Getting Freshmen Names

Steve Masters at LSU is the king of getting freshmen names.  His focus this spring is contacting Christian schools and getting their list of graduating seniors contact info, religious preferences, and where they are headed to college.  He is also partnering with the Catholic ministry at LSU and they are getting senior info from the Catholic schools and passing on the non-Catholic names to the BCM.  The BCM is passing on the Catholic names to them.

Never underestimate the possibility of partnering with other ministries for the benefit of all.  They are also working with all the full time FCA staffers in Louisiana to get Senior contact info.

Steve says March is the perfect time to contact the Christian schools and that later they are too tied up in moving toward graduation to provide the information.

What do you do to get incoming Freshmen names and make contact with them?  Other new ideas????

Reaching MORE College Students is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0MW8NPMN and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.

The Two Sides of Mentoring

 As I have said, when I think about it, I am embarrassed about how little I really knew about college ministry when I started out. I was fortunate as a student to have been in a good ministry and walked into one in my first job.  So, my philosophy was basically, "Monkey see; Monkey do".

I am all about newer College Ministers having a veteran mentor.  Everything does not have to be and should not be learning it the hard way.  Sometimes, it is the hard way that forces folks out of ministry...or at least college ministry.

I believe it is valuable for every newbie to have a mentor AND every wise vet to be mentoring someone.

There are two sides to mentoring.  First of all, it benefits the new guy or gal who can ask questions and just share frustrations.  Being able to unload on someone besides your spouse it always a plus.  Obviously, we need to talk to our spouse about our ministry, but I think too much of that puts an unfair burden on them.  One of the two biggest reasons that people get out of college ministry is feeling alone! (The other is comparison.)  They are not a professor; they are not a pastor or church staff.  And unfortunately, many outsiders do not think college ministry is a full time job.

Just having somebody to unload on occasionally is huge.  But, even more, just being able to ask somebody that knows how to handle a situation is huge. Asking the why of some things is important in understanding more about ministry.  Why do you change leadership teams when you do?  Why do you send out an alumni newsletter?  Why do you work at a relationship with the administration?  Why does that matter?

The Other Side of Mentoring:  So, what's in it for the Vet beside helping out someone?  Usually, the newbie is going to be younger than the vet.  Often, that newbie is going to be way more tech savvy than the vet and can tell them some things that will help.  Instead of using pen and paper sign-in sheets, there are different tech options available these days.  Which social media AP do students most use and follow?  Why do students think this way about that issue?  It also helps the vet to really think about the why and not just the how.

I believe College Minister Vets mentoring Newer College Ministers is a winner for everybody.  

So, how do you get a mentor?  It can be a formal arrangement where you simply ask someone you respect to meet or talk with you by phone or in person once a week or once every couple of weeks.  Also, you can just call up a wise Vet and say, "Can I ask you a big question?"  It does not have to be an on-going thing.

Call up a Vet you think knows some stuff and ask if you can come follow them around for a day.  It is amazing what you will see and pick up on that you would never thing to ask.  When I first came to ASU, I went to Texas A&M and followed Ron Wells around for 2-3 days.  

Call someone you think has it going on and ask them to send you a copy of their printed materials.

What if I am willing to Mentor a Newbie but it's weird to call them up and volunteer? Just call up a newbie and say, "You came to my mind today and I wanted to see how you are doing."  Maybe, just maybe, it will be one of those days they are thinking about quitting and selling insurance looks good.  At the very least, they will know someone cared enough to call.  You can do that with different ones.  Just call and say, "How are you doing?'  Maybe even tell them you will pray for them.

"To Timothy, my true son in the faith:  Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."  I Timothy 1:2  Wouldn't you have liked to have heard some of Paul and Timothy's conversations.

A mentoring relationship is a plus to both sides!

Thanks so much for messages I have gotten from some telling me you have gotten my new book, 7 Red Flags In A Dating Relationship.  You would do me a huge favor, if you would go to the Amazon page and write a quick 2 or 3 sentence honest review.  Here is the link:  Amazon.com/dp/B0DTTRJH38.  If you are looking for something to give to some high school seniors, check out Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

Resources for Newer College Ministers and Any Others

 Here are some resources for newer College Ministers that have been suggested by some great veteran College Ministers.  And, you don't have to be new to benefit from it.

