I have admired Billy Graham since I was a young boy going to church. My folks would watch his crusades that were televised and that was where I was first exposed to him. I took my girls to Little Rock to hear him preach when they were young. I wanted them to be able to say they had heard the best known and most popular preacher of our time. One of my goals was to get to meet him in person, but I was not able to do so.
In the announcement of his passing, I have considered these lessons from his life and ministry:
1. Someone has said, "Billy Graham just preached one sermon his whole life...he just did it under different titles.".
I don't know if that was meant as a criticism or a compliment. I really would regard it as a compliment. Mr. Graham knew what his message and purpose was and he never strayed from it. All of us have our personal message that God has given us. Speak to that which is the passion God has placed in you.
2. He avoided temptation.
After Graham had done the crusade in Little Rock, a story appeared in the paper that he had pulled the cable to the TV in his hotel room loose from the wall. When asked about it he said, "I did not want to be tempted to be watching TV when I needed to be studying, praying, or.writing." He did not just "hope" he would not waste time or be tempted.
3. He was liberal.
It is interesting that Graham was accused of being liberal because he would cooperate with all different "brands of Christians". They did not have to be just alike to cooperate together for the good of the kingdom. I like that!
4. There was no hint of scandal connected to him personally or financially.
He did not build a personal kingdom and seemingly went out of his way to avoid the money and trappings of fame that has brought many high profile preachers down. Our faith and message has been damaged today by many who seem to be more about the fame and their own private jet.
5. Some of his kids went astray while growing up.
Lots of godly Christian parents have and can take solace in the fact that one or more of Graham's children went astray from the faith in their growing up. If Billy Graham's kids weren't perfect, it makes all of us parents feel a little better now and then.
6. Billy Graham was not perfect.
In later years Graham acknowledged that he was used and deceived in his relationship to President Nixon. I personally really like knowing that God uses imperfect people!!
7. Billy Graham was not the best preacher I have ever heard!
He was my number one preacher hero, but I can probably name five or six people I have heard I think were better preachers. But, God used Billy Graham way more than any of them. God's use of us does not depend just on our ability....WOW; that is a wonderful and encouraging word!!
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Rating the Health of Your College Ministry
I am high on self evaluation and evaluation of your ministry. Recently, I did an article for the Lifeway Young Adult Blog about determining the health of a ministry. It is sort of like taking a complete personal physical. Some prefer to to not take an exam for fear of what they might find out. But, the problem with the "ignorance is bliss" method is that treatable issues and problems when ignored can progress to the of no good options.
Here are some suggestions for an exam of your ministry. Which one best describes your ministry?
THRIVING - The ministry is growing and there is a real sense of a movement of God in the midst of what we are doing. It is not perfect, but the positives far outweigh the concerns.
STABLE - While we are not experiencing any major growth, we continue to see good things happening in the students connected to our ministry. There are some concerns but not anything that we feel we cannot manage or address at this point.
STRUGGLING - It seems there is way more work and effort going into the ministry with little that seems to come back in return. If we are honest and look at numbers, we are in a state of decline and have been for a while. There is more negative than positive.
ON OUR DEATH BED - It is just continuing to exist out of habit. There is no joy in the ministry and the few that are involved seem to have no interest or desire to see it revive. They are just keeping "the death watch".
So, where are you and your ministry? Maybe, you might say we are somewhere between STRUGGLING and STABLE. You can see progress. OR, perhaps you might say, "I see us moving from STABLE to STRUGGLING. The sooner we are honest about where we are; the soon we can begin to take specific steps to address it.
"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with SOBER JUDGEMENT." Romans 12:3b
Here are some suggestions for an exam of your ministry. Which one best describes your ministry?
THRIVING - The ministry is growing and there is a real sense of a movement of God in the midst of what we are doing. It is not perfect, but the positives far outweigh the concerns.
STABLE - While we are not experiencing any major growth, we continue to see good things happening in the students connected to our ministry. There are some concerns but not anything that we feel we cannot manage or address at this point.
STRUGGLING - It seems there is way more work and effort going into the ministry with little that seems to come back in return. If we are honest and look at numbers, we are in a state of decline and have been for a while. There is more negative than positive.
