision long-term staff and volunteers working together to pursue campus renewal through prayer, through collaborative efforts, and through the contextualization of the gospel to the various corners and constituents of these campuses, including administrators and professors (who we seek to serve on all our campuses.)
InterVarsity currently has 57 campuses where our collective presence exceeds 150 participants; these campuses account for 14,500 of our students and faculty (or 38% of all our work). Over the next 12 years, I would love to see InterVarsity strengthen our presence on these campuses while growing long-term culture-shaping work on at least another 43 campuses. To that end, the National Leadership Team is considering how this may take shape as a strategic initiative.
Personal Expression
I see the “genius of the AND” worked out in my own story as God has shaped me in distinctive ways. I am South Asian AND American. I have worked in the corporate world AND the non-profit world. I have been transformed during seasons of abundance AND seasons of suffering. And, I have learned through what some may view as ecumenical polarities: engaged in liturgical practices in the Syrian Orthodox church and at Catholic elementary school, memorized Scriptures at a Brethren chapel, got married in a Lutheran church, baptized my kids in a Reformed church, served on the missions leadership team in a non-denominational church in Austin, etc. etc.
My love for InterVarsity is strong because at one time or another all these attributes and experiences have been affirmed by IV staff. In the same way, I long to see every student and faculty in the country experience the fullness of God’s kingdom AND their God-designed purposes. May we enthusiastically plant and water in this next season of ministry, and may God bring the growth.
