Many world-changing and slightly harebrained schemes have been hatched in the wee hours of a university dorm room. During junior year at the University of Michigan, my friends and I became determined to do everything in our power to disrupt the work of a nearby abortion clinic. For weeks we participated in prayer vigils and an increasingly “sophisticated” campaign of sidewalk chalking the road leading to the entrance with Scripture verses and pro-life phrases. We were young and zealous, but I believe the Lord used those late nights, hopeful conversations and deepening relationships to help build his kingdom.

The dynamic partnership between St. Ignatius, St. Francis Xavier and St. Peter Faber might be the ultimate example of this type of youthful exuberance being fostered and accelerated in a university environment. While at the University of Paris in the 16th century, they co-founded the Jesuits, a religious community responsible for unprecedented missionary activity all over the world. They believed everyone needed to experience and respond to God’s love, receive baptism, intentionally receive formation and be sent on mission. Along with Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, the first Jesuits developed a simple-to-say-but-harder-to-produce model of missionary discipleship now popularized as Win, Build, Send. 
 

As missionary disciples in Christ’s Church on earth, we, too, are called to win people to Christ, build them into his mature followers, and send them to be Christ in the world. This is what Jesus intended when he sent the disciples out two-by-two, and he sends us out today as well. Regardless of our current environment, we can all learn something from Ignatius and his companions’ relentless desire to infiltrate wherever the Lord sent them.
 

As missionary disciples, Win, Build, Send can be a helpful and simplifying paradigm to consider. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to help win people to an intentional decision to repent and believe, to help people build lives of holiness and then courageously tell others of what God is doing in and through them. Each aspect takes time, perseverance and humility, and there’s always room to grow. Most of us are no longer hatching world-changing plans in dorm rooms, but we can embrace the missionary vision of St. Ignatius and his friends. 
 

Pete Burak is the vice president of Renewal Ministries. He has a master’s degree in theology, and is a frequent speaker at events for youth and young adults.