The Most Important Thing a College Minister Can Do?

I have written recently about "Worst Mistakes" a College Minister can make.  So, what is the "Most Important Thing" a College Minister can do?  I believe it is their personal example...it is who they are.  And, the realization of how important their example is.

Especially, when a College Minister is new, students are looking at what they do.  But, there are always new students.  The two most important examples in a ministry are the College Minister and the student leaders.  But, the College Minister example is the number one influencer of the student leaders.  There can be no, "Do as I say, not as I do."  That is partly why the longer a College Minister leads a ministry the more that ministry will reflect his or her strengths and weaknesses.

Students are looking for role models or mentors.

The personal characteristics we exhibit literally can draw students to the ministry.  Or, it can turn them away.  I have argued that the most impactful thing we can do is to meet with students one to one.  In that context, they will see clearly who we are and what we are.  It is not a call to perfection because we all fail in that area.  It is not a call to fake it, because that is quickly recognized.  It is simply we must be what we are and be becoming all that we believe God wants us to be.

Emotional and financial support are essential for a ministry to survive and then to thrive.

Feeling alone is one of the two top killers of College Ministers and runs them out of college ministry.  Emotional support is drawn by people seeing who the College Minister is and believing in them.  Others want to see a person of integrity and vision succeed.  They want to help them succeed.  While I have never known of a college ministry where money was being stolen, I have seen ministries where the money was handled in a sloppy way.  That was a characteristic of the College Minister.  As people see and become aware of this sloppy behavior, it breeds suspicion at the worst and lack of confidence at the best.  So, example matters not just inside the ministry, but outside as well.

Parents are looking for partners.

The longer a College Minister serves in a ministry, the more parents and others become aware of that person.  There are so many reasons for parents to be concerned about the welfare of their young person today.  When they see someone they believe can be a positive partner with them in the life of their young person, they both encourage, support, and urge their young person toward that ministry.  We must demonstrate we are someone that parents will entrust to invest in their student and maybe even take or send them hundreds of miles away from home.

Albert Sweitzer said, "Example is not the main thing; it is the only thing."  What is your example?  It is likely the most important thing you do every day in how you work, when you show up, how you are about remembering appointments.....on and on.

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