Strategic Campus Ministry: Tom Lin on Leadership, Collaboration, and Reaching the Next Generation

Curious to know how God is at work on university campuses across the U.S?

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, we hear from Tom Lin, President and CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, about his remarkable journey from discovering Christ through varsity ministry to leading one of the largest campus ministries in the U.S. We delve into the strategic importance of university ministry, hear leadership insights, and the impact of global collaborations through movements like Lausanne.

Main Points:

Tom Lin’s Journey: From aspiring economist to faith-driven leader, Tom shares his inspiring personal story and the pivotal moments that shaped his path.
Foundations of Leadership: The significance of building strong foundations in faith, making risky decisions for Christ, and the essential role of community.
Revival on Campuses: Hear about the spiritual awakening among students and the profound impact of recent revivals on secular and Christian campuses alike.
Current Trends in Campus Ministry: Addressing key issues like mental health, diversity, and sexuality while presenting the gospel as good news to today’s students.
Global Partnerships: The importance of collaborative efforts in ministry, exemplified by initiatives like EveryCampus and the Lausanne Movement.

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Guests in This Episode

Tom Lin

Member, Board of Directors

Since 2016, Tom Lin has served as president / CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Previously, he served as pioneering missionary and country director of campus ministry in Mongolia and vice president of missions and director of the Urbana Student Missions Conference. He has also served as a trustee on the boards of Wycliffe Bible Translators, Missio Nexus, and the Leadership and Legacy Foundation. He currently serves on the boards of Fuller Theological Seminary, The Crowell Trust, and the Lausanne Movement.

Tom is the author of Pursuing God’s Call (2012) and Losing Face and Finding Grace (1996), a coeditor of the Urbana Onward book series (2012), and a contributor to Still Evangelical? (2018)—all published by InterVarsity Press. He is also a contributor to Uncommon Ground (2020, Thomas Nelson). He has a BA in economics from Harvard University, an MA in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary, and an honorary doctorate in public service from Taylor University. Tom and his wife, Nancy, have two daughters.