ON OUR DEATH BED - It is just continuing to exist out of habit. There is no joy in the ministry and the few that are involved seem to have no interest or desire to see it revive. They are just keeping "the death watch".
So, where are you and your ministry? Maybe, you might say we are somewhere between STRUGGLING and STABLE. You can see progress. OR, perhaps you might say, "I see us moving from STABLE to STRUGGLING. The sooner we are honest about where we are; the soon we can begin to take specific steps to address it.
"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with SOBER JUDGEMENT." Romans 12:3b
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Having the HARD Talks in College Ministry
A pastor friend recently shared about having to have a HARD talk with one of his staffers. A few days later another friend shared how his son had messed up personally while serving in a college ministry leadership role. He felt the HARD talk that followed was part of his son's lack of positive feelings toward organized church now.
As a College Minister, the HARD talk is the one you have with a leader who is not fulfilling their responsibilities and they must step up or step down due to the adverse affect on the ministry. Or, it comes as a result of a student leader violating the "Lifestyle commitment" that many college ministries ask their leaders to make to realize the overall effect of their behavior and actions on others.
I have had many of the HARD talks and it is not my favorite thing in college ministry. HOWEVER, I do think it is a necessary part of the job. For one, it is about protecting the integrity of the ministry. But, perhaps more importantly it is about speaking into someone's life in regard to their direction and future. When we love people, we must lovingly speak truth into their life.
It is not unusual that these HARD talks come as a result of someone making accusations toward another ministry leader's behavior. Sometimes it is done spitefully and sometimes with the best of intent. I bring a little different perspective to these situations due to the fact that when I was attending a small Baptist Junior College and was in a key student leadership role, someone made an accusation of immoral conduct against me. It was totally false and I don't know if they knew that or thought it to be accurate. They actually went to the President of the college. He consulted someone that I worked directly with and they said they knew it was not true in my life. I have always been grateful for their belief in me.
1. We must go into these situations wanting what is best for the student involved.
If they have messed up, we must be about helping them get straightened out for their benefit. Beware, that we are not selfishly just thinking about how this affects the ministry we lead.
2. Never forget this accusation or rumor about may not be true.
And if it is not true, make clear you want to be part of making sure people know that it is not true.
3. Listen hard.
What is their response to this concern? If it is in regard to their behavior, is it accurate? If it is not accurate, what can we do to settle this issue for their benefit?
4. If it is about their meeting their commitments and responsibilities, is there something going on in their life, that has brought about this concern?
Sometimes, there is change in work situations, studies or even a crisis at home. At this point, the conversation needs to turn toward listening to the situation and finding how we might help. I then ask the question, "Which will help you the most right now, to step away from this role to focus on the situation or my help relieve some of your responsibility for a period of time?"
5. Will you take their word?
If the HARD talk is in regard to a student violating the "Lifestyle commitment", what if they say it is not true and did not happen? Unless I have total certainty of the mis-step, I will take their word for it. But, speak to the necessity of their making sure their actions do not give a false impression. In one situation with a student, in my gut I felt the student was not being honest with me, but I accepted her word. If we are teaching people to be people of their word, there comes a point where we must accept their word.
6. Sometimes a student will admit to a mis-step and express total remorse.
It is at that point where you must decide whether to allow them to continue in their leadership role or to ask them to step away. I do not think that is an automatic one way or the other and that each situation calls for a prayerful individual decision.
7. Always protect the privacy of the conversation and protect the reputation of the student.
When a student is going to step away from their leadership role, I try to make it the most graceful exit possible. This goes a long way in determining what they do in the future in regard to Christian involvement and particularly Christian leadership.
Someone asked me one time, "How do you know if you are confronting a student for the right reasons?" My answer is, if you are looking forward to it, it is not the right thing.
A prayer of mine is, "Lord, help me love students enough to have the HARD talks.". Then, I pray a lot after the HARD talks. But, to fail to have the HARD talks sometimes is to fail in our calling to students and to the Lord.
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
As a College Minister, the HARD talk is the one you have with a leader who is not fulfilling their responsibilities and they must step up or step down due to the adverse affect on the ministry. Or, it comes as a result of a student leader violating the "Lifestyle commitment" that many college ministries ask their leaders to make to realize the overall effect of their behavior and actions on others.
I have had many of the HARD talks and it is not my favorite thing in college ministry. HOWEVER, I do think it is a necessary part of the job. For one, it is about protecting the integrity of the ministry. But, perhaps more importantly it is about speaking into someone's life in regard to their direction and future. When we love people, we must lovingly speak truth into their life.
It is not unusual that these HARD talks come as a result of someone making accusations toward another ministry leader's behavior. Sometimes it is done spitefully and sometimes with the best of intent. I bring a little different perspective to these situations due to the fact that when I was attending a small Baptist Junior College and was in a key student leadership role, someone made an accusation of immoral conduct against me. It was totally false and I don't know if they knew that or thought it to be accurate. They actually went to the President of the college. He consulted someone that I worked directly with and they said they knew it was not true in my life. I have always been grateful for their belief in me.
1. We must go into these situations wanting what is best for the student involved.
If they have messed up, we must be about helping them get straightened out for their benefit. Beware, that we are not selfishly just thinking about how this affects the ministry we lead.
2. Never forget this accusation or rumor about may not be true.
And if it is not true, make clear you want to be part of making sure people know that it is not true.
3. Listen hard.
What is their response to this concern? If it is in regard to their behavior, is it accurate? If it is not accurate, what can we do to settle this issue for their benefit?
4. If it is about their meeting their commitments and responsibilities, is there something going on in their life, that has brought about this concern?
Sometimes, there is change in work situations, studies or even a crisis at home. At this point, the conversation needs to turn toward listening to the situation and finding how we might help. I then ask the question, "Which will help you the most right now, to step away from this role to focus on the situation or my help relieve some of your responsibility for a period of time?"
5. Will you take their word?
If the HARD talk is in regard to a student violating the "Lifestyle commitment", what if they say it is not true and did not happen? Unless I have total certainty of the mis-step, I will take their word for it. But, speak to the necessity of their making sure their actions do not give a false impression. In one situation with a student, in my gut I felt the student was not being honest with me, but I accepted her word. If we are teaching people to be people of their word, there comes a point where we must accept their word.
6. Sometimes a student will admit to a mis-step and express total remorse.
It is at that point where you must decide whether to allow them to continue in their leadership role or to ask them to step away. I do not think that is an automatic one way or the other and that each situation calls for a prayerful individual decision.
7. Always protect the privacy of the conversation and protect the reputation of the student.
When a student is going to step away from their leadership role, I try to make it the most graceful exit possible. This goes a long way in determining what they do in the future in regard to Christian involvement and particularly Christian leadership.
Someone asked me one time, "How do you know if you are confronting a student for the right reasons?" My answer is, if you are looking forward to it, it is not the right thing.
A prayer of mine is, "Lord, help me love students enough to have the HARD talks.". Then, I pray a lot after the HARD talks. But, to fail to have the HARD talks sometimes is to fail in our calling to students and to the Lord.
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
Monday, February 12, 2018
College Ministry Revitalization
A lot of my thinking, writing and work this year has been about college ministry revitalization. I am involved as Interim College Minister at my own church in a re-building project for a ministry that once was large and due several different events declined significantly. Just a few months prior to agreeing to serve in this role, I had written FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY. So, it has been a reality check to theory versus reality. Happily, I am glad to say I have not had to recall all copies of "FIXING". But, we all need reminding that it is not an overnight project. Below are eleven things I continue to see as vital.
1. Make sure there will be a group to invite students to attend (Critical Mass).
There must be a group to invite students to come to. I have been through inviting new students to an event where they came and they were the only ones there. It was painful for all involved....they did not return. Are there young adults who might could be enlisted to be a part? Or are there some students who would agree to be the core and attend events that were aimed at new students?
2. Look for, build up, and invest in potential student leaders.
They are those students who will multiply your ministry. They are the ones that will represent your ministry to other students.
3. Figure out how to maximize your personal strengths and gifts to the max.
We never want a ministry to be just about the leader. But, in revitalization, sometimes you are what you have. So, make sure you are maxing what you do best.
4. Resist the temptation to have an all encompassing ministry.
Simply put, decide what the very basics will be and stick to those. Do a few things and do them well.
