Engaging IV: How are we doing

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Engaging IV How are we doing?

• January 20, 2006

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Survey said

• 56 people completed surveys
• IV SGs include roughly 110 people
• IV LG is attended by 30-50 people
• Special thanks to Julie Godshall for collating
  and summarizing the surveys.

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Spiritual Formation

• A plug for Small Group Bible Studies!
• Many of you consider yourself core members of SGs
  and appreciate them for
• COMMUNITY,
• SCRIPTURE study,
• and PRAYER
• Overall, several mentioned the need to emphasize
  spiritual aspects of faith, not just academic
  ones.

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Regarding SGs, you said

• Do more service, even if only a few can come each
  time.
• We need accountability, such as prayer partners.
• How can we outreach more as a group?

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On prayer

• We primarily pray in
• 1) SGs, 2) Mens/Womens Groups, 3) Friendships.
• Surprisingly 6 people pray in department-centered
  groups, and more would like to.

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On Community

• Most people are quite satisfied with community
  aspects of IV! Good job!
• We are generally welcoming to newcomers, and
  people from diverse backgrounds.
• The e-newsletter is helpful, and the website
  could use updating.
• Where are all the humanities people?

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On Evangelism

• This is a challenging area for most of us.
• We evangelize primarily through our lives and
  conversations.
• Wed like more seeker-oriented events
• We need evangelism training, especially how to
  evangelize in departments.

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On serving

• Where we serve
• Through SG
• Homeless Storage Project
• Church
• IV Spring Break trip
• Remember, we have a service-opportunity resource
  list on the website.

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Provocative comments

• "The emphasis upon service and the talks about
  social justice are fine, but I hear little from
  IV about the reality of sin, the need for
  repentance, or the beauty of a holy,
  obedient-to-Christ life"
• "pay attention to how we can use our diverse
  denominational church affiliations"
• Lets go into streets of Madison during LG time
• Have more non-SG service projects

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On Integration

• Many think about integration often, and have
  heard about it most through LG or friends.
• We practice it
• Teaching
• Leading discussions at SG/LG
• Belonging to a discipline-centered Christian
  organization or the Emerging Scholars Network
• Through an IV Integration Group

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Friday Nites

• Speaker/content
• Community
• Worship
• bring people out (even in the snow).

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Provocative comments.

• More scripture-centered speakers sometimes they
  are just academic and forget the Bible
• Have speakers be more practical, less esoteric.
• Mix up ways to present things, keep it fresh.
• Occasionally have practical teaching or training
  such as dating/marriage issues, finances, stress,
  fear, spiritual gifts, etc.
• Encourage more interaction between older and
  younger students.
• Sponsor events about evangelizing in depts.

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From new students

• Most found out about IV through friends, a few
  from the website, undergrad IV, and even parents!
  No current new students found us through an
  InfoTable ?
• Our fall events are very helpful (Retreat,
  Dessert, Picnic, 1st LG), and a large majority
  meet older students.

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So, what now?

• EVANGELISM OUTREACH
• How can we be more evangelistic?
• Consider
• Department centered prayer groups?
• Seeker-oriented large groups?
• Department-specific evangelism events?

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How can we do better?

• Service
• Spiritual Formation
• Integration
• Discuss and Pray