My crystal ball is a little foggy, so I certainly do not know all that is to come. But, here are some things I see and things I think MAY happen.
First, let me share some information and a disclaimer. Many of you would be aware that New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is in the process of raising the money to establish an Endowed Chair of Collegiate Ministry. For reasons only they can explain, they have named it The Arliss Dickerson Chair of Collegiate Ministry and Discipleship. I choose to believe that in naming me instead of a famous pastor, evangelist, or wealthy contributor, they are recognizing all the folks that do everyday college ministry. So, besides my personal vanity, I am totally bought in for what that says and what it means for the future. They are planning to teach college ministry until the Lord returns. We need that in all and every way. I can, with some embarrassment, promote it because I believe in what they are doing and the commitment they are making.
So, as you have a chance, I would encourage you to share the word that New Orleans Seminary is making a permanent commitment to developing College Ministers. We can keep the little secret of the name just between you and me.
MIXED THINGS....GOOD AND BAD I SEE AND EXPECT:
-There are fewer students in the college ministry classes.
Our emphasis on the need for church planting and church planters has led many to believe that you are only doing God's will, if you are planting a church.
-We must sound the call that God is still calling people to do college ministry and that there are job opportunities and needs out there.
-Some state conventions have cut back on their number of College Ministers....AND....some state conventions have added some positions.
-As College Ministers that are employed by state conventions are asked to do more and more things apart from their campus ministry role, more will move toward raising their own salaries. Those raising all of their own salaries speak of the freedom to "just do college ministry".
-We must resolve in a positive way this false argument that says, "Which is the best way to do college ministry....the campus based "BCM model" or the campus based church plant?" This is a false and destructive argument that hurts both causes. Some places a campus church plant is the best answer and some places the campus based "BCM model" is the best answer. We need both and we need to learn from each other.
-Some campuses will become increasingly closed to campus ministries and some will become even more wide open to us due to the same issue....freedom of speech and the plurality of thinking. It is also the reminder that those of us who work on campuses MUST be good citizens that relate to the campus officials in a responsible and even respectful way.
-More big churches will do their own thing in college ministry.
-More medium and smaller churches will do away with their College Minister position due to the shrinking of finances or the re-direction of priorities.
-More people will be willing to give individually to support college ministry if we ask and demonstrate well what we are doing.
-The issue of on-line classes will continue to impact campuses and how we need to relate to this. Lots more students will go to college from their bedroom desk.
-The need for more long-term, seasoned College Ministers will increase due to the complexity of issues. This means making it financially feasible for a person with a growing family to stay for the long term as their experience makes them more and more valuable.
-As giving to foreign missions declines due to decreased church giving, the necessity and cost benefit of ministering to and reaching the International students who come to our campuses is more and more important. They can return home as the Lord's sent missionaries.
-We need to examine more the possibilities and how to do long term "Co-vocational College Ministers".
Let's put our collective college ministry minds together and work on this. And, if you know someone with some extra money laying around and they believe in college ministry, point them to "The Endowed Chair for College Ministry" at New Orleans Seminary. Tell them it is named after you because........IT IS!
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each at Amazon.com.
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