Does Your Ministry Have a Culture of Excellence?

 Are things well done in your ministry? Do student leaders work at doing well and what they do being well done? No ministry is perfect and no one in or leading a ministry is perfect. But, the more there is a culture of excellence, the better our ministry will do in terms of reaching college students for Christ.

Developing a Culture of Excellence:

1.  Excellence is taught in little things.  We cannot do the mundane things in a slipshod way and then expect big or major tasks to be done in a first class way.

2.  A leader cannot expect anything he or she does not model.  No leader is perfect, but we are the standard by which a ministry is measured and by which the culture is established. The longer we lead a ministry, the MORE it is a reflection of who we are.

3.  Does your meeting room or facility demonstrate excellence?  This is not about it being lavish or high dollar.  Rather, is it clean?  Is it organized? Is it arranged well?  A restaurant consultant once told me there are three things he looks at first when he goes to consult with a struggling fast food restaurant:  Temperature, Lighting, and then Uniforms of the Workers. They all speak to excellence and a spirit of caring.  Does your meeting space or Center look like you care?  NOTICE:  These all affected their perception before they got to the food.  Just because you are telling the Good News of Jesus does not make it okay to be sloppy in everything else!

4.  We must continually evaluate and teach students to evaluate.  Helpful evaluation is not about being critical, but rather it is trying to see things as they are and how they can be made even better.  It celebrates what is done well and asks what can be improved.

5.  Good leaders admit when they goof.  Sometimes, we just need to apologize.  We missed an appointment or whatever.  When good leaders goof, they admit it and apologize.  That points to valuing excellence and things being done well. It also demonstrates there is understanding and grace.

6.  Always express gratitude for what your student leaders do.  They are volunteers.  Occasionally brag on them and make sure they know you do not take them for granted.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your hearts, as working for the Lord, not for men."  Colossians 3:23

Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and Reaching MORE College Students is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN