This is a Guest Blog by Brian Musser who serves as a Baptist Campus Minister at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
I get to do my fair share of Invocations, Memorials and Benedictions at Drexel (a private secular school). Public prayers like these have really made me evaluate what it means to pray in Jesus' name. It is more than just the traditional few words we mechanically tack on at the the end of the prayer.
I get the privilege to stand publicly before my University to communicate with my God in a way that my God and I understand. Quite often, I am just talking directly to my God asking him to bless my school in certain specific ways.
Sometimes when I am tempted to overstep the parameters given to me, I ask if I am trying to preach at them or pray for them. It is usually the former.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry that are available at Amazon.com for 99 cents each in eBook format. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
Praying for Public Events
Recently, I was asked to pray for the Board of Trustees meeting at the University where we minister. I had done this some years back at different times when I led the campus based BCM ministry there. In the past, the invitation had always cautioned me to be sensitive to the fact that there would be several different beliefs represented, etc.
This time the invitation had attached to it a brief written statement by the University Attorney stating what some acceptable things to pray were and were not acceptable to say. For some, this is the "automatic no" point. They say, "If someone tells me what I cannot pray in a setting, then I will not pray there." And, I do not completely disagree with that answer.
Here is why I chose to pray at that event.
First, I thought, can I say and pray things I genuinely would want to pray in this setting? I don't pray for my lost students by name in public settings. I don't generally pray lots of things in public settings that I pray in private. I genuinely want to pray for the well-being and wise decisions of those who work with our students and make decisions that affect all of them. Lots of things I pray are not for all settings. So, what I pray is almost always affected by the setting.
Secondly, I want our University administration to see our faith groups as partners in working for the benefit of students. If I want them to partner, I have to work at partnering. I have learned that in those settings I always meet people that it is beneficial for me to know and have a relationship to. Those settings help them to see me and others like me as more of a peer. That is always beneficial.
Third, if I show up and "play by the rules" they are more likely to trust me in other situations. That continues to open doors or at least gets me a fair hearing when I ask permission to do something or use a facility, etc.
Fourth, I believe in freedom of religion. I believe folks have the right to believe things other than what I believe and they even have the right to believe things I think are "nutsy" or to believe nothing at all. Many public entities have chosen to have no religious activities of any sort so as to offend no one or to avoid having ones with whom they disagree. I believe it is much more healthy to have a variety of religious expressions represented in University circles instead of trying to have NO expressions of faith. Hear me correctly, I did not say I believe that all religions are valid! I said, people have a right to believe whatever and that Universities are to be a place where there is an open expression of different ideas. That is a much healthier place than NO discussion of faith in any way. I believe the Christian faith holds up real well in discussions with folks of all different beliefs!
The FIFTH reason I can show up and pray at such an event is, even I am smart enough to pray what I genuinely want to pray without using the exact words they have told me I cannot use.
The Chairman of the Board thanked me; the Chancellor thanked me, and the person who invited me thanked me and said, "it was perfect". Sometime I will tell you about the call I got asking me to pray before "The greatest fiddler in the world'. I turned that one down.
Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.
This time the invitation had attached to it a brief written statement by the University Attorney stating what some acceptable things to pray were and were not acceptable to say. For some, this is the "automatic no" point. They say, "If someone tells me what I cannot pray in a setting, then I will not pray there." And, I do not completely disagree with that answer.
Here is why I chose to pray at that event.
First, I thought, can I say and pray things I genuinely would want to pray in this setting? I don't pray for my lost students by name in public settings. I don't generally pray lots of things in public settings that I pray in private. I genuinely want to pray for the well-being and wise decisions of those who work with our students and make decisions that affect all of them. Lots of things I pray are not for all settings. So, what I pray is almost always affected by the setting.
Secondly, I want our University administration to see our faith groups as partners in working for the benefit of students. If I want them to partner, I have to work at partnering. I have learned that in those settings I always meet people that it is beneficial for me to know and have a relationship to. Those settings help them to see me and others like me as more of a peer. That is always beneficial.
