A Dream....The Power of One

When I served as Baptist Campus Minister at Arkansas State for 32 years I almost never dreamed anything related to work.  Since retiring from that position, I have many dreams that are college ministry work related.   I am not sure what that means...other than I am even crazier than I realized.  Night before last, I dreamed I was speaking at a College Minister Workshop (one of my FAVORITE places to be) on the topic, "The Power of One".  It was about my belief in the value of working one to one with students in leadership roles and those that show great potential.

So, here are some of my thoughts on "The Power of One".  I am a bit of a conundrum in that I am a big proponent of large group/yall come meetings.  Yet, I am all about the value of working with students individually.  Consequently, I believe a healthy college ministry is somehow a mix of both.  Large group meetings touch people that are not ready or open to one to one meetings.  And, there is just something positive and encouraging about being part of a larger group.

Here are some of my basic beliefs about meeting with students one to one:

1.  You meet with students that have leadership roles in order to invest in them, train them, and encourage them.  They multiply your ministry and your personal time.

2.  You meet with students who have great potential and you encourage and help them to affirm and accept the gifts and abilities God has placed in their life.

3.  Meetings must be regular in order to have on-going value.  Set a time and place.

4.  Meet in a private place that avoids interruption and also does not embarrass them should they become emotional...which happens when talking about tough stuff.

5.  You ask them questions and you LISTEN.  It is not all about you talking.  They probably get plenty of preaching.  Counselors are taught to ask questions and listen.  We have two ears and one mouth....listen twice as much as you talk?

6.  When they are leaders help them learn to process their areas of leadership concerning why something worked or did not work.

7.  Some students with great potential have messed up and need to FEEL forgiven.  They often have asked God for forgiveness and He has extended it, but they have not received it or FELT it.  You can help them receive it.

9.  They need to know you care about them, not just what they can do for you or the ministry.

8.  Help them be and feel successful.  When students feel like they have failed in a leadership role, they are reluctant to take on another one.  Their sense of success is key to their continuing to serve in the years to come.

10.  Make sure they know they can call on you when they are in trouble or need help.....that you have not simply thrown them out there to sink or swim.

11.  YOU must learn to balance your time between people you meet with on a regular basis and being available for other students who have short term needs or just need to talk.  Don't let all your time get scheduled up every week.  Students never need to feel you are too busy to talk to them.

12.  Remember, Jesus had twelve in which He invested an extra amount of time.  And, seemingly Jesus invested a bit more in three of the Disciples than He did in everybody.  But, He also preached "The Sermon on the Mount" to the masses.

Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available at Amazon.com for 99 cents each in eBook format.  His book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is also available in paperback.