Give $25 to the College Ministry that Blessed You.

 Each year I encourage everyone who has been touched and blessed by a college ministry to give $25 to it at the end of the year. 

Why $25?

Several years ago I had several different alums and friends of our ministry say something to me like, "I would give you some money, but I can't afford to give you enough that will help."  They felt they had to give some magic number like $500.  At that time, we had 1200 people on our alumni mailing list.  I thought, if all of them gave $25, that would make a huge difference.  I came up with the $25 amount as I read about one of the larger college athletic programs in the country had started out asking people to give $25.  Almost anyone can give $25.

I would rather have $25 from ten people than $250 from one person!

That is more people connected and more who are likely to pray for you and your ministry.  And, it takes 25 decisions to stop giving $25 a year instead of just one decision.

Some give more than $25.

I have always been grateful for some alums that give more than that.  But, I still believe that we should keep the figure at $25 and not succumb to the temptation to keep raising the amount.  And, I think if someone gives $25 or $2500, they should all get the same thank you and appreciation.  The $25 may have been more significant than the $2500.

Some College Ministers are not allowed to ask individuals for money.

So, those of us that do not have that restriction can promote it and it may bless some who cannot ask, but desperately need it.  When we promote it, we are helping others who are doing college ministry.

Have YOU given $25 to the ministry that blessed you?

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

My 7 College Ministry Christmas Wishes

 1.  When the Southern Baptist Convention officially votes next summer for college ministry to be assigned to the North American Mission Board that NAMB will develop a leadership philosophy that wraps its arms around campus based ministries, church ministries, and campus church plants.

2.  And, that NAMB's college ministry expertise and leadership will continue to focus on the wide variety of ministries that Baptist Collegiate Ministry has been known for.

3.  I wish jobs for the Georgia College Ministers who were let go in the different cutbacks...and not just jobs, but ones that are in line with their calling.

4.  That BSU/BCM/BSM alumni will ALL send $25 (before the end of the year) to the ministry that blessed them.

5.  That all the College Ministers that are raising their own salaries would not only not lose any supporters but would gain in monthly/regular contributors and prayer partners.

6.  That God would move in a special way in the attempts to reach more guys in the coming semester.

7.  That my blogs would be a whole lot more helpful in the coming year.....and....that my new book  for high school seniors/college freshmen (Survival Tips for College Freshmen) would be beneficial to lots of students in not just surviving that first year, but growing in the Lord.

Merry Christmas to all!

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.....Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests......But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX .

The 2 Biggest College Minister Killers and Evaluation

 I have written  and spoken extensively on what I consider the two biggest College Minister killers.  They are COMPARISON AND FEELING ALONE.  As the semester has come to a close, it is evaluation time.  I am all about evaluation and think it is important to continue to understand your students, the campus, and your ministry. But, I think it is an easy time to get into one or both of these killers.

Let me quickly summarize the problem with each.

1.  Comparison - You never know all that is going on with another ministry.  You are just seeing things from the outside or even hearsay.  An easy metric to compare is NUMBERS.  But, even when numbers are accurate (and some are "estimates") that does not tell anyone all they need to know about what is happening in a ministry. It is not unusual for a ministry to have a quick, big year or two and the flash quickly wears off.  Long term faithfulness is always my choice.  Finally, campus settings are not identical.  Some campuses are just more friendly to a college ministry.  Some are tougher.

2.  Feeling Alone - Because College Ministers work crazy hours and times, it sometimes is difficult to connect with people in our own age group and do normal human things.  And lots of people just don't get college ministry.  So, they do not know how to talk to us about it.  

So, What do you do?

1. Evaluate against your own campus and your vision for that ministry.  What areas are you seeing progress?  What campus situations maybe new this semester (and in Covid times) have affected your ministry...for good or bad?

2.  As students have mostly left and gone home,  you will have more time.  Use that time to intentionally connect with some people outside your college ministry world.  Call a friend and go to lunch.  Talk about something besides ministry and college students.  Decide what football coach should go where, etc.

3.  Spend some extra time with your spouse and children.  It will be good for them and way good for you.  That is a little bit of a make up for some of those times you have been gone.  Take your kids for ice cream.  

4.  Ask the Lord to give you a reminder of your calling and His affirmation of that calling in your life. There is a reason you are doing what you are doing.  Re-visit your calling.  

5.  Plan out some time to read, pray, and think.  Pick out and order, if necessary, some books you will read over the break.

And oh yeah, be sure to write some thank you notes to people who have been a plus to the ministry.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Some GOOD NEWS for College Ministry in Georgia

 For the past three years, the Georgia Baptist State Convention has been making cuts in personnel in their collegiate ministry program as part of their overall downsizing.  About one hundred (100) Convention employees have lost their jobs over this period.  So, it is encouraging to hear a good word.  It was announced in the last few days that Beverly Parrish Skinner will assume the role of "Director of BCM Campus Expansion".  For the past eight years Beverly has been serving as Women's Ministry and Communications Consultant for the Georgia Convention.

The good news here is that Beverly is a wise and experienced college ministry pro.  She has served in collegiate ministry on the campuses of Ole Miss and Texas A&M.  She also led the Summer Missions program for the Mississippi Baptist State Convention.  Beverly has done college ministry, done it well and worked in some large ministries. She knows and is known  by the college ministry leaders around the country who can and will be resources to her and to Georgia.  No Baptist college ministry pro is more respected than Beverly. There could not have been a better choice for this position.

 The article by the Georgia Index said, "the moves are intended to increase the campuses where Georgia Baptists are engaged from the current 43 to 96, which is the total number of universities, colleges, and technical schools in the state."   It would seem to me that drastically cutting the number of College Ministers is not likely to double the number of campuses being reached.  I wish we could sometimes say, "With the limited resources we have, we feel like this is a good plan."  And, that would be true.  I think we need to look Baptists in the eye and say, if reaching and retaining young Christians is a priority, then we need your continued and increased giving.  And, we need to decide if college ministry is or should be a priority.

The news release did not indicate Beverly's job description or the plan.  And, I have not talked with Beverly at this point.  But, I would assume the plan is for her to enlist churches and individual volunteers to start and or continue to lead ministries on all these campuses. Beverly, with her background and experience, will be excellent at recruiting,  training, and preparing people for these roles.  But, it is a gargantuan task....and particularly if it is just Beverly.

So, let's celebrate that someone made a good choice in who is to try to pull this off and let's commit to pray for Beverly..  Plus, is there something else we can do to help? And, why don't we challenge Southern Baptists to do more.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

What is the Tipping Point for Connection and Involvement in Your Ministry?

Malcolm Gladwell in his best seller of a few years back, The Tipping Point, wrote about what it is that creates a trend or a social movement.  What is it that causes people to want to be a part?  In college ministry, all of us have wrestled with the idea of why some students connect and some do not.  Some stay and some do not.  Some we thought could be potential leaders do not stick.  Why is that?

The Law of the Few

Gladwell says that certain types of people are especially effective at spreading an idea or behavior. We all know of those students that others follow and want to be around.  One of our tasks is to get our best "People people" into the roles where they connect with new people.  Beware the danger of letting your "People people" get put in roles that don't exercise that special gift.

Connectors:  Social Butterflies

These are the ones that Gladwell says know everybody.  They connect to a wide variety of people and bring them together.  They are not limited to one group or type of people.  They cut across the social spectrum in their relationships.

Develop Your Few

You might say sure, "Where do I get a dozen of these  Social Butterfly students?"  For me one basic principle of college ministry is reaching and developing leaders.  Leaders multiply our ministry by what they do and connecting to people the College Minister would never be able to reach.  Some argue that their ministry targets leaders or influencers by reaching the Greeks. They then will influence the campus as a whole.   I would argue there are leaders all over campus and there are those who have the potential to be leaders, if we will help them develop it.  Be about developing and empowering student leaders.  We must promote and reward leadership in our ministries. Who do your students admire and respect? The Law of the Few: The few affect the masses!  

What are the things in your ministry that tip students from visiting to CONNECTING?  Or, what are the things that KEEP students from connecting?

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

College Ministry Funding Options/Strategies for Southern Baptists

 With word in the last few days that the Georgia Baptist State Convention would release another one of their Baptist Collegiate Ministers at the end of this month and not replace him, it has stirred the conversation again about college ministry funding for Southern Baptists.  I understand the reality of money and paying bills.  My frustration is that we do not seem to be very strategic, but simply make cuts.  To quit or diminish what we do in college ministry is to short change the future in Baptist life and witness.