Third, if I show up and "play by the rules" they are more likely to trust me in other situations. That continues to open doors or at least gets me a fair hearing when I ask permission to do something or use a facility, etc.
Fourth, I believe in freedom of religion. I believe folks have the right to believe things other than what I believe and they even have the right to believe things I think are "nutsy" or to believe nothing at all. Many public entities have chosen to have no religious activities of any sort so as to offend no one or to avoid having ones with whom they disagree. I believe it is much more healthy to have a variety of religious expressions represented in University circles instead of trying to have NO expressions of faith. Hear me correctly, I did not say I believe that all religions are valid! I said, people have a right to believe whatever and that Universities are to be a place where there is an open expression of different ideas. That is a much healthier place than NO discussion of faith in any way. I believe the Christian faith holds up real well in discussions with folks of all different beliefs!
The FIFTH reason I can show up and pray at such an event is, even I am smart enough to pray what I genuinely want to pray without using the exact words they have told me I cannot use.
The Chairman of the Board thanked me; the Chancellor thanked me, and the person who invited me thanked me and said, "it was perfect". Sometime I will tell you about the call I got asking me to pray before "The greatest fiddler in the world'. I turned that one down.
Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
6 Steps in Raising Up Student Leaders in College Ministry
1. Set a personal example of excellence.
-Never expect students to be something you are not.
2. Affirm the potential you see in students. Help them acknowledge and accept the gifts God has placed in their life for His service and their satisfaction.
-Often someone has to express believe in a student before they can believe in themselves.
3. Explain and Train.
-Student leaders often fail because they have no idea how to do what they are being asked to do.
4. Never let them feel deserted.
-Let them carry their responsibility, but never feel like you have walked away from them.
5. Help them process experiences...both good and bad.
-As they serve, help them learn and understand what happened and why. That is when they will GROW as a leader. When there is little processing, there is little growth.
6. Always, Always express appreciation for their service.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each on Amazon.com. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.
-Never expect students to be something you are not.
2. Affirm the potential you see in students. Help them acknowledge and accept the gifts God has placed in their life for His service and their satisfaction.
-Often someone has to express believe in a student before they can believe in themselves.
3. Explain and Train.
-Student leaders often fail because they have no idea how to do what they are being asked to do.
4. Never let them feel deserted.
-Let them carry their responsibility, but never feel like you have walked away from them.
5. Help them process experiences...both good and bad.
-As they serve, help them learn and understand what happened and why. That is when they will GROW as a leader. When there is little processing, there is little growth.
6. Always, Always express appreciation for their service.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each on Amazon.com. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.
Thursday, September 13, 2018
God Called You to Love College Students...Not be Famous or Lead a Large Ministry!
One of my students recently asked me jokingly, "Who is more famous, you or ____________?" and he named a College Minister who is well known for his ministry and for being super active on social media. I don't remember what smart mouth answer I gave. But, later I began to think about it seriously.
One of the dangers of social media is we see what others are doing and sometimes feel that it is way better and more significant in God's kingdom than what we are doing. I have a friend who has led what I would characterize as a "top 25 Baptist campus ministry" in the U.S. As a result of some changes he felt called by the Lord to make, he is now on another campus, doing all the same things well he did at the other campus....and.....not getting nearly the response he got on his previous campus. The two campuses are significantly different. The resources are different. He is being faithful to God's calling on his life. Some might wonder what ever happened to him. But, the Lord knows where he is!
Another friend serves on what might be called "the least Christian campus in America" and he has been having 35 students at his weekly large group meeting. He is seeing some students come to Christ. That is wonderful in the context where he serves. He would be one of my nominees for Campus Minister of the Year. But, he probably will not be described by anybody as "famous".
Right now in my "Fifth Season" I am leading what is the smallest ministry I have led in many many years. Sometimes I am frustrated. Yet, I feel I am where the Lord wants me right now. The other night I was frustrated by our drop in attendance. But, I left excited by the conversations I got to have with some students that night. It was not about the size of the crowd....it was about God's movement in their lives and my being privileged by God to be present to it.
