What Criticisms Do YOU Get?

I don't know anyone that enjoys being criticized.  But, if we serve in any sort of public leadership role, we will be criticized and we need to understand that is part of it.  I have laughed at the variety of things I have been criticized about.....some I did not laugh at the time.

"You promote the ministry more than you do Jesus." 

I must admit I never quite understood that one or knew what it was about.

"You have forsaken biblical preaching." That was after a conference where I was chairman of the planning committee and we had leaders talking about how to do college ministry better...not just a series of famous preachers.

"You are too conservative."  "You are too liberal."  Those were in the same week.

"You are not evangelistic enough."  I might plead semi-guilty to that one in that one of the callings of my life has been reaching college students who came to Christ as a child and have since walked away from it.  So, evangelism has not been my sole focus by any means.

"Too many students go to the church you go to."  That is probably my favorite!  I went out of my way to not invite students to my church in trying to be fair to the multiple churches reaching out to students on our campus.  And, I was trying to help each church.  But, I have to admit I liked the fact that my example mattered.  I kind of thought that was a good thing.  

So, here is the thing.  Again, criticism goes with any public leadership role.  It just does.  

1.  You Need to HEAR it.

Not all criticism is automatically unfair.  So, we need to listen for areas we need to improve.  And, sometimes we have just goofed.  Valid criticism is helpful when we can get past the sting.

2.  You need to NOT DWELL ON IT. .

It can paralyze you.  Listen, evaluate and then decide where to go from there.  If it is valid, make some adjustments, if not, don't waste energy on it.

3.  Always consider the SOURCE.

WHO the criticism comes from matters a great deal.  Some people speak out of knowledge.  Some speak out of jealousy. Some people speak out of ignorance and some speak out of love.  The MOTIVE of the speaker is key.  Criticism from my wife gets careful attention!  And, criticism from people who I know share the same calling and are teammates gets high attention.

4.  Some criticism comes as a result of a lack of communication on our part.

So, what areas do we need to be communicating better?  Some people genuinely care and just do not have all the information they need.

5.  Some criticism is about lack of balance.

A College Minister has more jobs than he or she can do.  There are more areas that are important and getting the right balance is tough and that is where feedback is helpful.

6.  Don't CONFUSE feedback with criticism.

None of us have ever done anything perfectly.  People who care will give feedback.

 AND, NO CRITICISM can mean nobody knows you are there or worse, don't care.  There can be a reason to celebrate criticism!!

PS:  ANONYMOUS LETTERS HAVE NO VALUE    . They are just meant to hurt! Trust me; I have gotten two or three.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com

Glitz vs Substance in College Ministry

 A pastor friend of mine said he wanted his church college ministry to be one of "substance not glitz".  I agree with him......50%.

Substance is all about communicating the truth of the gospel.  It is about facing and talking about the tough issues of the day that students are encountering.  But, here is the thing.....doing it to an empty room is not too helpful!  Some ministries are proud of the fact that they do not have big crowds....that must mean they are doing nitty gritty substance.  Or, it may mean they are just dull.

Here is the thing.  Everybody needs and wants some celebration.  In the stress and strain of the college world (which is even more stressful and straining this year), there needs to be fun and celebration.  College freshmen come to school looking for two things immediately....friends and fun.  I have learned that most college freshmen think like.....wait for it......here it comes.....college freshmen!  Who knew?

Even the most serious who are planning to make straight A's and go to med school or get a PhD in something look for some fun.  Expecting college freshmen to look and think like the later on adults we want them to be is at the least unrealistic.

A healthy college ministry mixes some glitz in with the substance.  It starts out in the fall with some glitzy fun and evolves to the substance.  Some years ago there were two churches in one college town that were working hard at doing college ministry.  They each had large group events on Wednesday night.  One opened the fall with a month long series on world hunger.  The other opened the fall with a month long series on love, sex, and dating.  You know I don't have to finish that story.  By the way, the one who opened with the "glitzy" series is one of the most serious Bible teachers I know.

Depth is important.  Substance matters.  It matters more when there is someone there to hear it.  

Some of the most "substance driven" college ministries I know have some of the "glitziest events". Even I flinch at some of them. But, choosing between substance and glitz is a false choice.  Even serious people have parties.  Why should a non-believing college student want to go to a 14 week study on the book of Revelation?  One or two will.  If reaching one or two is your goal, ok.  If starting where students are and growing them to another point is your goal, where you start matters.

Here is an even crazier thought:  I think in the midst of doing the glitz....like talking about love, sex, and dating....we can be talking about biblical stuff like forgiveness and purpose in life, commitment, etc.

I believe Jesus laughed and had fun.  Notice that tax collectors and sinners wanted to be around him.  I don't think that meant he had no substance.  Being dull is not the same as having substance.  I walked across our campus one day and there was a man standing on a ladder preaching the Gospel.  I agreed with everything he was saying.  But, he was doing it in a mean and angry way.....and not one student stopped to listen.  He sure was not glitzy.  He had substance.

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.....a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  

A Life of Service

 One of my core beliefs is that we are all called to serve, if we are Christians.  That is not just about "full time vocational ministry".  It is not just till we "retire".  If we are followers of Jesus, we are supposed to be serving and need to be for our own welfare as well as the benefit of the Kingdom.

I was reminded of that this week with the news of Dick Houston passing away.  Dick was 88 years old and had been a College Minister in Georgia prior to his "retirement".  Just a little over a month ago, Dick contacted me to ask, if I had copies of "The Campus Minister" which was the professional journal of a now defunct group, The Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers.  I did not and referred him to some I thought might.

Shortly after that, Dick contacted me to tell me that he had gotten them and since he believed they were a valuable resource, he had posted all of them on line at student.org.  He was 88 years old and he was still trying to benefit the college ministry community.

In sharing his obituary on Facebook, I commented that Dick was the first College Minister I ever heard talk about using computers in your ministry.  I attended a session where he spoke of logging attendance at all of their meetings and then knowing who had and had not been to one of their events in the last two or three weeks.  Then, they could check on them and encourage them.  That was radical stuff then.  NOBODY was using technology like that in every day college ministry. Now College Ministers use SnapChat, GroupMe, etc, etc. every day. We would not dare have a college ministry conference without something on technology.  It has become that normal and everyday use.

Joe Graham, State College Ministry Director for Georgia, said of Dick, "Dick Houston was one of our pioneering CM's here in Georgia.  He tried and perfected new ideas before others even knew they were ideas."  I love that, "before others even knew they were ideas".

A month before he died at 88 he was doing "college ministry work".  He was fulfilling a life of service.  I pray that we will all be challenged by that example....no matter what our vocational calling is.  AND, let's be about perfecting some ideas before others even know they are ideas!

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  Type in his name or the title.

4 Ways to do College Ministry WRONG

I say often that there is more than one way to do college ministry right.  So, how can it be done wrong?

1.  COPY ANOTHER MINISTRY.

No two situations are alike.  No two ministries have all the same resources.  No two campuses are totally alike.  No two College Ministers have the exact same gift and skill set.  Ok; you get the idea.  Learn from others, use the same principles/essentials, but be uniquely what God has for you and that ministry.

2.  BECOME A CLOSED GROUP.

This happens two different ways. The first is philosophical.  "We are a discipleship ministry and only for those who are ready to be serious about their faith."  That does not leave much room for the student who has questions about faith...either as a believer or non-believer.  And, it often precludes the believer that has strayed and struggling with how to "come back".

Second, it is when a group just becomes an unhealthy clique.  They are all friends, think alike and have no room for anyone else or anyone not  just like them or with their attitudes.  If we are honest, most ministries struggle with this to some degree.  There is a fine line between a group being caring for each other without shutting others out.

3.  FIGHT OR IGNORE THE ADMINISTRATION.

Some ministries take great delight in breaking the campus rules.  The campus may say, "No flyers put on windshields".  The ministry says, "We are telling people about Jesus, so is ok." The more rules we break, the more rules and restrictions get put on ministries....and not just ours.  A rule breaking ministry can harm all other ministries on campus.  Doors get locked to these ministries.

