Common Characteristics of Large College Ministries

In my experience of dealing with campus based Baptist Collegiate Ministries, these are what I have observed as common characteristics of the larger ones.

1.  A long term veteran leader of the ministry.
This is key in more than one factor.  Because of his or her long tenure, people and churches recommend students to the ministry and they go out of their way to commend their students to the ministry.  This long earned and developed trust results in significant financial gifts to the ministry by alumni, churches and even parents.  Almost all large campus based ministries have significant individual gifts.  These gifts are usually tied to relationships.

2.  An intentional and well done freshmen ministry.
These ministries make a point of spending significant time, planning, and resources in connecting with freshmen over the summer and during the first three weeks of school.  They host and promote a variety of freshmen events and connections.

3.  Well done small groups.
In some instances these are separate freshmen and upperclass groups.  In other instances, they are combined upperclass and freshmen groups.  These groups do "soul care" as well as making sure that missing people are contacted and that they know someone cares.  This is in addition to the teaching and personal growth that happens in the group.

4.  High functioning student leaders.
These ministries work hard at enlisting, developing and empowering student leaders.  These leaders multiply the ministry in their wide variety of connections and varied personalities that connect to different student groups on campus.

5.  Well known across campus.
These larger ministries tend to be well known and have an excellent reputation across the campus.  Students who are not even involved in the ministry tend to tell others and help spread the word about the ministry.

Every ministry of any size can learn from these characteristics and begin to work at developing strengths in one or more of these areas.  The only one that cannot be instantly addressed is the long term leader.  But, every year makes a College Minister more long term.

I have not seen enough large church based college ministries close up to make too many observations.  But, those I have seen tend to demonstrate three things:
-An excellent speaker/preacher type.
-Significant resources.
-A high commitment to college ministry...it is not just another one of their ministries.

Most of the large non-denominational ministries tend to demonstrate the above listed five characteristics and one additional one.  Almost all larger non-denominational ministries have a staff of six (6) to twelve (12).  Almost all Baptist campus ministries have one or two staffers and a few have three or four.  But, many of these have their own campus facility.  One area that Baptists have been reluctant to do has been to allow their local Campus Ministers to build a staff through individual or ministry fund raising.  Some feel that this is something that should be considered.

Arliss Dickerson is the author of five campus ministry books available in eBook format on Amazon.com for 99 cents each.  His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.  Also, check out on Facebook, "College Ministry Resources by Arliss Dickerson".