The Fuel and the Flame by Steve Shadrach
Review by Evan Hunter, Ivy Jungle Network, September 2003

Whether you are new to campus ministry or a long time veteran, you sometimes need help in one of two areas - catching or renewing your vision for what you do, or a good idea for the nuts and bolts of your program. In his new book The Fuel and the Flame (2004 Gabriel Publishing), Steve Shadrach combines an inspiring reminder of why college students hold such a strategic place in expanding God's kingdom in the world with very practical ideas for starting, maintaining and multiplying a campus ministry.

Shadrach knows of what he writes, having worked with Campus Crusade, the Navigators, Kanakuk Camps, and as a local church college pastor before starting Student Mobilization, a campus ministry focused on evangelism an discipleship in the South Central United States. In addition, he has also helped launch the Day of Discovery world mission seminars and the mobilization efforts of The Traveling Team. He casts a big vision - reaching every student, reaching the entire world. His heart and passion for evangelism and world evangelization clearly drive his ministry and come out in every chapter of the book. In the introduction, Shadrach makes it clear that this book does not contain some new and hip idea for reaching this generation, but instead focuses on the principles and practices that will outlast this generation and continue to impact campuses far beyond Gen X Y or Z. Skillfully weaving together inspiring stories, illustrations and quotes with pragmatic "how to's."

The Fuel and the Flame speaks to both the personal life and the practical ministry of the campus worker. As you read this book, you will recognize many of the pictures, stories, and phrases as he combines some of the most fruitful tools out of the last fifty years. While the book clearly flows from his personal ministry and background with Crusade and Navigators, he also uses stories and illustrations from all sorts of ministries across the country (someone you know is in this book).

Subtitled "10 Keys to Ignite Your College Campus for Jesus Christ," Shadrach spells out principles and practices for dynamic ministry. Beginning with an overview of the history of student movements and the context and importance of college ministry, Shadrach spends the first half of the book discussing the personal life of the minister, from character and convictions to strategy and impact (the "Fuel"). The second half of the book continues his blend of casting vision while offering practical nuts and bolts of campus ministry (the "Flame"). Shadrach is clearly motivated by his heart for lost souls, helping to build ministries that not only evangelize the campus, but establish new believer in the faith, equip them for ministry, and even export these workers to the harvest around the country and the globe. The appendices at the end of The Fuel and the Flame offer particularly good practical advice on a number of topics including leading small groups, beginning a large group meeting, training students in sharing their faith, establishing a campus house, and even raising financial support, concluding with a page of helpful web site links for ministry. While very much a "how to" kind of book, Shadrach has not packaged a "ministry in a box" as he never loses focus on the role of the Holy Spirit and the work of God in ministry.

Strong on so many fronts, one of the tensions in this book is that it seems to be written directly for you the campus minister, and at other times more for your students. This may come out of the idea that these principles help you train student leaders to take on greater and greater responsibility for the ministry. Obviously, no book can cover everything, and a wise person does not try. As evangelism is very much the heartbeat of Shadrach and his primary driving force within campus ministry, he does not depart from it. He is very strong on Matthew 28, with less attention on Isaiah 61, offering little advice on getting students involved with the poor, or justice issues, or racial reconciliation. The book does not provide insight on interacting with other forces on campus such as gay/lesbian groups or moving faith back toward the center of academia. The focus remains much more on individual students who are on campus more than transforming the university itself. So if these are the areas you are looking to strengthen in your ministry, this book may not scratch where you itch.

One blurb on the back of the book states, "a must read for any student, staff, or volunteer who wants to impact college students for Jesus Christ!" I would agree. The principles in this book are rock solid, and the tools Shadrach offers can benefit anyone in campus ministry regardless of location, experience, focus, or size. The Fuel and the Flame synthesizes many of the best ideas in college ministry and presents them in a way which will make them useable long into the future. Pick up a copy and continue to build your own ministry as a key part of God's plan for impacting the world.