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.
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