"Right-Size" Your College Ministry

 Recently, I was able to be on a Zoom Meeting with the New Campus Ministers Fellowship.  Steve Roper, who is a former College Minister and is a counselor in talking about "Self-Care" used the term, "Right-Size your college ministry".  I had not heard the term right-size used that way.  As some of you might remember, I have spoken against the idea of College Ministers just being "Happy with their 50" and my point being we need to commit to reaching as many as possible./ Yet, I believe it is possible to be trying to do too much.

Steve makes the very valid point that some College Ministers are not at a good point self-care wise because they are trying to do more than their ministry can reasonably do.

So, What does Right-Sizing Involve:

    1.  Resources - Whether we like it or not, our resources are a significant factor in what we can do. You have to pay the bills.  Having a free steak dinner for students every week on a once a month pizza budget is not workable.  Sometimes, College Ministers with a Center tend to spend all their resources on students and nothing is done to maintain the facility. People are more important than buildings is a strong argument. But, that will bite you at some point.  A building is a tool and to be used to the maximum benefit, it must be kept functional and attractive.  So, are you trying to do more than your resources allow?  How do you adjust?  Part of my answer is to share with others your vision for growing the ministry IF the resources can be grown.

2.  Staff is a significant factor in Right-Sizing a ministry.  A friend of mine was in a campus situation where he had a full time Associate.  Funding changes did away with that position and he was working by himself.  But, he continued to try to do everything that two had done.  That is a recipe for burnout.  What is your reasonable capacity?  Also, when a College Minister tries to do the work of two people, they often are not doing well what they are attempting to do.  I know many feel the pressure to produce numbers and to always show the ministry is growing.  Yet, it may be unhealthy to them.  The other side of it can be, "Is your ministry "Right-size" for a multiple staff?  In other words, is a multiple staff doing more or better than one person can do?

3.  The campus situation is always a factor in Right-Sizing a ministry.  Some campuses are easier to work on.  They just are more receptive.   Are you being honest with yourself in terms of your expectations for your ministry on that particular campus?  Or, are you comparing your ministry to the "Poster Ministry" of this year?  REMEMBER:  Comparison is one of the two most deadly killers of College Ministers!

Is your ministry "Right-Sized"?  How is your balance in work and self-care?

Arliss Dickerson's book, Almost Everything About College Ministry, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and Reaching MORE College Students is at Amazaon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN