10 Habits of Highly Effective College Ministers

1.  They continually realize that God is up to more than they ever know or may even see.

2.  They eat with students in a student environment.
-Students are more themselves when eating and you will know them and they will know you.  You will also learn more about your ministry and how God is using it in their lives. Plus, when you eat with students in student settings, you will meet their friends.

3.  They recognize and use the different seasons of the ministry and they utilize the strength of their current personal season.
-There are times for outreach, times for administration, times for building deeper into yourself and your own faith walk.  Each age has a strength to lean into.

4.  They have friends their own age and have a life apart from their work and ministry.
-Those who stay long term have learned this secret and do NOT cheat their families.

5.  They know and maximize the individual strength of their ministry and their own personal strength.
-Often the strength of the ministry and the College Minister's personal strength are related, but not always.  Often, the strength of the ministry lies in something unique to the campus or students involved..

6.  They look for, enlist, and build up student leaders all the time.
-Their ministry has a leadership culture that acknowledges and values student leadership.

7.  They walk across the campus and through the Student Center every day.
-Someone has coined the term, "Be the mayor of your campus."  It means to know a wide variety of people and they know you.....both student and administrative.  It widens the College Minister's influence and opportunities.

8.  They are watching and learning from other ministries all the time....even those with whom they disagree theologically.

9.  They realize and accept that they are being watched or observed all the time.  You are the face of your ministry!
-There is no time a College Minister is "off duty".  This is not a curse.  This is a blessing.  Who you are can draw people to your ministry and develop supporters of your ministry.

 10. They are not afraid to hire people sharper than they are and to encourage and promote their ministry and their careers.


Arliss Dickerson is the author of five (5) books on college ministry that are available on Amazon.com in eBook form for 99 cents each.  FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY is also available in paperback format.