5. Make the ministry known.
Look for ways to make the ministry known on campus and to students as a whole. In our church ministry revitalization this year, we have realized that our church simply had gotten off the radar. One of our simple goals has been to get our church back on the radar...and it is slowly happening. Students we don't know will now show up for church. That is huge progress!
6. Connect with high school juniors and seniors.
They are coming. Plan now and begin working on the future.
7. Meet those on campus who work with student organizations.
Find out if your ministry is in need of repairing relationships or fixing your reputation. Sometimes when a ministry has gone awry in the past, it has harmed necessary and beneficial relationships. If that is the case, work on fixing it.
8. Look for freshmen and plan for looking for and connecting to freshmen next year.
Never forget the most available group to reach are freshmen who are looking to connect when they first come to campus.
9. Walk the campus.
Walk the campus. Eat on campus. Meet people. Let them see you and know you.
10. Enlist helpers.
Look for non-students who would share your vision of building or rebuilding a college ministry who might serve as helpers, encouragers, small group leaders, etc, etc.
11. Don't Copy!
If there is a booming college ministry at your location, don't copy them. You likely cannot do what they are doing. And, why should students go to a much smaller and less well done version of that ministry? Figure out what it is you and your ministry have to offer.
1. Make sure there will be a group to invite students to attend (Critical Mass).
There must be a group to invite students to come to. I have been through inviting new students to an event where they came and they were the only ones there. It was painful for all involved....they did not return. Are there young adults who might could be enlisted to be a part? Or are there some students who would agree to be the core and attend events that were aimed at new students?
2. Look for, build up, and invest in potential student leaders.
They are those students who will multiply your ministry. They are the ones that will represent your ministry to other students.
3. Figure out how to maximize your personal strengths and gifts to the max.
We never want a ministry to be just about the leader. But, in revitalization, sometimes you are what you have. So, make sure you are maxing what you do best.
4. Resist the temptation to have an all encompassing ministry.
Simply put, decide what the very basics will be and stick to those. Do a few things and do them well.
5. Make the ministry known.
Look for ways to make the ministry known on campus and to students as a whole. In our church ministry revitalization this year, we have realized that our church simply had gotten off the radar. One of our simple goals has been to get our church back on the radar...and it is slowly happening. Students we don't know will now show up for church. That is huge progress!
6. Connect with high school juniors and seniors.
They are coming. Plan now and begin working on the future.
7. Meet those on campus who work with student organizations.
Find out if your ministry is in need of repairing relationships or fixing your reputation. Sometimes when a ministry has gone awry in the past, it has harmed necessary and beneficial relationships. If that is the case, work on fixing it.
8. Look for freshmen and plan for looking for and connecting to freshmen next year.
Never forget the most available group to reach are freshmen who are looking to connect when they first come to campus.
9. Walk the campus.
Walk the campus. Eat on campus. Meet people. Let them see you and know you.
10. Enlist helpers.
Look for non-students who would share your vision of building or rebuilding a college ministry who might serve as helpers, encouragers, small group leaders, etc, etc.
11. Don't Copy!
If there is a booming college ministry at your location, don't copy them. You likely cannot do what they are doing. And, why should students go to a much smaller and less well done version of that ministry? Figure out what it is you and your ministry have to offer.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Easy Mistakes for Young or New College Ministers
I am some times embarrassed when I think about some of my actions when I first started in college ministry. I did not even find the ministry check book until I had been on the job a few days. And, I often had time on my hands because I did not know what to do.
Here are some common and easy mistakes for young and new College Ministers:
1. Hanging out with the same group of students all the time.
It is easy to connect to a group and one that responds to us. The problem with this is that it restricts our ministry to that group and projects the idea of a "closed ministry".
2. Confusing being liked with being respected.
The most important characteristic of a College Minister is to earn and have respect. There is a big difference in being liked and being respected. If we settle for being liked, we can be drawn into the trap of doing what is pleasing. What do students like and what makes us more popular? We must never trade respect for popularity.
3. Fearful to have the HARD conversations.
This relates to number two (2). It is easy for the young College Minister to not want to risk students not liking him or her, so they don't have some of those tough conversations. It may be holding students accountable to their commitments. Or, it may be confronting them about behavior that is destructive to them, their reputation, or harmful to the Christian message.
