What TYPE of College Student Do YOU Mostly Reach?

This is a topic I have written on before.  It is my belief that all of us in college ministry have a "type student" with whom we most easily connect and draw into our ministry.  I want to speak to BOTH sides of that issue.

First, it has long been my observation that all College Ministers have their group...those students with which they most easily identify and most easily involve in their ministry.  In previous blogs I have used the examples of the "Athlete College Minister" who is good at connect to athletic types.  There is the "Music College Minister" who is gifted at connecting to students with musical talent.  There is the"Greek College Minister" who has all the fraternity and sorority folks in their ministry.  There are tons of "types" and hybrids.

I am aware of a college ministry some years back who called a man as their College Minister who they felt would be good at reaching "Non-churchy students" and non-Christians.  He was.  He just had a gift for connecting to them and they responded to him in a very positive way.  But, there was a back side to this strength.  It is my belief that our weakness is usually the backside of our strength.

He was super at connecting to the "Non-churchy".  He was not good at relating to Christian students and those who had grown up in church.  Consequently, what had been a large ministry began to lose those students who had a Christian background and long term Christian commitment.  Those that had been the backbone of the structure of the ministry began to leave and left the ministry strictly tied to his personal gift with the "Non-churchy".

Here is my point.  We must know and play to the strength of what "type of student" we are gifted or good at reaching.  HOWEVER, we must be aware of the "type of student" we are NOT gifted or good at connecting to.  It is my belief that we must flex there to widen our ministry.  Erick Reed has an article at Lifeway.com entitled "Three Questions to Improve Your Self-Awareness"   Question number 2 is, "What are your blindspots?".

Do you know your blindspot in regard to the "type of student" that you do not automatically relate to and are you attempting to over-come that in some way?  Reed says, "You need to invite some others into your life who can help you discern blind spots that my be costing you in your leadership."  That is wisdom.  You can empower others in that area and set them up for success there.  Or, it may mean that you simply will recognize an area where you need to make some personal adjustments and flex.

Look at your ministry.  What "type of student" comes to your ministry?  Why are there not other "types of students" there?

Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).