Going Big or BIGGER

Most ministries are not averse to having a larger crowd.  I am often asked how to break the "attendance ceiling".  What is a "big crowd" is determined by the campus setting, the part of the country in which you serve and resources such as budget, facilities and staff. Fifty is a big crowd some places while two hundred might be considered a small crowd in a different setting. While numbers do not determine success, each number is a person. But, we must beware that we do not do what simply will draw a crowd.  Many years ago I spoke for an event on a campus and there was a "Beer Bust" going on next door.  They had a bigger crowd.  That does not mean the Christian event was not valuable.  So, the value of your ministry is not determined by the size of the crowd.  But, we all want to reach and impact as many as possible

So, as you consider how to make your event big or bigger.  Here are some questions to ask and what some ministries have done.  You do not have to like a suggestion to learn something from it.  But first, be honest about what your situation is..

Here are some Questions to Ask:
1.  Is our facility determining our capacity?  Should we change locations?
2.  Are we doing well what we are doing?  I often say, do well what you do well.
3.  If your ministry is in an area where there are other collegiate worship events, is your ministry emphasizing the unique aspects of your event.  Be the best YOU that you can be.
4.  Do you work at having an "Invite Culture"?  Often students are happy to come and never think about inviting or bringing anyone with them.
5.  Do we have too many events in one week and it dilutes energy and focus from our "main event"?  Would it be better to do fewer events on a regular basis?
6.  Should we target a different type of student or part of campus?
7.  Are we doing "same old, same old" and expecting a different response?
8.  The Tough Question:  Have I become enamored by the sound of my own voice and made it too much about me?  Should I invite others to speak at least some of the time?

Here are some things that some ministries have done to have the largest possible weekly worship event.
-Pay each week to bring in a well-known Christian speaker.
One such ministry I am aware of averaged 700 to 1,000.

-One ministry I recently learned about asks their graduates to consider raising their salary and staying on one year.  Each year they have about 100 of these "Graduate Assistants" who work at enlisting and bringing students to their weekly meeting.  They regularly have 1400 each week on this large campus.

-Obviously worship bands and music are huge. One method is to bring in well known worship leaders and use local speakers or staff speakers.

-Some ministries rotate their meetings through different fraternity and sorority houses.

-Many ministries now schedule their Freshmen small groups to meet following their weekly large group meeting.  This involves the Freshmen group leaders in working to get students at the weekly large group event.

-Would a "Supper Program" be an option?  Many ministries have Lunch Programs, but these are limited in time due to fitting into a lunch hour.  Would it be possible to do a meal each week prior to your evening large group event?  Some churches enlist a different Sunday School Group to do the meal and be present for a variety of age group connections.

Remember, you can always try something once or twice to get a feel for the possibility of it being a regular thing.

Arliss Dickerson's book, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available in paperback at Amazon.com for the reduced price of $3.99 during the holidays.  Some have found it to be helpful in taking a ministry to "the next level".