God did not call us to be famous or lead a large ministry. He called us to love students in His Name and to be faithful to that. Most of us will not wind up to be famous....but that is not what we were called to be. And, we may not lead "a large ministry", but God knows where we are and He will continue to speak into the lives of students. That is what He called us to. A few of us may wind up leading large ministries and a handful of us may be a little "famous" in our tribe.
But, if we worry about being famous or how many likes our latest statement on Facebook or Twitter gets, we just need reminding, that was not what we committed our life to. God is speaking into the lives of college students and we get to be part of it!!
Arliss Dickerson has five college ministry books available at Amazon.com in eBook format for 99 cents each. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.
One of the dangers of social media is we see what others are doing and sometimes feel that it is way better and more significant in God's kingdom than what we are doing. I have a friend who has led what I would characterize as a "top 25 Baptist campus ministry" in the U.S. As a result of some changes he felt called by the Lord to make, he is now on another campus, doing all the same things well he did at the other campus....and.....not getting nearly the response he got on his previous campus. The two campuses are significantly different. The resources are different. He is being faithful to God's calling on his life. Some might wonder what ever happened to him. But, the Lord knows where he is!
Another friend serves on what might be called "the least Christian campus in America" and he has been having 35 students at his weekly large group meeting. He is seeing some students come to Christ. That is wonderful in the context where he serves. He would be one of my nominees for Campus Minister of the Year. But, he probably will not be described by anybody as "famous".
Right now in my "Fifth Season" I am leading what is the smallest ministry I have led in many many years. Sometimes I am frustrated. Yet, I feel I am where the Lord wants me right now. The other night I was frustrated by our drop in attendance. But, I left excited by the conversations I got to have with some students that night. It was not about the size of the crowd....it was about God's movement in their lives and my being privileged by God to be present to it.
God did not call us to be famous or lead a large ministry. He called us to love students in His Name and to be faithful to that. Most of us will not wind up to be famous....but that is not what we were called to be. And, we may not lead "a large ministry", but God knows where we are and He will continue to speak into the lives of students. That is what He called us to. A few of us may wind up leading large ministries and a handful of us may be a little "famous" in our tribe.
But, if we worry about being famous or how many likes our latest statement on Facebook or Twitter gets, we just need reminding, that was not what we committed our life to. God is speaking into the lives of college students and we get to be part of it!!
Arliss Dickerson has five college ministry books available at Amazon.com in eBook format for 99 cents each. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.
Monday, September 10, 2018
EVERYTHING I Know About College Ministry (Almost)! Part 1
If I do another college ministry book, this will be the title. At this point, I am not planning to write it, so here are some of the likely chapter titles.
1. God called you to love college students in His name not to have a big ministry and be famous! That is all up to God.
2. Every campus is different and no other ministry can be duplicated.
3. For every ministry to grow deep and wide, it takes a long term commitment.
-Every year is another layer.
4. Different times of the school year determine the top priorities.
5. College Ministers can become isolated and wither without intentional actions.
6. Every College Minister's gifts and abilities are different and should help shape the ministry, but not dominate it.
7. Every ministry has a unique strength and it must be nurtured and emphasized.
8. The campus administration can be your friend or your enemy....it is partly up to you.
9. Tweak the ministry every year....don't bomb it.
10. Not giving proper time to your spouse and family will damage you and your family, as well as your ministry.
11. A few things done well will have more lasting impact than a lot of things done poorly or mediocre.
12. You can and should learn something from EVERY other college ministry.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format at Amazon.com for 99 cents each. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback format.
1. God called you to love college students in His name not to have a big ministry and be famous! That is all up to God.
2. Every campus is different and no other ministry can be duplicated.
3. For every ministry to grow deep and wide, it takes a long term commitment.
-Every year is another layer.