I believe we must have conversations about the BEST WAYS  to continue to do college ministry and not just make cuts.  Here are some different options...none presented as a perfect option, but as fuel for better ideas.  They are in no particular order and I don't even like all of them.

LEAVE COLLEGE MINISTRY TO THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES.  This has been suggested by some that we simply let CRU, Intervarsity, etc do the college ministry.  They raise their own salaries, etc.  It doesn't cost us anything.  While much ministry is done by these groups, we lose the distinctive strengths of our denomination both in beliefs and practices.  AND, much of the money raised by these staffers comes from Southern Baptists.

ADOPT THE VIRGINIA MODEL.  The Virginia Baptist Convention requires their College Ministers to raise a percentage of their salary and that percentage is gradually increased.  Obviously, they do this primarily through their ministry alums.  At this point, some Southern Baptist State Conventions do not allow their College Ministers to ask individuals for money, for fear that it affects giving to the overall Baptist offerings.

ASK THE LOCAL CHURCHES TO TAKE UP THE COLLEGE MINISTRIES.  This approach was adopted by  North Carolina Baptist State Convention some years ago.  They went from multiple BCM Ministers with Centers to three employees who were to enlist and train individuals and churches to do it locally. More recently, they have downsized this to one person who has some responsibility in collegiate ministry.  Different observers give different reports to their success with this approach.

GO ONLY TO THE UNDERSERVED CAMPUSES.  This approach argues  to cut our number of College Ministers and go only to the smaller campuses where no one is doing anything or very little is being done.  "Big Name Campuses" have lots of ministries and smaller and often more commuter type campuses have less witness.  The feeling is this spreads our gospel witness and ministry where it is most needed.

GO ONLY TO THE FLAGSHIP CAMPUSES.  The argument for this approach is that "flagship campuses" are the ones with the most students normally and it is easier to draw support for these ministries for both salary and budget because they are high profile.  The argument further continues that "flagship campuses" tend to turn out the most high profile, assertive leaders that will make the greatest difference in the world (and local churches) in the days to come.  Southern Baptists have long advocated the idea of being on more campuses while CRU and others have more practiced the "Flagship Model".

DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE CONVENTIONS AND LOCAL CHURCHES.  This idea maintains that instead of local churches hiring their own College Minister that the State Convention and one or more local churches would partner to hire one or more College Ministers.  Some State Conventions now do this on some campuses.  But, these alliances are often fragile and complicated.  Some churches are willing and others are not.  Should we invite all and simply combine with those who are willing?

Already in some states outside the Bible Belt, College Ministers raise their own salaries and relate to the State Convention as a Contract Worker.

This is an UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION but one I believe we must be having in order to be more strategic, if offerings continue to decline and hard decisions have to be made.  LET'S HAVE A PLAN!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

Do You Wear a Cap in Church or at the Office?

 During the Christmas season, our church has different families or groups light an Advent candle and read scripture related to the Christmas story.  Today during the contemporary service, a group of young adults did the lighting and scripture reading.  One of them had his ball cap on during it.  He did not mean to be rude or disruptive in any way.  He just wears a cap all the time.  

Recently, I was on a work Zoom call with two guys who are in significant positions in Baptist life.  They were both in their respective offices in different states.  Both of them had their caps on.  I was in a Zoom conference a while back and noticed that of  the fifteen or twenty in the seminar, the majority had their caps on. I wear a cap when I play golf, etc, but I don't wear one in meetings or church. 

So, what's my point....besides Zoom meetings are a way of life these days?  Wearing a cap in an indoor meeting or in church or not is a generational thing.  It has nothing to do with respect or being rude.  Younger guys just wear caps these days.  I have seen some raise their cap off their head when someone would lead in prayer. I was taught not to wear a cap inside or in church by my mother, who sometimes wore a hat to church.  In working with each other....PARTICULARLY college students and other young adults.... let's not let caps and things like that become an issue.  It is a reminder that different generations have different ideas about culture and what does and does not demonstrate respect.  Don't let the minors become majors.  Jesus didn't say anything about caps, so I guess He didn't see it as an issue that needed addressing.

Besides, I have been thinking about putting a cap on my desk and next time I am in a Zoom meeting and others have a cap on, I will put mine on.  And, I look really, really good in a cap!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Church College Minister Position

 Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is searching for a full time College Minister.  Jefferson Baptist is a medium/large sized church in Baton Rouge.  JBC's college ministry has grown consistently over the last six years and currently averages 40-50 students with lots of opportunity for growth.  The JBC college ministry works closely with the LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

If you are interested, have questions, or wish to submit a resume, contact Joseph Fowler at  jfowler@jeffersonbaptist.org.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Funny College Student Stories

 Someone asked me the other day about funny college student stories.  Here are some of my favorites.

There was freshman girl who came to college whose mother had always wanted to go to college.  The mother decided to attend also and the mother and daughter were roommates in the freshmen dorm.

An enterprising upperclassman, who lived in a high rise dorm, was selling elevator passes to freshmen.  Business was pretty good until school officials got wind of it.

A mom started noticing several charges on the credit card used by her freshman son.  He lived on campus, but he had been calling Uber to take him to class.  That stopped!

One major university now has moms who call and get cleaning ladies to go clean the room of their freshman student.

The band on our campus comes to school one week early to prepare for marching at the football games.  They get to move into their dorms early and start eating in the cafeteria.  After a couple of weeks of school, they discovered that one upperclass band member had never registered for any classes, etc and was just living in the dorm, eating in the cafeteria and going to band practice.  It's a great life!  The campus police had to forcibly remove her from the dorm.

Send me your favorite funny campus story.  I would love to print a bunch of them.  I can say who it came from or not...if we need to protect the innocent or guilty.  I am serious.  Send me your favorites.  Email me at arlissdickerson@gmail.com, Facebook, or  text me, whatever.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

Book Sale at Amazon This Week & Remember College Ministry Rule #1

Two of my books are on sale this week at Amazon Books.  "Almost Everything About College Ministry" is $7.99 and "A College Ministry Success Formula" is $4.00.  

Happy Thanksgiving Week to you and yours!  Take some time to rest and be able to finish the semester strong.  As you finish this semester remember what I believe is College Ministry Rule Number One:

Believe and act on the fact that God is always doing more than you know!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

10 DUMB Mistakes in College Ministry

1.  Sloppy handling or reporting of ministry finances.  I have never known of a College Minister who I felt was dishonest or stealing ministry money.  But, I have seen lots of instances where the sloppy handling and reporting gave the appearance of possible dishonest behavior.  College Ministers should go above and beyond in financial record keeping and reporting.

2.  Use of alcohol by a College Minister where such behavior has not been discussed and agreed on as acceptable behavior.  In Baptist life there is often a divide between older Baptists and younger Baptists on this issue.  It must be clearly discussed and there be an understanding on both sides.

3. Poor care and maintenance of college ministry centers.  Why should people give money to a ministry when the appearance of the ministry center tends to give the impression of poor stewardship?  Remember, many people will only ever see the OUTSIDE of a center.  What does the yard and bushes look like and say about your ministry?

4.  Not cooperating with local church ministries...even though they sometimes are not cooperative. God's kingdom is always bigger than our ministry.  We must be about HIS kingdom.  That is true even when trying to cooperate with those who are not cooperative.  It is a tough issue, but we must work at it.

5.  Not returning messages or calls in a reasonably timely manner.  When we do not return messages or calls in a timely manner, it gives the impression we are not working or are lazy....even when the opposite is true.

6.  Misbehavior or the APPEARANCE of misbehavior with students of the opposite sex.  Always, ALWAYS be thinking about how your behavior with students of the opposite sex looks.  Yes, College Ministers have been fired for "poor appearance" behavior.  That does not matter if it is "fair" or not.  It will bite you and even if it does not get you fired, it can hurt the ministry in the eyes of students.

7.  Breaking unwritten rules or "Everybody knows" rules.  Every job has unwritten rules and expectations.  It just is.  Ask old pros what they are and be alert to them.

8.  Posting things on social media related to politics or commenting on divisive issues.  This is a tough issue because some controversial things need a wise comment or correction of facts.  But, beware of policies and use your best judgement.  

9.  Not keeping a supervisor in the loop on major issues or key changes in the ministry.  This protects BOTH the College Minister and the supervisor.

10. Breaking work rules.....even though they are dumb rules.  Yes, there are some dumb work rules.  Don't be dumb about them.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX .

Are You an18 Minute Speaker or Longer?

In recent years there has been a trend for some Christian speakers to speak up to 45 minutes.  I am not sure what caused that development.  Likely, one of our famous preachers or college ministry speakers started doing it and lots of folks just jumped in behind.  I am a constant complainer about college ministry events not starting or ending on time.  I was part of planning a regular collegiate conference where we had to change the daily schedule because the morning speakers were always going over their allotted time.

A friend who used to speak around the country said he would often be introduced as "the man of the hour" and they had told him he had twenty minutes.

So, is there a perfect time length to speak?  As it so happens, yes there is!

Well, maybe not perfect, but here is what some of the best know and have learned:

-Ted Talks are 18 minutes long. Nobody gets more than 18 minutes.  Ted Talk Curator, Chris Anderson, says, 18 minutes is "short enough to hold peoples' attention, precise enough to be taken seriously, and long enough to say something that matters."

-Biologists say the brain starts to tune out after 10 minutes. So, it is at the 9-10 minute mark that a gear has to shift, a prop used, or something done to bring the audience back again..  One conference leader said when he sees the audience attention waning, he holds up one finger and says, "let me tell you a joke."  Or, he says something startling.  It is both the gesture AND the statement that draws them back. Discussion or Q & A definitely changes the time and interest quotient as well.  It is possible to speak 15-20 minutes and then do discussion and answer questions for considerably longer. I love doing Q&A with college students and think we should do MORE of it.  Or, just give some time for them to speak their thoughts and opinions.

I have always said after one of our events that I would rather people complain that it was not long enough rather than wish it had ended earlier.

If you speak for twenty minutes or longer when preparing, do you think about a "hook statement" or a prop to draw their attention back for those that have waned?

One of the reasons I have always loved college ministry Lunch Programs is that the speaker usually has about 15 minutes.  Of course, there are a few who will spend five of it complaining about it not being enough time. Yes, it takes more work to speak for 18 minutes or less and say something of value.   But, the reason we speak is for college students to listen.....how long do you usually speak?

Should or could your college ministry be reaching more students?  Check out Reaching MORE College Students at www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

How Large Should a College Ministry Staff Be?

 The answer to that question is really pretty simple.....how many do you want to reach?  Most of us would say that we want to reach all that we can.  Many years ago, the accepted number was that one person could work effectively with about fifty (50) students.  Either we were wrong then or that number has gone up for some reason because I believe that many are working with larger numbers than that.

But, I am more convinced than ever that reaching more students calls for more staff!  There is a second part to that, which I will get to shortly.  A while back I heard about a large ministry ( not Baptist, but another denomination) on a nationally known campus.  The story I was told was that they normally had a thousand (yes that is 1,000!!) at their weekly meeting.  So, I had to know more about them and found them on the web.  So, here is the deal, they have 60 staff members.  Yes, that is not a typo.  They have sixty staffers.  Some are permanent and others are first, second, and third year interns.

I also noted that with the name of each of these was some simple description of what they did.  And, they were all different.  The second part of reaching more with multiple staff is having a clear plan and strategy.  Everybody cannot be working with the same group of students.  Of course, there will be overlaps.

MY TAKE-AWAYS:

1.  Even if there are just two of you, you must have very clear and distinct job descriptions of who each of you are trying to connect to.  It can be dorms.  It can be certain types of groups.  It can be different classes (Freshmen, Soph, etc).

2.  We have to figure out different ways of increasing college ministry staff sizes.  Is it seniors staying for a fifth year and raising their own salaries?

3.  Is it our top seniors becoming "Senior Assistants" that get paid just a little and have very specific responsibilities with different groups?

4.  Is it volunteer or part-time staff that have one or two responsibilities each week?

Many years ago Max Barnett went to Oklahoma University as the BSU Director.  He added an Associate by giving away half his salary and raising the other half.  The person who got half the salary then raised their other half.  I am not necessarily advocating that.  The thought of a bunch of us suddenly having half a salary is pretty scary.  What I am advocating is, How can we be more creative in adding more college ministry staff?  Does your Caretaker room/apartment become a "staff benefit" and the building gets cleaned some other way?

I don't have any magic answers and I think the answer will be different on different campuses.  But, we have to be brain storming how to have more staff.....AND how to strategize well with those staffers and what they do.  Their just showing up will not be magic either.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

Six Ways Older College Ministers can Succeed or Fail

 I am a fan of older College Ministers....not just because I am one.......but, I think their college ministry experience and life experience bring so many pluses to the job.  And, they often train and raise up a new generation of College Ministers.  But, sometimes a College Minister has gotten older and is not doing the job as well.  So, here are some of my thoughts on what affects all of that.

1.  Acting your age is huge.

I have seen some who tried to pretend they were younger.  That doesn't work  I wrote an article once entitled, "I Don't Wear Gym Shorts on Campus".  Some younger College Ministers do and it works for them.  Yes, I have seen older College Ministers show up at Freshmen Orientation in shorts and they were the talk of the event....and that wasn't a good thing.  There is a difference between acting your age and being unapproachable.  Today's generation has a desire to be mentored by older adults.  Also, acting your age is about playing to the strengths of your age which is wisdom and experience.  You don't have to say what you think about ear rings and tattoos any time the opportunity arises.

2.   Know your Weak Points and Equip and EMPOWER others.

Part of acting your age is knowing your weak points.  So, look for and empower others in the areas that are no longer a strength for you.  Encourage and help them develop.  Sometimes as we get older, it is easy to become defensive and try to go out of our way to do everything just the way we did it before.  Remember, the ministry is not about what you like, but what today's generation relates to and what speaks into their life.  Instead of your speaking all the time, could you coach and train some of your students to speak at your large group?

3.  You can be POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

As we get older, we can easily talk about what is wrong with us and the world.  We can be bitter about our lack of advancement or our salaries or whatever.  Or, we can be thankful to God for the opportunities that we have and that we get to be a part of what God is doing in today's generation.  Attitude matters and comes across to others.  An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.

4.  You can Quit Talking to College Students or LISTEN harder than ever BEFORE!

Someone has said, "Listening is so much like loving that its hard to tell the difference."  We can preach AT students or do lots of listening to them.  As we get older, it is easy to just hang out with faculty and other older friends.  Listening and talking to students not only enriches their lives, but ours as well.  And, it continues to make us a better College Minister.

5.  You can FIGHT with the administration or LEVERAGE your INFLUENCE.

These are tough days for college administrators with all the competing forces they have to make happy or keep from being too unhappy.  There are easy areas we can fuss with them about.  But, what are the areas we can work with them or encourage them?  A friend was asked by the University to host a luncheon for all the campus club presidents.  It would have been easy to say, "No thanks; we have our own things to do."  Or, "you haven't been to kind to us in some decisions."  Our older age often makes us peers with some of the top administrators.  Be a friend.  It is surprising how many doors being a partner opens.  Be a friend and partner, where possible.  The older we get the easier it is to be friends and peers with top administrators.  Leverage that strength!

6.  ASK for help or just be BULL HEADED.

Don't be overly stubborn.  Admit to students you don't know how to do the latest social media or even what it is and can they give you a quick tutorial.  Be willing to learn new stuff.  And, you may not be an expert, but you will at least know what they are talking about.  Pretending you know is a killer!

We need more older experienced College Ministers for a ton of reasons!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Two Types of College Worship Events....Which Is Yours?

 A while back I participated in an on-line workshop in doing college ministry large group worship events.  I was struck by the variety and good thought that has gone into it different places.  I think it is important to remember that the type and style of event must be shaped by the campus setting and the gifts of the College Minister.

1.  ITS A WORSHIP SERVICE.

Often they are held in a church setting and it is "preaching" and worship with the emphasis on teaching scripture, even verse by verse.  One striking thing was that many are using "teaching teams" which are made up of students rather than the College Minister speaking all the time. One of the great pluses of this is the training and preparation of students for ministry for the future. There is a bit more of an emphasis on "the production" in this style.

2.  IT IS MORE CASUAL AND FUN WITH TEACHING AND INTERACTION.

This approach may lend itself more to a topical approach with mixer type activities and student questions and surveys in the midst of it using different tech options. This style appeals a bit more to that student who has been turned off to church and don't feel they are just attending another church service.  Students can switch from fun to serious instantly and back.   

WHEN DO YOU HAVE FOOD?

