4 Killers of Church College Ministries

In my fifth season (there is Near Peer, Cool Adult, Respected Veteran, and The Builder) which is doing college ministry in retirement, AFTER the Builder.  I have gone from a campus based College Minister for 41 years to being in my second year as a church College Minister.  Many things are the same and many are different.  Some are better....some are worse....and some are just different.  Here are what I see as four common killers of church college ministries that are DIFFERENT from campus based ministries.

1.  CONSTANT TURNOVER OF THE COLLEGE MINISTER
As I have indicated in other Blog articles, one thing I have learned is that there is a quicker and higher turn over rate of church based College Ministers than there is of campus based.  One church based College Minister told me that was true because he was continually given other assignments by the church and that the church varied year to year in their commitment or priority toward college ministry.  He said he has always had to be a "hyphen minister".  Those may be College and Youth, College and Young Adults, College and ______________.  Also, some go to a church based college ministry position as an entry into becoming a pastor and move when that opportunity comes.

2.  DECISIONS ARE MADE FOR THE OVERALL BENEFIT OF THE CHURCH NOT THE OVERALL BENEFIT OF COLLEGE MINISTRY
When I was a campus based College Minister, every decision and action we took was based on what was best for the ministry to students on that campus...period.  Several years ago when our church transitioned from two identical traditional worship services to a Contemporary service and a Traditional Service, the Contemporary Service was put at 8:30 on Sunday morning....not the best time for a college friendly service.  It was the best decision at that time for the church as a whole....but NOT the best decision for the college ministry.  Most churches do not FIRST ask, "What is best for our ministry to college students?".

3.  CHURCH COLLEGE MINISTERS HAVE MORE DIVIDED TIME ISSUES
About three years ago in my role as a college ministry consultant, I was in a meeting of church College Ministers from around the country and the number one complaint was not being able to get to the campus every day due to meetings they had to attend at the church.  Church staffers often have a day that is their "Hospital Day", etc, etc.  That group of College Ministers spoke of all the committee or staff meetings they had to attend as a staff member.

4.  CHURCH COLLEGE MINISTERS ARE OFTEN MORE SHARPLY EVALUATED BY NUMBERS
One church based College Minister in a large ministry setting, who had transitioned from being a campus based, told of a staff meeting early in the semester where the pastor asked why student attendance was way down the previous day.  The pastor was upset by it.  The College Minister was stunned by the question and criticism he heard.  It was the first weekend with no home football game, etc.  A large number of students had gone home for the weekend.  Those who serve on campus expect and understand the ebb and flow of a semester.  Often, churches do not understand this and are critical of the College Minister.  When budgets dip, college ministry is often cut more due to the numbers currently being recorded in the college ministry.  This criticism...overt or implied....is another factor in frequent turnover of church based College Ministers.

I am learning more and more that campus based college ministry and church based college ministry are brothers and sisters......BUT THEY ARE NOT TWINS.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX