It Ain't Rocket Science!

 It ain't Rocket Science to know that to reach more students you need MORE people doing it with a good strategy. A friend of mine is observing a booming college ministry outside the south.  I asked him what he saw as the keys to their success.  NUMBER ONE was they have 5 full time staffers and 3 parttime.  the second thing he mentioned was they work at developing small group leaders who connect to students, encourage and invite them to the big event!

If you want to reach MORE students, you need more people working at it.  They have 8 working at it.  Several years ago I was visiting with a Church College Minister outside the south who had a large group gathering of 1500.  I asked his key.  His first response was, "I have 150 Adult volunteers."  He told me that he had a parttime worker who did nothing but recruit and work with volunteers.  How is that for multiplying one parttime worker?

It ain't Rocket Science.  To reach MORE students....you need MORE people doing it!

There are 4 Categories:

1. Fulltime Staff - The key with fulltime staff is having a strategy that connects them to different groups of students and everybody is not working with the same students all the time.

2.  Parttime Staff - This is crucial in finding their niche and utilizing them in the most effective way.  And, all parttime staff do not have to have the same gifts, strengths.  Different people connect to different groups of students.  Also, a parttime staffer might not work year round.  What about mothers who want to be home when their children out of school? There are some awfully sharp moms out there.

3.  Adult Volunteers - Help them know what to do and feel appreciated!  Adult volunteers can lead Bible Study Groups.  A Sorority alum can connect to her Sorority and lead a Bible study and connect them to the ministry.  Could a Marching Band alum connect to them and lead a Bible study?  You get the idea.

4.  Student Leaders - Training is key with student leaders. Train them well and, build into their lives personally and let them know they are appreciated.  Make sure it benefits them and not just "uses" them.

Many years ago there was a saying in college ministry, "One person can reach and work with about 50 people."  For a variety of reasons, I think that number is a little low these days.  But, go back to the 150 volunteers for the 1500 meeting....that averages 10 apiece.  What if every volunteer you enlisted could add 10 more students to your ministry?

So, which are you doing?  Which could you do or which could you do better?

Arliss Dickerson writes some college ministry books.  Here is one:  Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.