Even in the area of food for events there are two different approaches.  Some do food/snacks before the event or even a Coffee House prior to the event starting. Others do food or snacks after the event is over.  But, the goal for most is helping students connect and be comfortable being there.

WHICH IS THE ENTRY POINT?

For many years it was commonly said that students come first to the large group event and as they get more comfortable, they would move into the small groups.  Others say their entry point now is the small groups.  Students come to those first and then move to the large group.  One observation is that this depends on the personality of the campus.  Engineering major type campuses do small group first and people major campuses do large group first. Again, it goes back to the principle that every campus is different and you must be a student of your campus.

WHAT IF YOUR EVENT IS NOT THE MAIN RELIGIOUS EVENT ON CAMPUS?

One speaker shared that his campus has the largest college ministry in the country of another denomination.  They are not "the event" on campus.  He said what I think is the magic formula for all ministries, "Find your niche."  I believe this is true no matter your situation.  Do what you and your ministry do.  Play to your personal strengths and the strengths of your ministry.  And yes, being small can be a strength or a plus in many ways.

MY PERSONAL LEANING  is to the more casual teaching with fun mixed in to the worship, etc with lots of interaction. One reason I lean away from the "Straight Worship Service" approach is I think it helps promote the issue of students making the college ministry their church. But, that is me and what has worked well for me.  Be you.  Be the you God gifted you to be and don't copy what someone else is doing just because it is working for them.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

To Tweek, Change, or Dump Your Large Group Event?

 Most college ministries have a weekly large group event.  For many, it is the front door to their ministry and in many people's minds it is the picture of the ministry.  Here are some questions to ask in evaluating your large group event.  As some now report that their small groups have become the entry point, what does that mean for the large group?  I never believe it is a choice between a large group event and small groups.  There is strong value in both.  One of the things I like about large group events is the opportunity it provides for training students in leading worship, speaking, etc for their years to come as leaders in churches.  One somewhat surprising development some places is the idea of using some students to be the main speakers at these events.  The College Minister works with them in developing their message and prep for delivering it.  I personally lean toward the idea of a mix of student speakers and College Ministers or pastors and other pros speaking.

1.  What is the purpose of it (for core people, an outreach event, a teaching time, etc)?

2.  Do we have the people, talents, and resources to pull off what we are attempting?

3.  Are we just doing a poor imitation of "The Poster Ministry" or Passion Conference?

4.  Is our event right, but is it just being defeated by lack of preparation and attention to the details?

5.  What are different large group styles or formats we might consider?

6.  Is our time, length, or night the most desirable?  And, do students know we will start and end when we say we will?

7.  Is our meeting PLACE the problem?  Where would be some other options?

Most college ministries don't need to dump their large group event, but it may be time for a refreshing or an adjustment.  The "new" time, event, or re-tooled large group event could start in January to have it refined before next fall.  And, the end of a semester is always a great time to do a one time trial such as a different night, time, place, etc.  We usually learn something by doing it once.  

Adapted from Arliss Dickerson's book, "Fixing a Broken College Ministry" amazon.com/dp/1521876665 .

WHAT??? You have NOT Been Criticized THIS Week?

1.  All leadership/decision making roles draw criticism.

2.  Consider the source.  

3.  Hear but don't dwell on the ANGRY criticism.  It is possible there is a grain of truth in it.

4.  Evaluate the constructive criticism or that from a positive source.

5.  Not all disagreement is criticism.  Some issues do not have perfect solutions, but a decision has to be made to move forward.

6. Listening to those with positive criticism demonstrates you care.

7.  Remember, that critics tend to be louder than supporters or those who agree with your decisions.  It is crazy, but true.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX .

An Awkward Conversation in College Ministry

One "awkward conversation" that has come up some lately is likely one we need to intentionally have in the college ministry family....particularly the Baptist Collegiate Ministry family.  That "awkward conversation" is, "Are we emphasizing evangelism at the expense of other needed and proven ministries?"

No College Minister wants to come out "AGAINST" evangelism.  It is contrary to the gospel, contrary to our calling and contrary to continue to be employed.  Here is the "HOWEVER".  In recent years due to the increasing number of  non-believers on college campuses and non-believers being more reachable during college days, there has been a greater emphasis on one to one evangelism and gospel presentations at each large group meeting.  And consequently, less time, energy and emphasis is often being given to other areas of ministry..

Some years ago a student came and asked if she could talk to me.  She had been active in another ministry on campus and wondered could there be a place in our ministry for her.  She was painfully shy.  She barely looked at me as she spoke.  She said the campus ministry she was involved in told her that she must go out on campus and engage strangers in conversations about becoming a Christian.  That was totally foreign to her personality.  I told her there was a place for her.  She had what was likely the greatest servant heart I have ever seen.  She enhanced our ministry greatly and was a "witness" to many with her service and loving heart.  While all of us are called to be a witness, that calling will show itself in different ways.

Maybe our "awkward conversation" needs to at least partly be about teaching students there are different kinds of evangelism and personal witness.  But, I also believe that one of the great strengths of Baptist Collegiate Ministry through the years has been that we do a lot of things well in our ministries.  In the need for doing a great job in evangelism, lets make sure we keep doing and talking about other parts of life that students need to hear and develop.

Our "awkward conversation" is not whether evangelism needs to be done, it is about how we do it well AND do the other things we are called to do as well.  My life verse is Luke 2:52, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."  It is about balance.  We won't get it perfect, but we need to have those "awkward conversations".

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Rules for College Ministry

 1. Believe and act on the fact that God is always doing more than you know.

2.  Ask a student to do it, if at all possible.

3.  Affirm leaders and help them grow.

4.  Play fair with the school and all other ministries, even those you don't like.

5.  Build on previous years while realizing every year is brand new.

6.  Look for partners.

7.  Always express thanks to those who serve and support.

8.  Model what you expect from students.

9.  Make the most of each campus season and each personal season.

10. Never let your ministry take the place of your personal relationship to the Lord. 

11. Work wisely hard AND care for your family!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Why Campus Ministries Oftentimes Have Student Leadership Teams by Jerome Stockert

  Why Campus Ministries Oftentimes Have Student Leadership Teams, Jerome Stockert                                 

-They believe in student leadership.

-Students need to help, lead, and make a difference.

-Students can connect with their friends and peers in ways that staff cannot.

-Students on leadership teams tend to grow stronger spiritually while serving.

-A leadership team models the disciplines of the Christian life.

-Leadership teams help students discover their spiritual gifts while serving.

-Developing student leaders helps build future leaders for the church.

Jerome Stockert is Baptist Campus Minister at the University of Central Missouri.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

5 Characteristics of Large and/or Growing College Ministries

 As I say frequently, every situation is different....BUT I do believe there are five common characteristics that I see again and again in large and or growing college ministries.  Most, if not all, of these can be done to some degree by any sized ministry.

1.  Specialized Freshmen Outreach and Ministry

These ministries tend to make the most of the summer leading up to the start of school and then they do a great job of special events and follow-up aimed at new students.  It also helps many new students not shipwreck their college career or even their entire life during those first couple of weeks.

2.  Effective Small Groups

Small groups both teach and retain.  Great discipleship and growth happens in well done small groups.  And, students are personally known and cared for.  There are three obvious options to doing small groups: One is random times throughout the week, another is all of the groups meeting simultaneously such as a "Freshmen Night".  Where College Ministers used to say that new students came into their ministry through the large group worship and then migrated to the small groups, many now say that their small groups are the entry point.

3.  Leadership Development

The more strong student leaders a ministry has, the stronger and usually larger the ministry will be.  This involves building a leadership culture and to be intentional about encouraging and mentoring student leaders.  Some of a College Minister's most valuable time is spent mentoring some student leaders.

4.  Sense of Mission

These ministries are not just present on campus, but they are also permeated with a desire to reach the campus, share Christ and be an influencer to the campus. This does not come accidentally or instantly.  But, it comes from the top down.  Leadership priorities are contagious!

5.  Consistent Long Term Professional Leadership

Continual turnover from one Campus Minister leader to another is one of the two most common killers of college ministries.  Students and momentum are lost in every change.  It takes three years for a ministry to take on the priorities and direction of the one leading it.  When there is change every two or three years, a ministry stays in the beginning stages.  The larger the ministry and the campus, the more important it is for long term capable leadership.

This is summarized and adapted from "Fixing a Broken College Ministry" amazon.com/dp/1521876665.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

Ministry with Guys and the NEED for it

 There have always been more girls involved in college ministry than guys.  That reflects the same ratio that is true in church as a whole.  But, is the ratio getting even more disproportionate these days?  I have heard some College Ministers indicate that is true for them. A few elite schools are now even relaxing some of their entrance requirements to get more guys.  So, what is going on?

Kathleen Parker, syndicated columnist, did an editorial this week entitled, "Why it's not surprising that young men are abandoning college". Parker basically says that over the last several years in an attempt to give girls fair and equal opportunities our efforts have developed "a growing intolerance toward boy behavior in general."  She cites that twice as many boys are on ADHD medicine than girls (11.7% to 5.7%).  Time Magazine in an article, "Men Are More Likely to be Single than Women", indicated that almost a third of single men live with a parent and that since 1990, women have graduated college in far higher numbers than men."  One conclusion from the Time article is that men function at a higher level and tend to earn more when they are married.  Yet, college educated women are less likely to marry a man with less education. The article goes on to say, "What seems to be clear is that the path to marriage increasingly runs through college." 

I have felt for the last several years that more and more guys were willing to just participate rather than take responsibility and lead out.   College women were looking for opportunities to lead and guys were looking for excuses not to lead or take responsibility.  So, here is the deal, fewer guys are going to college and guys are more and more willing to take a back seat.  A friend told me recently about going to his son's Father/Son Fraternity Weekend Tailgate Party.  He said none of the guys, including his son, went into the stadium to the game.  They just hung out and gradually drifted off.  It was a mystery to the father.  Guys just seem to be drifting more.

Some years ago the ministry that I led had a Guy's Ministry.  There were some special discipleship events, but mostly our guys leading it tended to focus on "Painting up" for ballgames.  I wrestled with that in that I thought that "Painting Up" was too much the central focus of our guy's "ministry".  But, I do believe that we need to do some things that directly appeal to and connect to guys.  A friend of mine used to do a guys retreat with lots of bacon and they used donuts for the bun on their hamburgers.  They had tee shirts that had pictures of duct tape on them. You may flinch at that, but do we need more of that, both in reaching guys and use those opportunities to teach them to step up and not just trudge along?  I also think we need to be helping both men and women have godly marriages that enhance their lives, the church, and society as a whole.

I think we need to be more intentional than ever in reaching and discipling guys.  Hey, look for some guys that want to "Paint Up" for the next ballgame.  Buy them some paint and start meeting with them weekly for discipleship. Hooray for all the young women who are stepping up and doing.  I am not for pushing them back, but for helping guys fill their role as well.  I think our society and our churches need both strong men and women who take responsibility to serve and to lead.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

The Number ONE Tool of Your College Ministry

 Nothing will affect a college ministry more than the person leading it and who they are as a person.

The longer you serve in the leadership role of whatever ministry you lead, the more it will reflect your strengths and weaknesses.  The ministry will become a picture of you.  Also, the more the ministry grows and is known, the more people will look at you as the face of the ministry  Your priorities will show in the ministry.  That is why as the leader, you must always be working on you.

Four factors in being the best tool and leader of your ministry:

1.  Your relationship to the Lord

If the ministry you lead is to truly be a ministry and not simply a club for college students, your relationship to the Lord is key.  At the heart of the ministry is the leader's relationship to the Lord. There is the temptation to pretend to be more than we are.  But, students quickly see through that.  Be you with the Lord and how you walk with the Lord. One part of this picking a scripture that is central to who we are and what we want our ministry to be about.  For me that verse is II Timothy 2:2, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."  I would encourage you to choose a "Life Verse" to guide you in your relationship to the Lord and in focusing your ministry.

2.  Your personality

God gave all of us a personality. I believe that our personality is both a result of how we are raised and part of it just is "born in" as someone has said. That is God's hand in us and is usually best represented in our gifts.  We will tend to attract students who are like us or drawn to our personality.  If your personality is an outgoing one, there will likely be lots of outgoing students in your ministry.  If you are more introverted, there will likely be more introverted students in your ministry.  One of the challenges of college ministry is to make sure that our ministry is not just limited to those who share our personality.  Part of how we broaden our ministry past our own personality type is by demonstrating that we value gifts and abilities different than our own.  We must demonstrate that we value a wide variety of students and provide leadership opportunities for them.

3.  Your personal strengths

So, part of your personality shaping the ministry will obviously be your strengths.  What do you do best?  What are the gifts God has placed in YOUR life?  Are those being given the time and priority to be at their best? It is at the heart of my beliefs that God has placed gifts in each of our lives and that He wants to utilize them and that they are the heart of His use of us.  It also means identifying and being honest about what your shortcomings are as well.  It means making room for and giving the freedom to others to do what is not at the heart of your gifts and strengths.

4.  Your relationships

The more people we know, the the more it will benefit our ministry.  The more students we know the more we are likely to reach.  We must be intentional about working at and developing a wide variety of relationships.  Relationships are the currency of ministry.  The more we have, the more we can spend.  There are a variety of students, administrators, campus leaders and potential supporters that we can and should develop positive relationships with that will benefit the ministry and our lives personally.

Some questions for self evaluation and development:

What are my priorities for the ministry?  Are those being demonstrated in the ministry?

What are my personal gifts and strengths and are they being demonstrated in the ministry?

How is my personality shaping the ministry in positive and negative ways?

This article is adapted and condensed from "A College Ministry Success Formula" amazon.com/dp/B091F5S1RF .

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

College Students and Pornography

If you work with college students, you are working with some students who have had porn issues or are in the midst of it now.  That is just how wide spread and pervasive it is.  The Recovery Village says that "35% of all internet downloads are porn related".  A College Minister told me this week he had done an anonymous survey among the guys in their discipleship groups and every one of them said they either were currently struggling with porn or had in the past.  ALL....100% and these were all highly involved in a college ministry.

He did this survey as a result of a graduate who had been a leader in his ministry sharing with him that he had lost his marriage due to his involvement with pornography.  Experts in this field say that as someone becomes addicted to porn, normal human relationships begin to suffer as reality does not measure up for them.

Medical News Today says porn users...

... ignore other responsibilities to view porn.

... view progressively more extreme pornography to get the same release that less extreme porn once offered.

... feel frustrated or ashamed after viewing porn but continue to do do so.

... want to stop using pornography but feel unable to do so.

A psychiatrist told me that the "capture rate" for porn is higher than for alcohol, marijuana, and drugs.  He said there is a percentage of people who will try or use each that will become addicted. That is the "capture rate".  And, the addiction rate or "capture rate" for those that try porn is higher than each of the other three.

Ryan Scantling, BCM College Minister at the University of Arkansas, does a message on purity/porn every spring semester and asks those who are currently involved with porn to abstain for 21 days and "We go through a devotional together everyday for those 21 days."  He indicated this has had a good response.

Porn used to be considered a "Guy Issue",  but Sarah Farley, former College Minister at the University of Georgia and now at the International Mission Board, says she believes about 1 in 3 girls  have some sort of porn issue today.  Due to the "normalization" of it and that it is now considered "healthy" and is so accessible, she believes the number of girls involved with porn will go to 1 out of 2.  Sarah says, "We are fighting a re-definition of sexuality, pleasure and sin. It literally changes the brain."

You do not have to be an expert on porn to begin to help students with this issue. Part of it is opening the topic up and giving students the opportunity to talk to someone they trust and who can help hold them accountable. Plus, you can point them to helpful resources. One resource in this area is www.fightthenewdrug.com.  It has helpful articles and videos that would benefit you in working with students and also in referring students to it.

Are you working with college students?  Then, you probably are working with some students who are wrestling with porn issues.  What are you doing to help?

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

The Number ONE Thing New College Ministers Say

 I have heard it again and again and so I believe it is the number ONE thing new College Ministers say.

"I wish I could go back and do the first month over now with what I know."

It is unfair how much the first month and even the first two weeks affect our ministry for the whole school year and then how much that can affect our ministry for the next four years.  So, whether you are brand new or a grizzled veteran, now is the time to go back and evaluate your first month and write down plans, thoughts and adjustments for next year.  Don't wait till next spring or summer when the start of school is on the horizon.  Do it now while the memories are fresh and accurate.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

What IF Finances Force Cuts in Collegiate Ministry in the Future??

 In light of the recent cutbacks in college ministry in the Georgia Baptist Convention (which had long been considered a leader in college ministry) and at Lifeway a while back, etc, where do we go from here? Please understand that Baptist college ministry is done on the state level and each state convention makes its own decisions.  Thankfully there are states who have not made cuts and have even strengthened what they are doing in collegiate ministry. Yet, many predict that giving to Baptist causes will go down over the next few years.  So, what if money issues cause changes to be made in other State Baptist Conventions?  I am not a prophet and no one has asked my thoughts and I am pretty sure they will not.  But....

So, what are options for the future?  I am not recommending any of these at this point and don't even like some of them.  But, they are options.  Maybe looking at these would get us to a better option.

1.  Prioritize Campuses - Some campuses are just easier to work on for a variety of reasons.  Some campuses are flag ship campuses and they produce leaders simply because of the type campus they are and the students they attract.  Some have a strong history of a large ministry and it has momentum.  Maybe, it is we will work on these five (5) campuses in this state.

2.  Do matching salaries - A Convention state office will pay this much money on your salary and you raise an equal amount or a percentage.  

3.  Pay 4 or 5 senior top notch Campus Ministers and then let X number of younger Campus Ministers raise their salaries and work under them in multiple staff situations or on smaller campuses.  The younger men and women would be mentored by them and learn from them.  Maybe, they serve one year directly with them and go out on their own to a campus the next year.  They could be permanent or a two or three year commitment.  Be mentored one year in a larger ministry and then serve one or two years somewhere else on your own.  This would multiply ministries.

4.  Ask an individual church to take over the local college ministry.  This has been tried to some degree where there have been cutbacks.  Some money could be provided by the State Convention to that church.

5.  Ask all the Baptist Churches in the town to go together to pay for a college ministry leader who would be on campus.  Actually, this is a really old idea.  But, maybe its time has come again.

6.  Just turn college ministry over to the non-denominational groups like Cru and Intervarsity, etc that raise their own salaries and don't cost us anything.  Of course, they are raising much of that money from Baptists and do non-denominational ministries develop and produce Baptist leaders for the future?  Yet, they are doing kingdom work.

7.  Ask churches in a college town to make their Youth Minister Youth and College and give them two or three Interns for youth and college.  It costs the church some more, but it produces more at not a huge additional cost.  The State Convention could provide some funding.

8.  Develop a Faculty Network of Baptist Christian professors who would start a Bible study on their campus.  Provide training and materials for them.

9.  Join with other evangelical groups in that town to have a Christian Center or Ministry that has a Center that different groups can use and work out of.

10.  With limited resources, divide up campuses in a state with other evangelical groups.  They will work on this campus and we will work on that campus.

11. Get a bunch of my college ministry books and fly over campuses and drop them from air planes and see what happens.

Let me hear YOUR idea.

Here is my MAIN SUGGESTION:  Let's get a plan ahead of time of where we are going and try to be intentional about it!!!  Just cutting expenses is not the best plan.  And, alums should give $25 every year to the ministry that blessed them.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

A Strategic Loss for Baptist Collegiate Ministry

 I learned yesterday through different friends that contacted me that Joe Graham, State wide Baptist Collegiate Ministry leader for Georgia, was informed yesterday that his job would end at the end of this month.

The Christian Index, the Baptist paper for Georgia,  in a release yesterday said that, "A prolonged decline in Cooperative Program giving is forcing the Georgia Baptist Mission Board to further reduce staffing levels in order to right-size the organization to meet financial realities. Cooperative program receipts have declined in Georgia from a high of $49.5 million in 2007 to $37.8 million in 2020, an overall drop of $11.7 million.  That includes a $2.6 million decline since the beginning of the pandemic."

About a year or two ago retirement incentives were offered to a number of Georgia Convention employees. This included some BCM Campus Ministers and that reduced their number of local BCM College Ministers.  A friend, who formerly worked in Georgia, told me at one point there were 170 Georgia Baptist Convention employees and now there are less than 90.

In my opinion, Joe's loss is not just a loss to collegiate ministry in Georgia, but to our national movement of college ministry as well.  He has been a strong voice and leader in much that has been done to fill the gap in cutbacks on the national level. 

In the past years with the changes and elimination in national programs and the loss of the collegiate ministry office at Lifeway, the State BCM Directors have led BCNet.  BCNet is a group of committees made up of local campus and church based College Ministers that plan and carry out ministries, programs, and training that benefits our national movement.  And, this past August the State BCM Directors, with Joe's involvement, planned and put on the Collegiate Week at Falls Creek in Oklahoma.  Collegiate Week is a national gathering of students and College Ministers which has been done prior to the start of each school year.  This event was formally done by Lifeway Christian Resources.

Pray for Joe and his family during this time for what is next for him and just in processing this.  Also, pray for collegiate ministry in Georgia.  I was told that the Georgia BCM Directors will be meeting together later this week.  Pray for that meeting and for them as well.

Also pray that decisions made in days to come as finances change that Baptists will be strategic and wise in decisions made.  It is easy to just cut, but how do we do what God has called us to do in the wisest and most efficient way with the resources that we have?

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Why Do Students CONNECT to a College Ministry?

Why do some students connect to a ministry and some do not?

I believe the simple answer is RELATIONSHIPS.  Students go where they feel known and cared about.  Friends are the X Factor.  What do friends do?  Or, WHERE have I met and made friends?

I believe it is more imperative than ever that we work at providing opportunities and avenues for students to connect personally with others.  AND, we have to remember that because of texting, etc students are not as good at making social connections face to face as they used to be. It does not happen as automatically as we might hope and expect.

What are some possible "Connecting Points"?

-Big Buddy/Little Buddy is where an upperclassmen is paired with a freshman.  They meet at least once a week to visit and to pray or do a fun activity.  This also helps train upperclassmen in the importance of reaching out to younger students  and can lead to a mentoring relationship. 

-Fun Trips such as a Float Trip .  It can be a one day experience or longer.  

-Disaster Relief Trips:  Due to all the destruction by storms lately a lot of ministries are doing DR trips which appeal to a wide variety of students AND promote personal connections as they work side by side.  Some campus administrations have even given money to campus ministry groups doing DR projects.

- Fun Golf Tournament:   I put the word fun here because I think it has to be clear that it is not just for "serious golfers".  Prizes will be "Funniest Shot"; "Most Lost Balls"; "Most Likely to Injure Someone", etc with a steak cookout to follow.

-Golf Clinic:  Have a two hour session with some clubs and balls provided and someone who knows enough to share tips and just promote fun.  It does not even require a golf course...just a big field.

-Cooking Class:  It can be a one time event or a multi-session happening.  As more students live in apartments and there is more emphasis on eating healthy, knowing how to fix some basic and fun things is of great interest.  I lean toward things such as this being a one time event.

-Yoga and Bible Study:  Sweating together promotes getting to know others and quickly does away with inhibitions.  Your PE Department may offer Yoga options, etc, but you can add the spiritual spin to it.

A growing phenomenon now being quietly discussed in education circles is the increasing gap between the number of guys and girls attending college.  More and more guys are opting out of college.  Some colleges with very strict entrance requirements are quietly relaxing some of those to just get more guys.  It is not just college ministries that are wrestling with reaching guys.  So, connecting guys is an even greater concern and issue for us as well.  

Will any of these work for you? 

Who knows!  Here is the point, I believe we have try more things that are simply aimed at helping new students make personal connections.  I hope to share some "Connecting Points" in the future that different ministries have done that help students connect.  Let me hear from you.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

The College Ministry Multiplier....FREE BOOK

 I believe that student leaders are the multiplier of our ministry.  They can do things that free us to do other things.  They can connect to students we would never be able to meet or relate to.  Plus, when we train and develop young leaders, we are benefitting churches for years to come.

My eBook, 25 Tips for Developing College Ministry Leaders, is free for the next five (5) Days.  You can get it here amazon.com/dp/B01KSUYR0A.  

Please pass the word.  Thanks for what you are doing!  

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

"You don't have to think old just because you grow old" in College Ministry

 Colin Cowherd, the sports talk radio guy, in talking about Nick Saban's success at Alabama said, "You don't have to think old just because you grow old."  He went on to talk about Saban's long period of success because of his adjustment as the game and the rules have changed.  That resonated with me not just because I am old, but because I am one of, if not the biggest, advocate for more long term older College Ministers.

Many of our larger ministries are led by older and long term College Ministers.  Many college ministries are not reaching near their potential due to the continual turnover of College Ministers and newer and younger College Ministers having to learn the same lessons each time there is a change.  Don't get me wrong, I am not against young College Ministers.  I just do not believe, as many do, that college ministry is only for the young. We need lots of you great guys and gals to stay for the long term.

As we age, we have to continue to be a student of students and changing attitudes.  It is a small and maybe even silly example but years ago I realized that I did not need to be designing our tee shirts. . Our young Assistant and some of the students designed the tee shirts that our students loved and wore all over campus. I didn't have to love the shirt. The tee shirt company told us what the current favorite colors were for that year. Who knew that certain colors were designated as "the colors" that year? If it had just been up to me, we would have had red tee shirts every year.

Many years ago in the early 70's I learned my first college ministry maxim from Max Barnett, "Methods are many and principles are few; methods often change, but principles never do."  As we age in college ministry, we must be aware of what is principle and what is just method.  You must always be true to your principles and ministry principles, but not wed to a method.  Thinking young sees new methods that are consistent with time proven principles.

Another of my favorite sayings comes from that great philosopher, John Wayne, the movie cowboy of years go:  "Life is hard; life is harder if you are stupid."  We are stupid when we do not adjust and change. Part of being a successful long term College Minister is listening to students and continuing to learn.  And, we don't have to like tattoos or get a tattoo to continue to love college students and work with those that think a tattoo is a great Christmas present.

College campuses continue to change.  Students continue to change.  I think in many ways the Pandemic has speeded up change.  What worked pre-pandemic may not be the best approach now.. Are you willing to consider new options? 

2 Guides to Young Thinking:

-Continue to ask WHY you do a particular activity or ministry.

-Make ministry decisions based on what IS, not what WAS.

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight , so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ."  Philippians 1:9-10

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Random Start of School College Ministry Thoughts

 Encourage another College Minister. This is the easy time for College Ministers to be discouraged....working night and day and some things maybe not going as hoped or planned.  Even if you are encouraged, someone else is down.  Call and encourage another College Minister.   And, the way to encourage them is not telling them how great it is going for you.  Ask how they are doing and listen.

Sponsor another college ministry. Should your ministry be helping another college ministry?  Send them a check.....$25 is a gift from heaven for some ministries.  Pick one and stay with them or do something for a different one each time.  

Missing upperclassmen? With the emphasis of reaching new students these first couple of weeks, it is easy to not realize some regular upperclassmen from last year have not been around at all.  Think back over last years regulars.  Anybody you need to check on?

Thank your leaders.  Don't take for granted the extra work, time, and energy your leaders are putting in during these first few days and events.  Make a clear and strong effort to thank them as a group and individually.

Encourage that leader who is dragging.  It is not unusual at this point to have some of your leaders just busting it, but someone is not doing much or seems to be struggling.  Invest in them and encourage them before they feel they just have fallen too far behind.

Homesickness is real or do I fit at college?  One thing for us to be aware of is those students who are feeling very left out or struggling with this new adjustment.  I have had two conversations in the last 24 hours with an aunt and a mother concerned that their student will quit and come home.  We sort of grin about homesickness, but it is real to the one who is homesick.  And that student who has made A's without ever trying suddenly feels lost.  Part of our "pastoral ministry" is encouraging ones like this AND talking with moms and aunts..  One freshmen I saw as a future leader of our ministry went home Labor Day weekend and just never came back. 

Second and third week of school is a time of getting around on campus and loving on students.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Pray for Louisiana College Ministers

 As you pray for Louisiana, I wanted to share some specific college ministry prayer requests.  Matt Middlecamp is the BCM Campus Minister at Southeastern Louisiana at Hammond.  Last night a tree crashed through their house.  They went across the street to stay with neighbors and then two more trees hit the house. At least one limb went through the roof into the interior. Steve Masters, the BCM Campus Minister at LSU, is taking a travel trailer to them.

Corey Oliver, the BCM Campus Minister in New Orleans, and his family evacuated to Dallas.  He said he was prepared to come back to damage or no house.  A video a neighbor sent showed some damage possibly to the roof and there was no awareness of the interior.  The neighborhood is without power and may be for as long as 30-40 days.  Pray for Corey and his family.

The August book sale ends tomorrow/Tuesday. amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

Asking Questions and for Advice

Sometimes we are reluctant to ask questions or for advice in our ministry situation.  I think we fear that it will show that we have no clue what we are doing or that we are incompetent.  Probably, the opposite is true.  Wise people ask questions, seek advice, and THEN make their OWN decision.

Recently, I was visiting with a friend who had led a large college ministry several years ago in another location.  I asked what he knew about his former ministry.  He said, "The new guy has called me a couple of times to ask questions."  I was impressed with "the new guy".  You see there have been two or three College Ministers who had followed my friend.  This was not his immediate successor.  Yet, "the new guy" is wise enough to call and see what he can learn.

Why ask questions of someone who has not been there in a while?  It gives some context to why some situations are as they are.  Has this always been an issue here or is it new?  Sometimes, the reason something is being done that way is no longer an issue.  So, a change is not a problem.  Plus, when someone has been very successful somewhere, as my friend had, it never hurts to hear anything they have to say.

Asking advice does not commit you to taking it.  What would you do in this situation is a great question.  But, what two different people with two different gift and skill sets should do are not necessarily the same.

Seeking advice sometimes surfaces a different idea.  What the person suggests may cause you to think of an entirely different idea or response.  But, it came out of what you heard and the questions you asked.

Asking questions helps me think out loud.  For some of us, thinking out loud with someone is more productive than solitary and silent thinking.  

Asking for advice or information demonstrates respect.  It is never wrong to demonstrate respect for someone who deserves it.  But, to demonstrate respect, the question needs to be genuine and listened to...not necessarily acted on, but heard.

I notice Jesus asked a lot of questions.  Do I need to say I don't think He was incompetent?

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are on sale in August at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX

 

Why Do College Freshmen Drop Out of Church?

Every survey or expert I see write on it agree that college students who were active in church while in high school, mostly do not go while they are in college.  They only disagreement is on the numbers.  Some say nine (9) out of ten (10).  Some say it is "only" seven (7) out of (10).  Why?  I believe it is a combination of things.

1.  High school seniors feel like they have graduated from church.  Youth ministries have more and more become separated from the church as a whole. Wednesday night youth service is usually more largely attended than Sunday Bible study and worship.  Larger churches even have Sunday Worship just for youth. Many churches make a big deal of Senior Sunday and it just has the feel of graduating  We must do a better job of having "next steps" and their seeing and doing those next steps. 

2.  College is busier.  I genuinely believe that mosst do not go with the plan to drop church.  It just is a fact that college is busier and more demanding than high school with demanding classes, activities, and for many, part time jobs.  It is easy for a college freshmn to just assume that church will somehow fall in somewhere, because it has in the past.  The first month passes and they have not connected anywhere and that usually is the end of it.  What a student does the first 2 to 3 weeks often determines their habits and activities for their whole college career. A Christian student has to be intentional about connecting to a church at the beginning.  Intentionality is the key!

3.  Parents OK dropping out.  I hate saying this because it is an unfair statement in many ways.  Here is what I mean.  Many parents who are active believers and very involved in their church were not active when they were in college, but they came back. So, they assume that their son or daughter will drop out but will come bask as they did.  Somehow, that message is communicated to the freshman.  Here is the problem:  we don't see new college graduates coming back in a big way these days.  But, if they do, they come back with decisions they made and the priorities they developed while away from Christian nurture and influence.

4.  Freshmen mess up!  Freshmen go to college looking for friends and fun.  There is nothing wrong with that.  But, often in finding friends and fun, they are exposed to and participate in things they had considered wrong just a month before.  Sometimes, they get drunk for the first time or have some sort of sexual experience due to new friends and trying to find a place they fit.  This "mess up" on their part leads to guilt feelings and Christian activities are just a reminder of the guilt or sense of failure they are feeling.

5.  Freshmen go where their friends go.  It is simple.  If none of their new friends go to church, they probably will not go.  It is hard going by yourself.  Making some Christian friend connections in the beginning is a key factor for the future.

6.  College churches are often much larger.  It is just a fact that the majority of churches are small.  Students have often grown up in and attended what I call, "Cousin Churches".  They knew everyone in the church and their aunt or next door neighbor was their Sunday School teacher.  At college most churches reaching out to students are larger and students who visit often feel uncomfortable and come compare it to their home church.  It is different and feels very uncomfortable.

7.  Freshmen are exposed to a variety of ideas, questions and even those critical of faith.  One of the things that happens at college is students are exposed to different beliefs, religions and skepticism about Christian faith.  A professor may openly ridicule Christian ideas and beliefs. We must help students know that doubt and honest questions are not contrary to a healthy faith and that everything a professor says about faith and the Bible is not necessarily accurate.  But, it is easy to feel like the person up in front of the class is an expert in all they say.

