This is an updated version of a Blog I did a couple of years ago following a talk I was asked to give by this title. Prior to the talk, I solicited the thoughts of others in our world and received several messages. So, here are my thoughts on this today.
1. State wide campus based (BCM, BSU, BSM,etc) organizations are more different than they have ever been.
-No longer does every state convention have a State BCM office or leader whose sole function is college ministry.
-BCM/BSU/BSM College Ministers have a wider variety of responsibilities than ever before. Many are now asked to serve as Area Coordinators and/or young adult consultants to churches. The College Minister in one such situation on a large major campus indicated that he is on campus 3 days a week and out working with churches 2 days a week.
-State Convention infrastructures have changed drastically in the last 10-15 years. Much of this is related to finances and some is related to changing dynamics and philosophy in reaching people. There are cuts in many areas which also causes cuts in College Ministry staff.
-One College Ministry leader said, "We are adjusting to new paradigms and new models. We are working with both campus based ministries and campus church plants."
2.There is a greater awareness of and commitment to the value of church based college ministry.
-This is partly the result of some large church ministries being publicized.
-In some places, it is the result of cutbacks in the area of campus based ministry.
3. There is more of a sense of "competition" between different styles of college ministry than ever before.
-It is campus based vs church based.
-Campus based or church based vs campus church plant
-This is partly due to some who loudly espouse, "My way is the only way." which increases push back from some who are successfully doing it a different way.
-The cuts or threats of cuts in budgets causes everyone to make their case louder about the value of their ministry.
4. There is more stress on College Minister families than in a long time.
-The lost of insurance provided for many families in some Convention supported positions has added financial stress. Added duties makes for more time away from home.
-There is an added feeling of uncertainty about the future.
5. The influence of less experienced College Ministers is growing due to tech savvy and involvement while the influence of older and more experienced College Ministers is declining due to less tech savvy or involvement.
-One older College Minister described some young College Ministers as "Beasts of Social Media...do they tweet and post in their sleep?".
-While we should welcome the input of all and can learn from all, we must realize that the number of followers someone has on social media does not necessarily mean what they are doing or touting is the way for all ministries to go.
-Older College Minister MUST realize the need for their involvement and voices in the discussions today about the what, why, and how of college ministry.
6. Our national voice is varied.
-Lifeway is the official office of college ministry for Southern Baptists and works with all different college ministry models. Where that office had as many as 15 people a number of years ago, there is now one full time person in that role with four part time contract workers assigned to different areas.
-The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has been a significant positive and influential figure in college ministry for many years. In recent years, NAMB has chosen to focus their efforts and finances on campus church plants. Some have seen this as a negative signal toward the campus based ministry philosophy or that it is forcing competition.
7. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary continues to increase their efforts in supporting and encouraging college ministry and training college ministry leaders. The most recent sign of that has been their announcement of raising funds to establish an endowed Chair of Discipleship and Collegiate Ministries. They also continue to host and provide some financial support for national and regional collegiate student and leadership events.
8. Some Convention supported College Ministers are now asked to raise a part of their salary. Previously, all of their salary was provided by the Convention. Whether this will be a growing trend or not is yet to be seen.
-Many who serve outside of the deep south have raised their salary funding in the past and continue to do so.
-Some feel that raising their own salaries actually gives them greater freedom to do college ministry in that they are not asked to take on additional duties outside of college ministry.
9. There is a mis-perception that college ministry is way down. While college ministry is harder than it has ever been due to changes in our society and some funding changes, many ministries are experiencing their best days yet. Our College Ministers have been super flexible at adjusting to new days, different styles of funding, and learning from each other. Our people continue to be our greatest strength!
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).
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