Second, some ministries just ignore the administration.  When campus administrators see our ministries as partners or at least, not harmful, it is beneficial.  Doors open to helpful partners. If administrators don't even know you or your ministry is there, how does that benefit anyone?  Know and befriend those that need to know you.

4.  CHURCH COLLEGE MINISTRIES THAT SEPARATE THE MINISTRY FROM THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE.

Some large church COLLEGE ministries are totally separate from the church as a whole.  In the short term this seems beneficial as everything is college student friendly, directed and some would say it keeps students from seeing unpleasant church stuff.  But, here is the thing, will these students love the church and fit into the church for the years to come?  Doing real church over the long haul usually means being with a bunch of folks not just alike.  

And of course, there is thinking it is all up to you and that the Lord is lucky to have you there leading it, but that is for another day.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.(Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX ).  Type in his name to see all his books or just the title.

Southern Baptist National College Ministry Leadership?

 The North American Mission Board (NAMB) announced Tuesday that Paul Worcester would become their National Director of Collegiate Evangelism.  Paul and his wife, Christy, started and lead the Baptist ministry at California State University at Chicot.  This announcement was greeted positively by Baptist Collegiate Ministers throughout the country who are familiar with Paul.  In the last couple of years, Paul has been used widely on a variety of programs teaching and explaining his approach to "Gospel Conversations" and teaching his students to share Christ on campus.

Immediately, the question was asked, "So collegiate ministry now comes out of NAMB instead of Lifeway?" The simple answer is No.

This question is a result of Lifeway Christian Resources, which had housed the Southern Baptist college ministry leadership office, announcing in June that they would cease this role as a part of a multi-million dollar budget cut. As a result, there have been on going discussions as to if and where there would be an SBC college ministry leadership office and person(s) provided and located.  ((You can see the original post about this at the bottom of my Blog page.)

NAMB for many years had put a great deal of money into college ministry paying the salary of as many as fifty (50) BCM campus ministers around the country in such strategic places as West Point, Princeton, etc. Plus, they had one or more consultants working nationally in collegiate evangelism.  Some years ago as NAMB shifted their focus to church planting, they reduced their support of college ministry salaries to less than ten (10) currently and had not had a national consultant or leader in this area.

In regard to the national overall leadership of SBC college ministry, State wide BCM leaders have been working with Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the SBC Executive Committee, (SBC's top person) to resolve the question of national leadership for college ministry and who would provide it.  It is complicated in that Lifeway was assigned that role by a vote of the Southern Baptist Convention and no one....not even Dr. Floyd...has the authority to place it somewhere else.  

Those BCM leaders, who are in discussions with Dr. Floyd, have praised his responsiveness to their concerns and his desire to help resolve the situation....and to his desire to prioritize college ministry in the most beneficial way.  Seemingly, as a result of Lifeways' decision to not fulfill this role, there will need to be a recommendation from the SBC Executive Committee to the entire Southern Baptist Convention and voted on at an annual meeting to make any formal changes.

So, Paul Worcester's being named to this role is not the overall national college ministry leadership role. In recent years, some have been critical of NAMB's step back in college ministry and so see this as a very positive step.  It is another partner in college ministry on the national level.  Paul is much appreciated in the SBC college ministry family and will be widely used as his ministry is already a model to many...and not just those in Baptist life.  Paul and Christy will continue to live in California at this point.  He is already reaching out to different BCM college ministry leaders to see how he can best benefit them and our witness to students throughout the country.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  Type in his name or the title.

Lessons from Multiple College Ministries

 When I first retired from the ministry at Arkansas State University, I had the privilege of travelling around the country for Lifeway to be a help to individual college ministries and working with statewide gatherings of College Ministers.  Here are four simple things I saw and learned.

1.  THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO DO IT RIGHT AND WELL.

There is not one magic formula or secret way.  While there are principles and essentials that apply across all the ministries, they are being acted out in many different ways.  AND, there are several ways to do it WRONG! 

2. "COOL" IS WAY OVER RATED.

Somewhere there began a myth that College Ministers to be effective must be super cool and hip.  Most of the good ones I know are not.  They are just hard working, life planted people called to work with college students.  A few are "Cool" and doing well.  A few are "Cool" and the ministry is just built around them.

