What is the PERFECT Age to do College Ministry?

Sometimes I hear discussions of the perfect age to do college ministry.  The answer to that question is really pretty simple.....It is the age you are NOW.  That is the only age you have. It is a strong belief of mine that every age offers strengths and weaknesses for doing college ministry.  The key is recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of the age you are and operating accordingly.  A friend recently told me that the most helpful thing I had ever written was "The Seasons of a College Minister".  It is the thing I have been asked to do the most in College Minister workshops over the years.  So, here is an updated but abbreviated version of something I first wrote twenty years ago.

                                 THE SEASONS OF A COLLEGIATE MINISTER'S MINISTRY

                                                       "Work the Seasons of Your Life."

THE NEAR PEER OR THE STARTER 

This is the beginning when the College Minister is both young in age and experience.  This is the time when due to lack of experience, the ministry is focused around relationships developed by hanging out with students.  The College Minister tends to still think like a student and fits in as one of them.

STRENGTHS:

1.  The starter can often start a ministry from scratch because they have the energy and enthusiasm.  They don't know it cannot be done.

2.  It is possible to impact a few deeply as this person will often live right in their midst 

3.  It is easy to operate in a student world when the College Minister looks like one of them.

WEAKNESSES:

1.  The ministry will often be limited to one circle of friends.

2.  There is no sense of history or past experience to build on.

3.  University administrators, faculty, pastors, church staffers tend to not see the Starter as a ministry professional and treat them with the respect that is beneficial to the ministry.

THE COOL ADULT/THE ROLE MODEL

This is the point when the College Minister has a young family or is a real world functioning single.  Students see them as a role model to be like after graduation.

STRENGTHS:

1.  They can model life and what it is like to live "like a real person".

2.  They have developed some expectations in their ministry to build on.  They have some specific goals and every semester is not a blank page.

3.  Because they are separated from students a bit in experience and age they can help students see things from a different perspective.

WEAKNESSES:

1.  It is sometimes difficult to learn to balance the demands of growing family responsibilities and a growing ministry.

2.  Hanging out all night with students is no longer an easy choice.

3.  It is possible to continue to try to operate as a peer, but students do not see the College Minister in that light.

THE RESPECTED VETERAN

This is the Campus Minister that has built a strong ministry and is reaping the benefits of time, experience and respect.  This person often has multiple years invested on one particular campus. Students may begin to see the Vet in a loving parent role.

STRENGTHS:

1.  There is a strong background of experience and knowledge to build on.  He or she knows WHY they do what they do and WHY it is effective.

2.  It is much easier to relate to pastors, faculty/administration as a peer which often opens wider doors of opportunity and support.

3.  Former students who have experienced the ministry and appreciate the role the College Minister or ministry played in their life are likely to help with financial support, recruiting students, etc.

WEAKNESSES:

1.  It is easy to fall into the rut of simply doing the same thing every year....same talks, etc  

2.  It is possible to begin to develop a rigidity to change and new ideas.  This is the backside to stability.

3.  It is much easier to lose track of students' needs, wants and viewpoints.

THE BUILDER

This is the time of ministry from accumulated wisdom, the support of a wide network and building for successors.  This time can be an intentional time of leaving things stronger and better for the ones to come.

STRENGTHS:

1.  This person can fill a loving parent or grandparent void in students' lives.

2.  Due to tenure and respect, this College Minister can wield greater influence on campus and for the benefit of college ministry as a whole.

3.  There is often a large network of friends, peers, and colleagues to draw on for ideas, support and opportunities.

WEAKNESSES:

1.  It is easy to "preach AT students".

2.  It is tempting to withdraw to a merely administrative role and lose relationships with students and regular interaction with them.

3.  It is possible to develop bitterness toward denominational politics and/or the lack of career opportunities/advancement and allow that to color negatively all your actions.

SUMMARY

Every age has a strength and weakness.  Play to your strengths and look for ways and others to mitigate your weaknesses.  Many people get out of college ministry just when they have enough experience and understanding to begin to make the most difference.  Students have lots of buddies and do not need another buddy, but they can certainly use a mentor.  There are lots of pastors and college teachers/administrators, but God has only called a few College Ministers.  Be open to the different ways God can use the age you are today!

Arliss Dickerson's books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.