Quotes from College Ministers Fellowship

The College Ministers Fellowship held in Oxford, Mississippi at Ole Miss Baptist Student Center this year is one of my two favorite gatherings.  The other is the Summit, which is an every three year gathering of College Ministers.  I love the interaction, the idea sharing, the encouraging of one another and the just great things you here.  This year was a great balance of discussion from the Whiteboard Questions to some brief, very informal presentations by several.  Eating together is always a "relationship promoter". 

While I heard a ton of great things, some new ideas and a re-inforcement of what I think are necessary basics, here are some things someone said that stayed in my mind.  Sorry I cannot even give credit.

"When organizing your Leadership, here are two questions you should ask:

1.  What is your #1 priority?
-Why?
-So, does our Leadership Team meet and build on that priority?
2.  Are there students that have a gift or passion that we ought to have them lead out in an area even if we have to create a spot for them to do so?"

"Stop being budget driven and be vision driven."

"If you have a Center, you should do video surveillance, for the protection of your students AND the protection of your ministry."
-Some shared they have expensive commercial type systems and other simply have used some of the cheaper home, self installed systems. 
-One example given was of someone indicating their car had been damaged at the Center and requesting payment from the ministry.  Video showed the car was damaged when they arrived.
-In these days of sexual mis-conduct accusations, video surveillance can be a protection for the College Minister and others involved in the ministry.
I (Arliss) think this is concern/suggestion, whatever that should be given much greater thought by individual ministries.  If YOU are falsely accused of inappropriate conduct, do you have anything to help protect you?

Coming over the next week or so will be some notes from some of the specific presentations.  Meantime, would you help spread the Blog, "10 Things Parents of a College Freshmen Need to Know" which is on my personal facebook page and on "College Ministry Resources by Arliss Dickerson" facebook page.

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 available in paperback.