Characteristics of LARGE College Ministries

Some years ago Tim Casteel, the CRU Director at the University of Arkansas, researched the larger CRU ministries around the country and wrote about each of them and some of the common characteristics.  I thought it was excellent and beneficial to our whole college ministry community.  Here is my summary of his work.

SIX COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LARGE CRU MINISTRIES:

1.  Large staff 6-12
2.  Long term leader/Director
3.  Strong student leaders who are given much responsibility
4.  Strong/Intentional small group ministry
5.  They are THE  ministry on campus (no other ministry as large).

As I thought through these, I began to try to articulate what I had seen and knew in the Southern Baptist world of campus based college ministries.

SEVEN COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LARGE BCM/BSU/BSM MINISTRIES:

1. Long term Director/Campus Minister
2. Strong tradition/Long term presence on campus
3. Excellent or large facilities
4. Specific Freshmen Ministry
5. A Flag ship type campus
6.  Usually THE ministry on campus
7.  Strong financial support by alumni or other interested individuals

As you can see, there is great commonality in the lists.  No matter our size campus, budget or tenure, I believe there are things every ministry can learn from these characteristics.

SEVEN THOUGHTS FOR DEVELOPING MORE LARGE COLLEGE MINISTRIES:

1.  We must work at encouraging and making it possible for College Ministers to serve long term (salaries, benefits, encouragement, etc.).  We need long term leaders.  College Ministry is not just for the young starting in ministry.
2.  Most Southern Baptist situations have one or two Campus Ministers paid and employed by their State Convention (some raise part or all of their salaries).  Should Southern Baptists consider allowing those permanent staffers to bring on one or two year intern types who raise their own salaries to increase staff size and outreach?  One Methodist ministry on a large nationally known campus has 1500 students at their weekly meeting.....AND about one hundred (100) one year interns each year.
3.  ANY MINISTRY can develop a very specific and intentional outreach and on-going freshmen ministry through the fall semester.  It can be one freshmen Bible study or multiple ones, etc with Bible study and topics geared to their needs.
4.  Campus Ministers must do a good job of communicating the need and how alumni and other individuals can and should consider giving to support the ministry.  This also means expressing thanks and keeping them updated!
5.  Developing student leaders multiplies our ministries.  Investment in student leaders is an investment that returns with interest!  Developing student leaders benefits the church for years to come.  The more strong student leaders a ministry has the more students it will reach.
6.  Great, impacting ministries are not built overnight.  Invest and believe in the long term.
7.  If you have a facility, make it as attractive, practical, and wisely used as possible.  It is a tool.....are you making the best use of that tool?


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).