3.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SPEAKER.

Another myth is that to be a great College Minister, you must be a mesmerizing speaker.  Lots speak and their speaking make a difference because their life example and investment in students has earned them the credibility to be heard.  Some just organize, lead, and get others to speak.  Some weaken their ministry by trying to be a mesmerizing speaker.

4.  THE PERSONALITY OF THE COLLEGE MINISTER SHAPES THE MINISTRY.

Our weaknesses and strengths show up in the way the ministry is done.  It just does.  That's part of why we must be "self-aware" and keep growing as well as empowering others to fill spots we just do not fill so well.  But, what we value will be demonstrated in the ministry.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Almost Everything About College Ministry, is available at amazon.com/dpB08CMD9CXX and A College Ministry Success Formula is available at amazon.com/dp/B091F5S1RF.

Do THESE 5 Things If You Do College Ministry

 I think I probably over use the word "principle" in talking about essentials in doing college ministry.  Yet, I believe there are some things that are true....always true and cannot be ignored.  So, I am not sure how  many principles there are, but here are five essentials that I think matter big time in college ministry.  They continue to demonstrate themselves in some of the larger and or stronger ministries in the country.  As you consider new thoughts and approaches, consider these five.

1.  SMALL GROUPS ARE  KEY FOR DISCIPLESHIP AND RETENTION.

Students are known and cared about in small groups.  Crowds can work for teaching and momentum but individual care happens in small groups.  They are  missed when they do not show up.  They are more likely to have buy-in and participate in a small group.  They can ask their honest questions and get encouragement when they need it.  Depth can be there as a result of their choice to be there.  They can be held accountable.

2.  LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS HUGE.

Leadership development is part of our job to benefit the church in the years to come and it is key to our connecting to more and a wider variety of students.  Students touch other students and reach into groups a College Minister can never gain access to.  Student leaders multiply the work of the ministry.  It is MORE people working at the task.  It is a variety of gifts serving and the more students who have ownership of the ministry, the stronger the ministry will be. No one leader can have all the gifts needed for a ministry to be all God would have it be.

3.  CONSISTENT LONG TERM PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP IS A HALLMARK OF MOST STRONG COLLEGE MINISTRIES.

Staying long term in a ministry calls for "SELF CARE".  Develop a schedule that can be maintained.  Don't ignore family to do God's work.  That is part of God's work for you.....to ignore family is wrong and leads to burnout and family conflict.  Continue to grow in knowledge of scripture, ministry, and people.  Never think you have arrived.  Be a lifelong learner.  Help those younger in ministry than yourself and it will continue to grow and keep you fresh.  Be very aware of the key seasons of the ministry and utilize that time well.  When the ministry season is slower, utilize that time to re-coup and revitalize.  Learn what voices to listen to and which to ignore....both in your yourself and from others.

4.  AN INTENTIONAL FRESHMEN MINISTRY IS KEY TO REACHING MORE NEW STUDENTS.

Students are most available the first two to three weeks of their freshman year.  The next four years of the ministry will be affected by what a ministry does at the start of each fall.  Spend wisely extravagantly during this time and have an intentional plan of connecting to as many students as possible....BOTH Believers and Non-Believers.

5.  A SENSE OF MISSION IS CENTRAL TO ALL THRIVING COLLEGE MINISTRIES.

Why is your ministry there?  The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  The more students have a sense of the mission, the more likely they are to give their energy to it.  Does the ministry articulate a sense of mission and do student leaders know and buy into the mission of the ministry.  The Chess Club on campus is a good thing....a college ministry is a good thing, but they have very different missions.  The College Minister must articulate and promote a sense of biblical mission of care, ministry, and witness to the campus that students can and will buy into.

Arliss Dickerson's book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  

Part of My Story Or How I Started Writing College Ministry Stuff

Some have asked how I got to writing about college ministry.  In the late 80's and early 90's I felt there was a lack of people speaking up about and for college ministry.  As many have said, "College ministry is the best kept secret."  I had students going to seminary and taking college ministry classes.  It seemed what they were studying was either not practical or not really preparing them to do college ministry.  In my desire to grow and learn, I asked my students about the text books for their college ministry classes and learned they were written by people not known for doing college ministry.  None were out of Baptist life but from denominations not known for their ministry to college students.