4. Different times of the school year determine the top priorities.
5. College Ministers can become isolated and wither without intentional actions.
6. Every College Minister's gifts and abilities are different and should help shape the ministry, but not dominate it.
7. Every ministry has a unique strength and it must be nurtured and emphasized.
8. The campus administration can be your friend or your enemy....it is partly up to you.
9. Tweak the ministry every year....don't bomb it.
10. Not giving proper time to your spouse and family will damage you and your family, as well as your ministry.
11. A few things done well will have more lasting impact than a lot of things done poorly or mediocre.
12. You can and should learn something from EVERY other college ministry.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format at Amazon.com for 99 cents each. His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback format.
Monday, September 3, 2018
TOO MUCH or TOO LITTLE of the Leader in a College Ministry?
Every well functioning organization has a clear leader. The personality and style of the leader will shape the organization or the ministry. Some college ministries are built totally around the personality and style of the leader. Other leaders are much more in the background and work at staying there. God uses people with a wide variety of gifts and personalities.
If there is too much of the leader in the ministry, it likely will shrink dramatically or disappear when that leader is gone. Also, the response to the ministry depends almost solely on students' personal response to that personality. Too little of a leader in a ministry usually means the ministry is a bit directionless. It is difficult for decisions to be made or for there to be a clear direction and plan. There is a balance between too much and too little of the leader's presence.
FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE
1. The personality and spiritual gifts of the leader will obviously be a significant factor in how much the leader is front and center. A college ministry leader does not have to be up front all the time to be the leader. Not all strong and large college ministries are led by "big personality" leaders.
2. Accept the responsibility that being the leader of the ministry means....being the leader. It does not mean you are smarter and that God only speaks through you. But, someone must have the final say, develop the plan and cast the vision continually.
3. The leader must look for ways to build up and develop student leaders and other volunteers. This avoids "too much" of the leader.
4. Listen to the students. Create opportunities and times for students to to talk about what they see as the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of the ministry. This will help avoid it being too much in the image of one person.
5. Seek the input of wise people outside the ministry as to their observations. Outsiders will often see things we cannot see or at least be objective about in terms of our leadership and direction of the ministry.
6. Expose students to other strong leaders or speakers who will help them see there is not just one style of leadership or one view of things.
7. Look for ways to involve non-student adult volunteers in leadership or up front roles that bring variety and greater stability to the ministry during and after your tenure as the leader.
This is adapted from Arliss' book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, which is available on Amazon.com in eBook format and paperback. All of Arliss' college ministry books are available in eBook format for 99 cents each.
If there is too much of the leader in the ministry, it likely will shrink dramatically or disappear when that leader is gone. Also, the response to the ministry depends almost solely on students' personal response to that personality. Too little of a leader in a ministry usually means the ministry is a bit directionless. It is difficult for decisions to be made or for there to be a clear direction and plan. There is a balance between too much and too little of the leader's presence.
FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE
1. The personality and spiritual gifts of the leader will obviously be a significant factor in how much the leader is front and center. A college ministry leader does not have to be up front all the time to be the leader. Not all strong and large college ministries are led by "big personality" leaders.
2. Accept the responsibility that being the leader of the ministry means....being the leader. It does not mean you are smarter and that God only speaks through you. But, someone must have the final say, develop the plan and cast the vision continually.
3. The leader must look for ways to build up and develop student leaders and other volunteers. This avoids "too much" of the leader.
4. Listen to the students. Create opportunities and times for students to to talk about what they see as the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of the ministry. This will help avoid it being too much in the image of one person.
5. Seek the input of wise people outside the ministry as to their observations. Outsiders will often see things we cannot see or at least be objective about in terms of our leadership and direction of the ministry.
6. Expose students to other strong leaders or speakers who will help them see there is not just one style of leadership or one view of things.
7. Look for ways to involve non-student adult volunteers in leadership or up front roles that bring variety and greater stability to the ministry during and after your tenure as the leader.
This is adapted from Arliss' book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, which is available on Amazon.com in eBook format and paperback. All of Arliss' college ministry books are available in eBook format for 99 cents each.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)