by David Melton
I live by lists. At my office I call them to-do lists. Before exams my students call them review lists (they may have other secret terms!). At our house, our sons have already started on Christmas lists — truthfully, a couple of our guys started lobbying for Christmas before Labor Day.
Lists help me get organized and do the most important things first — like getting coffee for my wife before I get coffee for myself in the morning (that is probably the best marital advice I have to offer). Right now I am working with about 15 students on research projects, and I have to get them on my list so I don’t forget to see somebody.
I’m even starting to compose a mental list of challenges students are giving me this year. I was dared to do “no-shave November” with some guys, but I was too afraid since I am attending a six-state pastors’ meeting in November! I haven’t been putting “Wow Wednesday” on my list, so guys on our campus look at me almost every Wednesday in chapel and smirk a little bit. They look ready for a wedding and I am not up to par because I didn’t write it down! No listing has made me a “Wow Wednesday” failure!
Lists work. On the morning when Hurricane Sandy hit, our staff went down a thorough list of preparing for a big storm, and I was so proud to watch our great staff get buildings, communication, flashlights, all kinds of things done … that were on the list.
You use lists, don’t you? We list our course offerings (and we sure have some good ones), we list tuition and fees, we list emergency contacts, we even list great things to do for cheap in Boston. We can’t be the only ones with lists. I’m sure you have them too.
So, here’s my question. How can I get Boston Baptist College on your list?
Start with the prayer list. Seriously, talk to God about us. We have a great team of administrators, faculty, and staff, and we have amazing students. But we are doing business in one of the most expensive places in the country, and we are educating leaders in one of the great mission fields of America! Please put us on your list!
It is the end of the fiscal year so you must have a list of budgetary items, too. Let me just come right out and say it … please put us on the list! I want your prayers, but I also need something I can deposit!
Investing in our college helps us minimize the debt for tomorrow’s church leaders. It really is as simple as that. Surely you could ask folks in your church to give us one coffee or Coke a month for Boston … if your list is really, really long. But do something. I believe with all my heart that we are a worthy endeavor — worth being on your list. Write it down so you don’t forget.