I felt then as I do now that some of the best work (not all the best work) was being done by Southern Baptists and therefore, we should be contributing to the conversation about how and why to do it. I made a conscious decision that I wanted to be a voice in the college ministry conversation.  Not because I was smarter or whatever, but that somebody needed to be speaking up.

I wrote a little book, "Nine Shaping Principles of College Ministry".  I had it printed (or more accurately "run off") at a copy story just off of campus.  It looked TERRIBLE!  I am totally embarrassed when I look at it now.  But here is the thing, three seminaries used it as a required text. I realize now not because it was brilliant or even good.  There just was not much out there and it was practical.  Practical is all I know.  Later, I revised it and added a section on specialized Freshmen Ministry and at Calvin Miller's suggestion, called it "The 10 Commandments of College Ministry".

Why do I share this story?  We need more College Ministers in Baptist life and in whatever tribe you serve to speak up and write about college ministry.  I made a conscious decision to be a spokesman and to put myself out there.  I believe we need more who will choose to do that.

-Write something. What do you write?

-Some of you do small groups in a fabulous way.  Write how you do it and what makes it work.

-Some of you do evangelism better than most of us.  Write how you do it and how you train students to do it.

-Some of you raise money and develop staff better than others.  Write about it.  We desperately need more staff in these days and particularly when College Minister positions are being cut.

-Some of you are great at speaking at your student meetings, write what you have learned about how to do it and what really clicks with today's generation.

-Some of you are fabulous with technology and you use tools I have never even heart of!  Write "The 10 Best Technology Tools for College Ministers".

Someone asked my why I have always published my own stuff instead of it being done commercially.  Twenty five years or so ago a person at Lifeway said they wanted to talk to me about writing a college ministry book for them and that they would get back to me in the next couple of weeks.  So, I decided while I waited, I would get on with doing my own thing.  And, Amazon Self Publishing sure beats that copy store off campus!

Write something!  Speak up about college ministry.

Make a decision to be an Ambassador for College Ministry!  I am not exceptional....just a little pushy!!

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  Type in his name or the title. 

What Will it Take for College Ministry to Last and Survive Difficult Days?

This was originally part of a "Ted Style Talk" I was invited to give to the Alabama BCM and Church Based College Ministers.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR COLLEGE MINISTRY TO LAST AND SURVIVE IN THESE DIFFICULT DAYS?  (And, this question was asked "pre-covid".)

1.  WE MUST NEVER THINK WE HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT.....if you think you completely understand this business....you don't understand this business.  The campus is constantly changing.  We must keep learning and adjusting.

2.  DON'T BAD MOUTH OTHERS WHO ARE DOING COLLEGE MINISTRY DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU ARE (Remember, it is being done more different ways now than ever before.). We all have crazy uncles....but they are still our uncle.  When we bad mouth others in college ministry, it hurts college ministry as a whole.

3.  LOOK FOR WAYS TO COOPERATE WITH OR ENCOURAGE THOSE  WHO ARE GENUINELY TRYING TO HONOR THE LORD AND IMPACT COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR GOOD.  When we compete in a negative way, students sense it and students lose and it usually hurts our ministry as well.  BUT, don't ever be apologetic about what the Lord has called you to do.  One of the best compliments I ever got was, a friend told me once he liked the fact I thought I was as good as anybody.  I hope you feel that your calling and gifts are just as valuable as anyone else!

4.BE WILLING TO LEARN FROM THOSE WITH WHOM YOU DISAGREE....EVEN THEOLOGICALLY.  Baptists or nobody else has ALL the good ideas.

5.  MAKE A DECISION TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR COLLEGE MINISTRY.  Talk about it, write about it, mentor others starting out. Tell students God is calling people to college ministry.

6.  KEEP TELLING YOUR STORY AND THE COLLEGE MINISTRY STORY AS A WHOLE.  Never assume people know all the need and all that is going on in college ministry.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.