I must admit at the outset that this is still a work in process. What are the things that are the overall determination OTHER than the hand of the Lord, who sometimes just intercedes and moves despite our poor efforts? My attempt is to begin to identify those things that are the overriding principles that cause (or keep) a ministry from being all it can be.
RESOURCES
Whether we like it or not, our resources are a huge factor in what happens. It determines staff. It helps determine the long time tenure of staff which is an on-going factor for the ministry. It determines events, etc, etc.
LEADER FIT WITH THE CAMPUS SITUATION
This is a tough one. Sometimes we see a college ministry situation not go well and we know the leader cares and is working hard....and has even been successful in other places. Different campus situations and church situations call for different styles and personalities. When looking for a College Minister for a ministry, we look for experience if possible. But, even larger than past experience, does this person FIT THIS SITUATION?
TYPE OF STUDENTS REACHED
Campuses vary in the general type of student on different campuses. There are different type students on all campuses. But, each campus has a common type student. Does the ministry's student leadership match the campus as a whole? We will reach those most like those we have already reached. This also goes back to the LEADER FIT, does the College Minister fit and connect with the type student on this campus?
SENSE OF MOMENTUM
Usually, this is the result of an on-going positive ministry over a period of time. It grows with each year. There are exceptions to this where a new leader/College Minister may be a "Rainmaker" type. But, often this type of instant momentum disappears within three or four years....often as the "Rainmaker" moves on to another situation. The best momentum is that which grows a year at a time. Everything in the ministry does not get bigger and better every year. But, as a whole the ministry continues to make strides and impact significant parts of campus life.
STRATEGIC PLAN AND NICHE
The plan is simply, "What are we trying to do and how are we trying to do it?" On a campus with multiple college ministries, it is hugely important to know and operate within your niche. Another way of saying it is, what is it your ministry does well and are you leaning hard into that strength? No ministry can be all things to all students. While I believe a healthy ministry will have a wide variety of students involved, each ministry has to be who and what it is.
STUDENT LEADER BUY-IN
Every ministry of much size has some sort of leadership group or team. But, this is much more than that. The student leaders of a whole are not just here because they are "good kids" or because they want to have a "position" in some organization. The student leaders have a desire to honor the Lord with their lives and believe that He can and does use them on campus. They are bought into the idea and plan of what this ministry is trying to do. They will go way out of their way to do what they think God is doing and is wanting to do through them. They believe in the leader and trust him or her completely.
TENURE/CAMPUS RECOGNITION
This has many sides. A long term ministry leader gives stability to the ministry. The leader not just has a calling to minister to students, but loves this campus and is deeply dug into it. A long term leader who has a positive relationship to the administration and various campus groups is a positive that is beyond totally understanding. There is a general sense of good will on the campus toward that ministry.
What do YOU think is left out here? What are the absolute must haves for a college ministry to be all that it should be?
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each at amazon.com. FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY is also available in paperback.
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