Some Disturbing Numbers

 Alan J. Roxburgh in his book, "Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World" shares these statistics.

"If you were born between 1925 and 1945, there is a 60% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born between 1946 and 1964, there is a 40% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born between 1965 and 1983, there is a 20% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born after 1984, there is less than a 10% chance you are in a church today." 

If Roxburgh's percentages are remotely correctly and I "feel" from my own observations, etc that they are, it would point to the struggle we have in youth and college ministry today AND for the need for well done and effective youth and college ministry.

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

A Ministry Crisis??

 A college ministry friend recently posted a job opening.  It was for a one or two year Assistant Campus Minister/Intern.  In the past such postings had gotten 20 to 30 resumes very quickly.  This time it got none, zero, squelch, nada! Not even one person responded asking for more information. I was sharing that with a friend who works for a state wide Baptist Convention.  He said that was true in youth ministry and that churches were continually calling him desperate to find a Youth Minister for their church.

The county seat First Baptist Church I grew up in and was a huge blessing in my life and calling to the ministry almost never had a Sunday with attendance under 300.  That was a bad Sunday!  Recently, their Sunday morning attendance was 50.  They have been without a pastor for several months and have not been able to find a full time pastor.  They have an excellent facility and a reasonable budget.  Will it survive?

Some believe that in our emphasizing the need to plant churches and talking to those called to the ministry of the need for church planters that we have blocked all other options out.  I believe that is a factor, but not all of the cause of this "shortage".

Are we in the beginning of a crisis of Vocational Ministers?  If so, WHAT can we do about it?

College Ministers are a BIG part of the answer.  2 Things We Must Do:

1.  We must speak often and clearly about God calling some to a life of Vocational Ministry.

For a long time I believe we have not spoken of the calling to ministry nearly as much as we formerly did.  As a youth going to camp every summer, I heard the speakers speak of the call to salvation and the call to ministry.  I made my commitment to ministry at a summer camp.  In our emphasis in sharing the call to salvation to this generation, I fear we have stopped talking about the call to ministry. When I was a youth in church, we only had a preacher and a part time song leader.  I did not know of all the other full time ministry roles.  It was clear from the reaction when I sang that God was not calling me to be a Worship Leader.  Was being a Pastor/Preacher the only option?  It was not until college that I learned there were other options.

Some Questions we can help clarify:

How does God Call someone?  How do we know, if God might be calling us?  What if I am not perfect and may not be the best speaker? Does God call women to full time ministry roles? What are some of the full time ministry positions? 

2.  We must work with those who have responded to the call to Vocational Ministry or are willing to explore it?  

One College Minister I know meets every Friday for lunch with those students that feel called or are exploring it.  He answers their questions.  He encourages them.  He brings guests who minister in different areas to meet with them.  Some meet occasionally on an individual basis with those exploring God's call.  

Two Resources I highly Recommend:

1.  SBCcalled.com. is a fairly new resource that has job descriptions for all sorts of different ministry roles, information about seminary and much, much more.  You don't have to be Baptist to  look at it.  We won't tell.  Check it out.

2. Is God Calling Me?  is a great little book by Dr. Jeff Iorg.  Every College Minister ought to have one or two on their desk or in their backpack.  It is a quick read and super practical.  Give it to those who are exploring the call or even that you think should consider it.

I believe that College Ministers are a key part of dealing with this developing crisis.  Speak about God's calling and work with those who are exploring it.  You may be surprised whose heart God will touch or is already working in about his hand on their life.

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

Next Level College Ministry - The Campus

 Next Level college ministry does not happen by accident.  It is the result of God's blessing and the intentional strategy and work of those involved with the ministry.

Principles of Next Level College Ministry:

1.  A college ministry is about leading college students to the Lord and growing college students in that relationship.  Anything different is just a club.

2.  Students go where they are valued and cared about.

3.  Every campus is unique and must be approached that way.

4.  Money does not make a ministry, but it is difficult to have much ministry apart from adequate funding.  

5.  The college ministry budget is a tool to plan and develop the best possible ministry and to communicate the goals and vision of the ministry.

6. No ministry can do everything, even every good thing.  Each strategy must be sharpened to focus on the best and most needed for that campus with the strengths of that ministry.

7.  Different leadership roles call for different types of leaders. Reach and develop a wide variety of students.

8.  One of the most important tasks of college ministry is raising up godly lay leaders and vocational ministers for the future church.

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

Next Level College Ministry: The College Minister

 Very few, if any, College Ministers would say their ministry is functioning at its absolute best and reaching all the students it should.  Most are working at going to the "Next Level".  What are some things that will take a ministry to the "Next Level"? In football it all starts with the quarterback.  In college ministry, it all starts with the College Minister.

The College Minister is the most important tool of a ministry.  Some would argue this point and say, "No, it is the students."  While that is a huge shaping factor, the College Minister is a significant reason in those students being there and their preparation, roles, and service in the ministry.

Key Principles in a College Minister taking a Ministry to the Next Level:

1.Nothing will affect the ministry more than who the College Minister is as a person.

2.The priorities, strengths, and weaknesses of the College Minister will be reflected in the ministry.

3.  The College Minister must understand what his or her strength is and maximize that strength in the ministry.

4.  The more people the College Minister knows and relates to personally, the more it will benefit the ministry.

5.  Any meeting a College Minister has with a campus administrator is an evaluation/audition for future opportunities.

6.  The Campus Minister being known and seen on campus is significant.

7.No College Minister is too good or too important to not mop or sweep, if that is what is needed.

8. One of the killers of College Ministers is feeling alone and that no one cares.  College Ministers need friends other than students and family.

9.  When the College Minister's family is happy and well cared for, the College Minister is more likely to be able to serve effectively and long term.

10. Apart from a special movement of God, nothing benefits a college ministry more than a long term investment by the College Minister.

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

Baptist Centers on or Adjacent to College Campuses...The Future?

 Baptist College Ministries in the south have long utilized campus Centers located on or adjacent to the campus as the headquarters for their ministries.  The recent news that the Georgia Baptist Convention is selling five of their Centers has raised questions about the future.  

Is the time of Baptist Student Centers past?

The short answer would be NO. 

Both the Louisiana and Tennessee Conventions have continued to build and update Campus Centers.  The Tennessee Baptist Convention is currently doing an entire renovation of the Center on the Vanderbilt campus. It is being paid for from the sale of a small portion of the property to Vanderbilt with the rest of the funding being provided by the Cooperative Program, state missions offerings, and gifts by local churches, association, and alumni, according to Bill Choate who leads the Baptist Collegiate Ministries.  In addition, the Tennessee Baptist Convention has recently purchased and renovated an another building at Tennessee Tech University that they have attached to the existing Baptist Student Center to enlarge it. 

The Louisiana Baptist Convention has built or renovated 9 buildings in the past 15 years. Mark Robinson, State Director for Louisiana, said, "I feel like I will lead us to some sort of renovation or building work at least every (3) three years."

Funding for these Centers offers a clue.

Did you notice those words, "churches, association, and alumni" used in describing the funding for the Vanderbilt project?  When we built the new Baptist Center at Arkansas State about 15 years ago, the Arkansas Baptist Convention gave $66.000 to the project and the remainder was given by individuals and churches on approximately a 50/50 basis. There is strong evidence that Baptists as a whole believe in these projects and voice their approval with their financial gifts.  

What is the value of these Campus Centers?

1.  They say to the campus and everyone that our commitment to ministry there is long term.  Many ministries that operate without Centers often tend to come and go.  A building takes and makes a commitment to that campus!

2.  Facilities used wisely open doors of ministry and opportunity.  In our Center at Arkansas State, we were able to host some faculty and staff events and would have the President and other top administrators in our building frequently, which deepened our connections and cooperation. Many of these Centers partner with different International Student groups to host special holiday gatherings unique to their country which opens the door for witness to many non-believing International students.

3.  Campus Centers provide consistency of ministry.  When we outgrew our older Baptist Center at Arkansas State, we asked if we could rent the ballroom in the ASU Student Center each week for our large group worship..  They indicated we could use it some, but not weekly.  Many campus ministry groups use campus owned meeting rooms, but often are not able to be in the same space each week.  Each week requires extensive communication as to where the weekly worship events will be held that particular week.  Meeting same time, same place is a huge plus.  In addition the setup, lighting and sound can be configured to the ministry needs when ministries are in their own space.

4.  The Christian Center provides a hub that strengthens the ministry that functions day and night throughout the week.   I recently was on the Murray State University campus and walked thru the Baptist Student Center there with the BCM President and another student leader as my tour guides.  They have a large Center with a ground level and a basement level.  As we went into the different rooms, they would tell me about the different share and Bible study groups that met there throughout the week. At the same time, in another part of the building interviews were going on for their new ministry team leaders. That Center increases on-going ministries.

5.  Food is not restricted in Christian Campus Centers.  Food is a factor in connection and relationships.  Many Christian Campus Centers operate Outreach Lunch programs that are not  possible in campus owned and regulated space. Groups that meet in campus facilities often cannot have food or they are required to buy it from the campus catering service at "catering prices".

6.  A permanent facility increases church and community awareness.   A Campus Center helps announce our presence and commitment to all those who see it.  There is also the reminder that the care and upkeep of our facilities says something to everyone..

The need for and the value of these Christian Campus Centers has not changed.  The issue is continuing to make our churches and individual supporters aware of the value and need.  Plus, we must be strategic in our planning and use of these buildings.

Has the time come to consider raising the money to endow the every day operation and maintenance of these buildings so that a decrease in the funding will not affect the continued use of these valuable ministry tools?

Could your college ministry be reaching more students?  Check out Reaching MORE College Students:  Next Level College Ministry at amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

 

A BCM and Multiple Churches Partnership Model - Bill Morrison, UAB

 Bill Morrison, BCM Campus Minister at University of Alabama, Birmingham, has developed a strong partnership model with different churches in the Birmingham area.  When Bill first went to UAB, the Director of Missions for the Birmingham area told him, "Re-discover the director's hat that campus ministers have largely put aside.  BCM was stronger when campus ministers were called directors and saw themselves as coordinating collegiate work with churches, not merely doing collegiate work on behalf of churches."

Out of that they have developed partnerships where different churches focus on reaching a particular group of students.  Here is a list of their partnerships:

 Christian Medical Fellowship (Medical, Dental, Optometry and other students pursuing a degree as a health professional).

Unite Greek Fellowship (Fraternity and Sorority students and their invited guests), Hunter Street Baptist Church

Chinese Bible Study (International students from China), Chinese Christian Church of Birmingham.

Doctrinal Study in Mandarin (International students and Scholars from China), Shades Mountain Baptist Church

Commuter Bible Study, Fultondale First Baptist Church

Resident Assistants, Lakeside Baptist Church

Some of the Agreements:

1.  Ask for a 3 year minimum commitment.

2.  Offer the use of the BCM Student Center for a 2-3 hour block of time each with to help facilitate the partnership Emphasize that the use of the building is to reach the targeted group of students, not create another come one, come all ministry.

3.  Tell them the BCM will actively recruit interested students to assist in the partnership.

4.  Ask them to split any expenses 50/50.  Some churches wind up covering all the expenses.

5.  Ask to meet with the pastor or executive pastor to bring them into the loop on the agreement and purpose of the partnership.

Results: "During the 2018-19 school year, we had 49 professions of faith in our ministry with 32 of those through our church partnerships.  During the past 10 years we have had over 175 Chinese students and scholars accept Christ.  Each one of these churches have seen UAB students attend and join their churches--small medium, and large churches."  Bill Morrison, UAB

This is an edited account of how Bill has done this and the different activities that each church has done in outreach and ministry to their group of students.

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