Influencing Your College Campus for Jesus a 5 - Day Devotion by Shannon ThomasSample

Leaning into Leadership

Serving as a collegiate ministry leader was my first real experience in a leadership role. I learned this firsthand in collegiate ministry. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest or the most visible. It is about serving others, just as Jesus did. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:26-28). Some of the most impactful leaders on our campus and in our church weren’t the ones with titles. This was one of the most profound lessons I learned while leading ministry. They were the ones who showed up for others, led by example and served with humility.

Leaning into leadership means stepping up when others won’t. It means being willing to serve, care for those around you, and lead by example. In our collegiate ministry, we found that the most significant impact came when we led with humility, compassion, and a heart for others. When we started leading based on the example of Jesus, peer students began to trust us more, and they were more open to hearing about Jesus. As we embodied this servant leadership model, we saw lives change. In collegiate ministry, it’s easy to get caught up in programs, events, and numbers. But when we focused on simply serving—whether it was helping someone with studying, listening to a friend going through a tough time, or organizing an outreach event—it made a world of difference. It wasn’t about doing things for recognition; it was about showing love through action.

Leadership isn’t about status—it’s about love in action. If we want to take over our campus for Jesus, we need to lead like He did: with a servant’s heart. When we approached leadership with a heart to serve, we saw the most significant impact and will lead a campus takeover.

Reflection Question: How can you lead by serving this week? What opportunities do you have to show love through your actions?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for showing us that leadership is about serving others. Help me to lead with a servant’s heart and show love through my actions. May my leadership point others to You and make a lasting impact on my campus.

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