Crusades

For ten days each semester, students are sent to various churches throughout the Northeastern United States. In addition to gaining practical ministry experience through singing, teaching, testifying, and the preaching of the Word, students receive personalized instruction from the church’s pastor. Any student who has completed three years of schooling at this Institution will have literally spent 60 days in the field gaining first-hand ministry experience.

The Dates

Crusades take place in October and March. For exact dates see our Academic calendar.  Students will leave campus that Friday morning, arriving at the various churches some time that day (depending on travel time required). Churches are asked to have someone at a pre-arranged location to meet them. Ten days later, on Monday, all the students must return to FST. Students are not permitted to travel on other days without permission from the Crusade Director.

The Pastor

In planning Crusade experiences, it is important that all who are involved maintain the strong theme of ministerial training. It is our hope that students can be a blessing to churches and receive valuable, practical ministerial experience and training at the same time.

The instruction time that you can give, as a pastor, to help enrich these students while they are with you will be a blessing. It is our request that each host pastor spend five, one-hour sessions, at different times during the ten days, instructing the students under his care. Pastors must also agree to keep the students busy 40 hours per week in addition to Sunday services.

It is important that participating pastors understand the position of Faith School of Theology. As an institution endeavoring to train men and women for ministerial positions, our Bible college has a strict dress code. Adherence to it and other standards is required while one is enrolled in FST. Please do not ask our students to violate these. On occasion in the past, students have spoken of pastors who have made fun of our school rules. Some have said things like, “You are not at school now. You can go by OUR standards.” We trust you to cooperate with us and to support our students in remaining loyal to their school.

The Church

Just a few things are asked of host churches. First, it will be necessary for each church to provide a place for the students to stay and meals for them to eat for the duration of the ten-day Crusade. Sometimes students have stayed in the house of the pastor; on other occasions, they have been hosted by church families. Secondly, it is necessary that the school’s expenses in transporting the students both TO and FROM your church be covered – that is, the cost of gasoline, tolls, and meals on travel days. Note: It is very helpful to FST when churches mail travel expense money to the school prior to a Crusade experience, but this is not a requirement.

Other than the aforementioned, there are no financial requirements. However, many churches choose to send a free-will love offering back to the school. At other times, churches have given offerings to individual students. Although we do not oppose this idea, we encourage churches sending offerings to keep in mind the fact that while giving to individuals benefits a few students, sending an offering to the school benefits ALL who attend FST, making their tuition-free education and training possible.

Crusade Orientation

Faith School of Theology students are carefully instructed before leaving for the crusade experience. Obedience to the pastor is stressed, and crusaders are encouraged to put their whole heart into everything they are asked to do. Students are instructed not to get involved in church problems, to be loyal to the pastor, and not to complain. Faith School crusaders love the Lord, and they love people. Their desire is to serve God by ministering to people.

Team Structure

When pastors and churches request crusaders, they should specify both the quantity and the gender of team members. Please indicate what types of ministry are being planned for the students, as this will aid us in placing them. If for some reason we are unable to fill your request, you will be notified by telephone or mail. In each “team” or group of students, one person is designated “captain.” In most cases, this is a senior or a fourth-year student, but occasionally a qualified junior holds the position. The captain is the student leader of the team while the pastor is the ultimate authority.

Some time in late February or early March, you will receive a final confirmation letter OR telephone call from our office, informing you of each student’s name, talents, class status, and major. Upon their arrival at your church, the team captain will give you a pastor’s packet containing Pastor’s Report forms and any other pertinent information. Throughout the Crusade experience, a contact person at FST will be available so that if you encounter any difficulties or emergencies, you can call us.

At the conclusion of a Crusade experience, the pastor completes a written evaluation of each student using a form provided by FST. He returns these to us, via the team captain, in a sealed envelope. An honest, open evaluation of each individual’s attitude, ministry performance, and skills aids us greatly in encouraging each student to develop fully for future ministry.

Request Form

The requests of pastors are honored on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, if you would like crusaders, it is important that you mail or fax your request form to us as soon as possible. Last year, the demand for students was so high that, unfortunately, we had to turn down a few churches each semester. We encourage you to act now.

For questions or a request form, contact:

Gail A. Januskiewicz - Crusade Director
Faith School of Theology
29 Main Road
Charleston, ME 04422

Phone: (207) 285-3373
Fax: (207) 285-7505
ministry@faithschool.org

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