Jethro's College Ministry Growth Plan

 One of the great things about summer is the time to evaluate, plan, and recoup.  As you do this, consider if your ministry might do some things differently this next fall and reach MORE students than in the past. Consider the Jethro College Ministry Growth Plan. 

Exodus 18 tells the story of Moses' Father-In-Law, Jethro, coming to see him and bringing his wife and children.  The next day he goes to see Moses at work.

"The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, he said, What is this you are doing for the people?  Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?  Moses answered him, Because the people come to me to seek God's will.  Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.  Moses' father-in-law replied, What you are doing is not good.  You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out.  The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."  18:13-15, 17-18

Then Jethro gave him the solution:  "But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens....have them bring every difficult case to you"  18:21-22a

5 Observations from Jethro's Solution:

1.  Hard work is NOT enough.  Scripture says that Moses was working from morning till night.  It was wearing him out and was not working out well for the people. In your desire to take your ministry from a good level to the next level, the most obvious answer may, "just work harder."  But, that is likely the wrong answer. Many leave college ministry simply because they have burned out personally or they realize the are being unfair to their family or are even in danger of losing them.  Just working harder is not the solution.

2,  Others can often see our situation more clearly than we can.  It was not that Moses did not care.  He would not have been working like a dog, if he did not care.  Usually, the most difficult situation to see clearly is our own.  We are too close to it to see it accurately.  Two options:  Invite a trusted college ministry pro to come look at your situation and make suggestions.  Second, go visit a similar, but larger ministry and simply observe it for a day or two.  Ask lots of how and why questions.  And, you may be able to see your own situation better at a distance.

3.  You cannot do it alone.  The larger a ministry is, the more help it requires.  Your ministry may be at its peak for what you can do.  It may mean more staff.  It may mean more volunteers.  Giving time and priority to enlisting others is not neglecting the ministry.  It is not saying you are inadequate.

4.  Develop different levels of student leadership and responsibility.  Jethro said, "appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens."  Effective well trained student leaders is one of the keys to successful college ministry.  Remember that students are at different maturity and experience levels.  Some are capable of more than others.  Some are ruined for future leadership by asking too much too soon.  All leaders do not fit the same mold.  Providing a variety of leadership opportunities is significant in reaching MORE.

5.  The leader must do what only the leader can do. There are two parts to this.  Sometimes a College Minister is trying to do too much and is not utilizing their particular gifts and strengths to the max.  Secondly, some decisions and actions must be done by the leader such as providing vision and direction for the ministry.

Adapted from "Reaching MORE College Students"  Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9 and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.