8.  Freshmen feel overwhelmed.  It is not unusual for a freshmen to say they are just scared.  It is not one thing they are scared about.....it is just the bigness and change of it all.  Consequently, students tend to withdraw and isolate themselves because it is just overwhelming their system.  Why go one more place where they don't know anybody or what to do.?

Psychologists have said that the two greatest times of change in a person's life are birth to age one and high school graduation to Christmas. We don't leave new born babies on their own and expect them to survive. 

Home churches and parents must be intentional in encouraging and helping freshmen connect to a church.

-Youth Ministers must help prepare students for the transition and walk with them through it.  

-Churches and/or parents can make sure that the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) or a local church has their son or daughter's contact info....and the earlier the better. 

Arliss Dickerson has spoken to hundreds of freshmen at university and Christian sponsored events.  His college ministry books are on sale in August at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

Six Reasons for Colleges to Work with Religious Groups

Increasingly, some college and university administrations are becoming a little less friendly to religious organizations it seems.  Depending on where and who, some are friendly, some are neutral, and some are negative.  I believe in freedom of religion and that that is part of who we are as a country. I get a public university not promoting it.  But, I also don't get some being negative toward religious groups.  In fact, I believe there are good reasons that they would cooperate with Christian groups for their own benefit.  I am not including non-Christian religious groups because I have no direct knowledge of their activities. I would assume many of these same reasons would apply to them also.  While I would not share the beliefs of all religious groups, I believe they have the right to be on campus.

6 Reasons it is to the Advantage of College Administrations to work with Christian Campus Ministries:

1.  RETENTION -  Retention is a buzz word these days for colleges.  As the number of high school graduates is decreasing, enrollment numbers will begin to struggle. So, keeping students is key.  Some say as many as 30% of freshmen drop out before the end of the first year.  Christian college ministries work individually with students doing informal counseling, encouraging, etc.  I have gotten lots of phone calls from parents and pastors asking me to check on and work with homesick freshmen.  

2.  CHRISTIAN GROUPS ARE FREE TO STUDENTS - Colleges give a great deal of attention and help to fraternities and sororities because they provide a place to belong and participate.  Studies show that students active in a student organization are more likely to be happy and stay in school.  Greek life costs and can even be very expensive.  Participation in a campus Christian group is free.  It provides  group opportunities and belonging for students and at no cost.  So, working with Greek organizations and religious groups falls into the same catagory.

3.  CHRISTIAN GROUPS WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - Colleges want International students for a variety of reasons and one of those is they are money makers for schools.  International students pay all the fees and highest tuition rates.  They do not get in-state tuition reduction, etc.  Most Christian ministries reach out to International students and provide a variety of opportunities.  Many offer the opportunity for an American Host family and provide conversation partners.  These are things the school wants to see happen among a highly prized population.

4.  CHRISTIAN GROUPS ARE RECRUITERS - In the south there are many well known and large Christian campus ministries.  A factor in many Christian students choosing that school is the presence of that ministry.  Christian parents often encourage their son or daughter to attend a school with a strong ministry group and  that can be a factor in a choice between two schools.

5.  CHRISTIAN GROUPS ARE NO COST TO THE CAMPUS - The school does not pay the Campus Minister and where there is a campus center or house, they do not pay for its construction, maintenance or operation.  Faculty and administration do not work for free.  Campus Ministers are a free benefit to the campus.

6.  CAMPUS CHRISTIAN GROUPS DO NOT BRING BAD PUBLICITY - There are news stories every year about campuses where a Greek organization is in trouble for hazing or even involved in the death of a student.  Athletic departments generate negative publicity with cheating in recruiting or grade issues.  Very, very rarely does a Christian ministry have to be punished by the school for a violation or that it makes the news in any negative way.  In fact, the news of good things happening in a campus ministry is a plus in the reputation of a campus for many.

College administrations should be a willing and fair partner with any group or organization that is working for the benefit of their students and that campus.  Some recognize that and practice it while others do not.  That is to the loss of those campuses who do not. Campus ministries are the best bargain a college has!

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are on sale in August at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.

How to Make it in College: 5 Tips for College Freshmen

 1.  It's ok to change your major or not have one.

-Freshmen year is meant to be a time of adjusting and learning about yourself.

-On average, college students change majors 3 or 4 times.  But, each change can lengthen your time in college.

-It is best to take required basics the first semester.

-Don't let the pressure of not having a major rush you into a wrong decision.

2.  Your first 2-3 weeks set the pattern.

-What you do the first couple of weeks often set the pattern for your whole college life.

-Get into a regular pattern of classes, study, rest and fun.  Balance is important

-College infirmaries  are packed at the 6 weeks mark with those who have not eaten and rested right.

-Many fall behind in their classes the first couple of weeks and never recover.  When classes start, you start.

3.  Choose friends by your priorities....not your priorities by your new friends.

-In the rush to make new friends, freshmen often get with the first people they meet and without thought begin to engage in whatever activities the new friends do.

-Decide what is important to you (faith, grades, etc).... then find and choose friends who share those priorities.

4.  Emotionally go to college.

-Many freshmen do not have a good experience because they are not there emotionally.

-There is more to being a college student than taking classes.  Decide to be a part of it.

-Students who live on campus tend to make better grades because they "feel" a part of college.  But, a commuter can choose to be a part.  Don't just take classes....go to college!

5.  Become part of a group.

-Studies and surveys indicate the happiest and most successful students are part of a campus group that shares their goals and priorities.

-If you are a Christian, find and connect to a Christian group on your campus at the start like the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM).  You will find friends who share your priorities and adult mentors to help and encourage you. These ministries will help connect you to an area church  

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

Help College Students do the "Non-Spiritual"

I believe with all my heart that good and healthy college ministry is about more than the spiritual.  We are in the business of teaching young people about life and how to do it.  In these days of dealing with so many who are not believers and young believers who have grown up in church, but know so little about the Bible, we are having to do a ton of "spiritual teaching".  But, I think we cannot quit doing the "non-spiritual".

During my ministry on two campuses, we were fortunate to have a nice Center.  In each of those situations, we had a dorm type room for "Live-In Caretakers".  They would clean, open and close the building in return for their living quarters.  Overall, it worked well.  I received a message today from one of my long ago Caretakers who said this, "In many ways this job taught me more about life than any other."  He went on to become a high level insurance executive.  He and others joked about how I made them sweep out the cracks in the floor and my other "admonitions" when they did not do well.

The  Chancellor of the University where I served for many years publicly shares that he came to Christ as a result of the ministry of a Baptist Student Ministry in Texas where he was given a job as a Caretaker. He says, he was the "worst janitor in BSU history".  I am sure that College Minister talked and worked with him on how to do his work.  This Chancellor is a much loved and hard working college leader today, who is the President of our conference.  The ministry of that Texas College Minister continues to reverberate.

I have helped students make their resume.  I have taught guys how to shave.  One of my guys shared with me his single mom had taught him how to shave and he cut himself a lot. So, he didn't shave regularly or looked cut up.  Today, he is a Christian attorney who always looks professional.  

All of us have worked with students on time management.  One guy told me he just could not get everything done.  We looked at his schedule.  He played video games until 4:00 a.m. and then got up at 10:30 to go to his first class and there just were not enough hours in the day.  Wow; what a surprise!  He was a good guy, a smart guy and committed to the Lord.  But, he was being lousy with his time.  

One critic of college ministry said all we do is "play ping pong and get Christian couples together for marriage."  That is a FALSE statement.  But, College Ministers are and should be a force in helping godly couples learn to do life.  So, we need to keep talking about dating, marriage, and how to do healthy relationships. 

Having done campus based college ministry long term and church based a couple of years, I believe that campus based has a bit of an advantage and opportunity to be involved in the daily "non-spiritual" activities of students lives.  As we share Christ, teach students how to have a quiet time and talk about going to the ends of the earth, let's not lose sight of being involved with them in the "non-spiritual".

Are you helping college students learn to do every day, "non-spiritual" life?  That is good and healthy college ministry.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus....."  Colossians 3:17.

Arliss Dickerson's brand new book, A College Ministry Success Formula, is on sale in August for $4.99.  Almost Everything About College Ministry is $8.99.  Check them out at amazon.com/dp/B091F5S1RF