4. Failure to learn from "the old guys".
All of us must admit that when we started out that we had some feelings of being cooler than some of our older colleagues and not wanting to be like them. But, if we step back and look at it, these folks have survived the long term and may be doing some things from which we need to learn.
5. Thinking "Cool" is the magic potion.
We are never and likely were never as cool as we thought. When we are young in the ministry, we must commit to growing in knowledge, awareness, and developing an even more mature relationship to the Lord. If cool is all we have to share, we are no different than some of the salesmen who populate the campus.
Here are some common and easy mistakes for young and new College Ministers:
1. Hanging out with the same group of students all the time.
It is easy to connect to a group and one that responds to us. The problem with this is that it restricts our ministry to that group and projects the idea of a "closed ministry".
2. Confusing being liked with being respected.
The most important characteristic of a College Minister is to earn and have respect. There is a big difference in being liked and being respected. If we settle for being liked, we can be drawn into the trap of doing what is pleasing. What do students like and what makes us more popular? We must never trade respect for popularity.
3. Fearful to have the HARD conversations.
This relates to number two (2). It is easy for the young College Minister to not want to risk students not liking him or her, so they don't have some of those tough conversations. It may be holding students accountable to their commitments. Or, it may be confronting them about behavior that is destructive to them, their reputation, or harmful to the Christian message.
4. Failure to learn from "the old guys".
All of us must admit that when we started out that we had some feelings of being cooler than some of our older colleagues and not wanting to be like them. But, if we step back and look at it, these folks have survived the long term and may be doing some things from which we need to learn.
5. Thinking "Cool" is the magic potion.
We are never and likely were never as cool as we thought. When we are young in the ministry, we must commit to growing in knowledge, awareness, and developing an even more mature relationship to the Lord. If cool is all we have to share, we are no different than some of the salesmen who populate the campus.
Friday, February 2, 2018
Do Numbers Matter in College Ministry?
Different people express to me concerns about different college ministries due to their small numbers. Others brag on certain ministries because they have large crowds. Do numbers matter in college ministry?
I know without a doubt that doing college ministry and reaching students to come to Christ or grow in their relationship to Christ is harder than it has ever been. More Christian students are dropping out of active church involvement in their early high school years. The cost of college forces more students to work more which simply makes them less available. More students do school on line or at a Community College where they simply drive in for class and are there only the bare minimum of time. There is a college student in my neighborhood who attends college on line. He only comes out of his house a few times a week.
Some would say numbers do not matter but rather it is about building deeply into the lives of a few...rather than superficially touching a large crowd. Let me come down hard on the side of superficiality. I am joking.....a little. We do not know all God is doing in the lives of those we have minimal connection to and input into their lives. More correctly, let me say I am for both. Working deeply with some and just ministering to others on a very simple level is my strong recommendation.
That's where I am on numbers. When we are touching more students, there is more chance that God is beginning something in more lives. It may not come to fruition when we will see it. God may put it together with someone else and some other ministry down the road. And as one who has had at least one student leader go to prison, you never know for sure where your "deeper ministry" will wind up.
So, here are some questions to ask about numbers:
1. What number realistically should this ministry be touching with the resources and opportunities you have?
2. Have your numbers increased, declined or stayed the same over a period of three or four years? Is there a message in those numbers?
3. Is there a cap on your ministry that you can address? (A cap is a lid that is a cutoff point. For some, it is their meeting space. For others, it is the budget they have. For others, it is the number of strong student leaders or number of their volunteer non-student leaders.)
4. Should you begin to keep accurate numbers records so you will know for certain where you are? Often, our "loosey goosey estimations" are deceptive. It is sometimes how we sort of fool ourselves. Or, we do not want to know the absolute truth. Be careful of using "new math".
5. If there are other college ministries on your campus or ministering to your campus, are they growing, declining, or steady? The point is not to compare numbers, but to realistically assess your situation. If all ships are rising but ours, that tells us something. If all are declining, that tells us something, etc. Is there a message in what is happening over-all?
I am in a situation right now where the numbers are the smallest I have worked with in years and years. But, looking realistically at our situation tells me our numbers are demonstrating great progress. And, that is my goal right now....progress.
Are you making progress?
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