Beverly Parrish Skinner in Georgia recommends in the area of Leadership Development several Jeff Iorg books.  "The Painful Side of Leadership" is one that they have read and discussed in their monthly staff meetings.  Some of their newer College Ministers are going to do "The Character of Leadership" by Iorg.  Beverly also recommends Mark Miller's easy to read fable style books on leadership.  He is a Chick Fil A VP.  

Jonathan Clark at Murray State recommends Jeff Iorg's Leadership Podcast which he says are FANTASTIC and very practical.

One thing that several mention is having a veteran mentor.  If no one assigns one to you, seek out a veteran College Minister and ask them to meet with you occasionally in person or by phone.  It could be once a week, every two weeks, etc.  

There are a series of eBooks developed by Paul Worcester that are available for free through Paul at Gensend.org .They are:  A Guide for Campus-Based Collegiate Ministry by Ryan Scantling and Gary Stidham; A Guide for Church-Based Collegiate Ministry by Wes Smith and Jared Gregory; A Guide for Collegiate-Focused Church Planting by Keith Weiser and Troy Nesbitt.  

Ryan Scantling, formerly at University of Arkansas, says the best thing he has written is "Calling for a Response" at arkansasbaptist.org.  Just type in the title in the search box.

Paul Worcester recommends that you check out their Collegiate Coaching Network at Gensend.org.

A Church Staffer recommended "The 6 Types of Working Genius" (Be aware there is profanity) by Patrick Lencioni.  It is helpful in understanding the necessity and value of having different type people on a student leadership team or a multiple staff.

SOME SUGGESTIONS BY THESE WISE PROS:

Ben Maddox of Tennessee Tech says, "In my early years, I was guilty of telling students to evangelize and disciple, but not providing them with consistent resources (always trying the next new resource).  My more experienced self would say find some proven ways to evangelize and disciple and stay with them so a culture of  reproducibility takes place. And adjust the technique when necessary."

Steve Masters at LSU suggests these topics to learn about:  1. Reaching Freshmen: 2.  Relating to local churches; 3.  Developing a strong financial base for the ministry from churches, alumni, and parents.

Please pass this along to newer College Ministers who would benefit AND let me know of other resources that you would recommend.  My goal is to grow this list. Newer College Ministers should NOT have to learn everything the hard way!

Please let me know MORE helpful resources!

If you want to check out any of my college ministry resources, you can start here: , Almost Everything About College Ministry, is at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.

The Collegiate Ministers Fellowship Returns!

 The Collegiate Ministers Fellowship began in the 1980's when a group of Baptist College Ministers decided to meet for 3 days in the summer to exchange ideas and learn from each other.  

This year the Collegiate Ministers Fellowship will be June 23 and 24 in Pensacola, Florida.  Adam Venters, BCM Campus Minister at the University of South Carolina, is helping to organize the gathering this year.  Some feel this would be ideal to tie a professional development experience with a family vacation.  Or, a group of College Ministers can carpool together and make it extra budget friendly.

A prime part of the Fellowship has been Whiteboard Sessions where anyone can list a topic they want discussed, questions answered, or even to ask someone to speak to an area they are known for doing well.

There is NO REGISTRATION FEE!  You provide your own housing and meals.

For more information or to register, contact Adam Venters at 423.202.6512.

You can check out "Reaching MORE College Students" at Amazon.com/dp/B0MW8NPMN or "A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula"  at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.

The 5 Building Blocks of a College Ministry

 When I was asked one time to tell everything I knew about college ministry in one sentence, I said, "Be you on the campus where you are."  It is as simple and as complicated as that.  The five building blocks are all about utilizing the gifts that God has placed in your life in the unique setting that each campus offers.  

Every College Minister is different and every college campus is different.  Every campus is a little different every year and the students in the ministry will be a little different every year.

Be a student of your campus and believe that God has created you uniquely and wants to use you in the way He created you. But, don't let that be an excuse that keeps you from doing some things that need doing, but just are not your thing.  That is part of why it is called, "a job.". 

 These 5 Building Blocks are all about YOU and YOUR Campus:

 1. Who YOU are Personally.  Proverbs 10:9

2.  Having a Strategy That is INTENTIONAL and fits. Proverbs 21:5

3.  DEVELOPING and Utilizing Student Leaders.  Psalm 78:72

4.  Making the MOST of your Resources.  Luke 14:28

5.  Making CONNECTIONS that Build the Ministry.  Philippians 2:3

This is adapted from my book, "A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula" Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.  

Check out Reaching MORE College Students at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.

