As the season for college ministry vacancies develops and people are looking for the right person to fill those positions, what is the MOST important thing?
Is there one thing that makes a College Minister successful? The first person who hired me many years ago and who was a mentor in college ministry told this story once. A pastor came to see him to recommend one of his own staff for a vacant college ministry position. The pastor said, "He is really good with small groups." The college ministry leader said, "I have lots of people who are good with small groups. I am looking for someone who is good with large groups."
If we are totally honest, that is what most are looking for to fill a college ministry position......someone who works with LARGE groups. As we continually look at the loss of the twenty something generation to the church (21% of college students today identify as atheist or agnostic), how can we reach more for Christ? Lots of us are working well with small groups.....what does it take to work with large groups?
What is the most important characteristic, skill or ability for a College Minister?
SPEAKER - The "poster ministries" all have the dynamic speaker. This is the one who fills an arena or big meeting hall every week. And, it is usually the first thought that comes to everyone's mind who is looking for a new College Minister. One church called me looking for a College Minister and said they were looking for someone with "a Word gift". A great speaker gives instant credibility and draws attention to the ministry. Yet, if the number of people who can do this and this "star quality" is very limited, is this the must have ability for a good College Minister?
ONE TO ONE DISCIPLER - There are those that argue that one to one discipling of students is where real life change and impact happens. If that is the case, is this the most important characteristic or skill? It takes a special person who can connect with and continually meet individually with students and challenge them to grow in their personal relationship and walk with the Lord.
OUTGOING PERSONALITY - This is the person who never meets a stranger and can instantly call by name that student who came once last year. It is the unique ability to genuinely be and for everyone to feel this is their best friend.
ORGANIZER/MANAGER - An Organizer/Manager type can develop a strategy and roles for a wide variety of students. Their ministry is much larger than their own personal connections due to the organization. Students can be drawn to something that is well done and particularly appealing to those students who are looking for a place to serve or to grow their own leadership skills for the future.
EVANGELIST - There are those who would argue apart from a passion for the Lord and personal witness, nothing else matters. Those with passion attract others. A passionate Evangelist tends to infect and inspire others. If students are hearing a witness and Christian students are trained and inspired to witness, what else matters, many would argue.
There is an argument to be made for each of these being the most important. Others would say that a healthy mix of all of these would be the idea. Yet, if we are honest, most of us in college ministry would have one or two of these where we are strong and one or two that are not our strong point. I have seen strrong ministries led by College Ministers who had a different one of these as their primary ability and gift. In my mind, it comes down to two things: First, what fits this campus situation or what has the ministry previously been? Second, How do we highlight or emphasize the particular gift or strength of the College Minister for the best for the ministry?
Sometimes, ministries in transition from one leader to another struggle because they are changing not just the person who is the leader, but what their lead strength and emphasis is.
For those hiring a College Minister, the question is, Which lead strength/ability do you need/want? For the College Minister, the question is, How do I maximize the lead strength/gift I have? And, is there one of these that is particularly weak that I need to work at some intentional development?
Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and Tips for College Freshmen: 124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades is at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.
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