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.