Every ministry has a personality. It is a vibe...a feel. It is the culture. It is part of what draws people to the ministry, runs them away and affects the overall effectiveness of the ministry. Some things that help make up the personality of the ministry are beyond our control. Some we are able to have some affect on. But, it is important and helpful to try to understand what the personality of the ministry is.
5 MINISTRY PERSONALITY SHAPERS:
1. THE PERSONALITY OF THE LEADER
Whether we like it or not, our personality is a huge factor in the personality of the ministry. The longer we serve as the leader of the ministry, the more it will take on our own personality. The ministry will usually reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the leader. When a new leader takes over a ministry, there will be lasting effects of the personality of the previous leader. One benefit of a multi-staff situation is the blend of personalities that shape the ministry. Our personality being the huge factor it is makes it even more important that we recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and bring others into key roles...be they student leaders, staff, or volunteers. Others can mitigate the issues caused by our own weaknesses.
2. THE PERSONALITY OF THE CAMPUS
Each campus has a personality and that personality helps determine what students come there which in turn continues to shape the personality of the campus. Our ministry will somewhat be the product of the campus where we serve. It is why we must be a "student of our campus". As missionaries in foreign countries must study, understand, and relate to the country where they serve, College Ministers must study, understand, and relate to the campus where they serve.
3. THE PERSONALITIES OF OUR KEY LEADERS
One of the most basic truisms of ministry is that groups attract and keep people who are most like themselves. Blue collar churches attract blue collar believers....white collar churches, etc, etc. The impact of the personality of our leaders is such that we must work at having a variety of leader types and work at their functioning as a team. A wide variety of leader types offset our weaknesses as well as broadening the culture and personality of the ministry. A wide variety of student leaders helps develop a ministry with a wide variety of students.
4. THE MEETING SPACE
I will confess to being almost overly concerned about the appearance and set up of a meeting space. Yet, I believe that when a student arrives....particularly for the first time....the appearance and "vibe" of the meeting space goes a long way toward determining their response. This would be only second to the welcome they receive from other students....and sometimes it will come even before they can be welcomed. A meeting space may not be first class, but it can be neat, arranged appropriately and not disheveled. Lighting is another factor...be a poor, good, or inappropriate. Fix and control what you can fix and control. And, dream, work, and budget for the future!
5. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MINISTRY
If the ministry has a philosophy of outreach and witness to non-believers, it will affect all areas of the ministry. If the ministry is one aimed at impacting the entire campus, that will affect the "feel" of the ministry. If discipleship and growth are central to the philosophy, that will impact the personality. HOWEVER, a philosophy cannot just be that of the leader, but must be continually and well promoted continually throughout the ministry.
So, What do we do about our "Ministry Personality"?
1. Be a student of your campus....continually work at understanding it.
2. Be honest in understanding your own strengths and weaknesses.
3. Work at understanding the personality of your ministry and what has shaped it.
4. Develop a wide variety of leaders...not all just like you....and give them latitude within their gifts and responsibilities.
5. Realize that if God has led you to that ministry, He wants to use YOU there. How can you be the best instrument there? What are your strengths that need to be prioritized and what are your weak areas that need development and the help of other leaders?
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
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