God is ALWAYS Doing MORE than You Know!

 I strongly believe that God is always doing more than we know in college ministry.  I recently published a book titled "7 Red Flags In A Dating Relationship" (This is NOT a plug for it!)  This was a talk I did some years ago that I have been requested to do multiple times.  And, I put the outline in my Blog some years ago and told anyone to feel free to use it and different ones told me they had.

A couple of months ago, I decided to put it in book form as at different times people would ask me about it.  Now that it is available, I am getting messages from former students saying, "I still have my handwritten notes from when I heard you do it at ASU."  I got a message from a pastor who said he heard me do it on his campus several years ago and he still has his handwritten notes.

Here is my point!  God has used that talk way beyond any expectations I would have.  Who still has notes from a talk they heard a College Minister give years ago?  I usually cannot find the notes I took during last Sundays' sermon.....LAST SUNDAY.  Probably that speaks more about me.....but, people have notes from a talk they heard years ago.

One former student sent me this message:  "I bought this book for my church's youth ministry because it impacted me so when I heard it."  This was from a former student I don't think even liked me very much.....you know there are some in your ministry like that.

This is NOT about how great the talk is or was.  If I had to rate it, I would probably give it a Medium.  But, God has used it way more than anything I would anticipate.

Two Take-Aways:

One, in these cold days of winter, when students are not there because they don't want to get out or they have the flu and cannot attend.....Or, they have the flu and come and HUG you! Know and believe that God is doing MORE than you know.

Second, usually, when I did this talk, we would hand out an outline that they could take notes on, fill in the blanks, etc.  It would list the scripture passages where I said there were principles that related to dating.  For some reason, students seem more likely to keep these printed outlines as well as it helping them follow along.  I had some student secretaries that were really good about formatting them and putting some art work on them that made them more attractive just than a blah sheet.

Three (I don't count well.) It is a reminder to me of the importance of our speaking to issues they are wrestling with and need help on.....and nobody else is speaking to.  I wish people would tell me they remember when I spoke on the book of Revelation or Forgiveness or The Plan of Salvation.  But, here is the deal, I am not the only one most of my students hear speaking on these and similar topics.  They remember when you scratch an itch no one else is scratching!

God is ALWAYS, ALWAYS Doing WAY MORE than you know!

You can check out Reaching MORE College Students here Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

Three Books for College Ministry

 I wanted to share with you 3 new books I am aware of that might be beneficial to you and your ministry.

After College (Navigating Transitions, Relationships, and Faith) by Erica Young Reitz  This is an update of a book she did a few years back.  I got to know Erica when she was part of our program at one of our Collegiate Ministry Summits.  She did college ministry with Christian Coalition at Penn State and directed Senior EXIT.  This would be a great book to use with a group of Seniors or simply as a gift to your graduating seniors. As you know, lots of students have a difficult time right after college making spiritual connections and continuing to grow.  There are 3 sections in the book:  Real Faith:  Faithful to Christ; Real Life:  Faithful to Community and Real World:  Faithful to Our Calling.  My favorite chapter is "No Perfect Church" as so many of my grads have said they are waiting to find and join the perfect church.  This is an IVPress book.

Tribes Revisited by Ric Howerton - Ric has long been a friend to College Ministers and is THE Guru on small groups as far as I am concerned.  This book is super PRACTICAL which is always a must for me.  If you take this book serious and apply it into small groups, it will revolutionize your groups.  One application of it would be to use it with upperclass groups for serious discipleship.  Two of my favorites in it book are his listing and explanation of different types of people in a group and the Four Quadrants of Group Life.  It will come out in March.

Resolve:  What It Takes To Survive And Thrive in Hard To Reach Places by Ben Neiser - This is a brand new book available at Amazon Books that came out of Ben's ministry at Brigham Young University......yes that HARD place.  Ben started out doing college ministry there and was doing such a good job, the Morman administration invited him to leave the campus.  He and some others started a church that has grown and thrived there in the middle of the Morman capitol.  Ben uses his own personal experiences to illustrate principles.  You will find it very engaging.  It is in eBook format now with a print version available shortly.  You can check it out at Amazon.com/dp/B0DVMQ96PR.

Here is a freebie:  I just released "7 Red Flags In A Dating Relationship" which came out of a talk I had only planned to do once, but became one that different campus and youth groups kept asking me to do.  If you are interested in checking it out, you can find it here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0DTTRJH38.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at Amazon:  Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN