I wrote recently "Larger college ministries are most often led by wise, experienced older College Ministers. If we want larger college ministries, we must pay so wiser, experienced College Ministers can afford to stay." As College Ministers gain and grow in experience, they often have families that are growing up and being more expensive....even having children going to college themselves. That is not to mention braces, etc along the way. Supporting growing and maturing families just gets more expensive. Also, having and affording good health insurance becomes more necessary. If we want to reach MORE college students, we must make it possible for the wise pros to stay for the long term.
10 Reasons Larger College Ministries are Usually led by Older College Ministers:
1. College students are looking for wise and experienced mentors. Therefore, they are able to develop and empower strong and effective student leaders.
2. Experienced College Ministers see the importance of relating to college and university officials and are able to do so more on a peer level. These officials can open or close doors.
3. Younger College Ministers just starting out want to work for an experienced pro and be mentored by them. It is easier to recruit top notch staff.
4. Older College Ministers know the difference in the trendy and the principles.
5. Proven College Ministers are able to draw more financial support from both churches, individuals and alumni who have seen the value of what they do.
6. Older College Ministers have come to grips with who they are, how God has gifted them, and are able to lean into those strengths. They are not trying to copy the latest "Golden College Minister".
7. Older College Ministers have more likely been through the ups and downs, joy and pains of life that have tested their relationship to Christ and strengthened it. They can pour that mature and solid Jesus relationship into the lives of others.
8. They are secure in their calling and not just looking and hoping for a call to First Big Church as the pastor.
9. They have planted their life somewhere and often have been on the same campus for several years, which continues to open doors in the community, on the campus, and even throughout the entire state. Never underestimate the power of a College Minister planting their life on a campus.
10. We need the older, experienced and wiser College Ministries to continue in the college ministry family, so they can mentor the younger ones that are somewhere on a campus by themselves. They need training, encouragement, and knowing that somebody "gets" what they are working on and through. This kind of relationship speeds up their development and decreases the possibilities of them walking away in frustration.
Joe Graham, college ministry pro in Georgia, says there is a need to "move beyond making disciples to making disciple makers." I believe that is one of the strong suits of the wiser, experienced and even older College Minister. They see the big picture.
Denominational leaders must see the need to provide salaries that will allow their "wise old pros" to stay for the duration. One State Baptist Convention now allows their long time College Ministers to raise some salary in addition to what they receive from the State Convention. This gives their salary a boost that the Convention was not able to provide.
Those of us who believe in the benefit and need for seasoned pro College Ministers must advocate for good salaries and benefits for those people. wise words spoken at the right time are heard.
Arliss Dickerson is a friend to College Ministers, husband to Sue, dad, granddad and lousy golfer. Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX
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