Being a College Minister, by necessity, is a Jack of all Trades calling. Yet, I believe partly through our spiritual God given gifts, campus situation, and age we tend to function in one type. I think it is important for us to identify what our type is to lean into the strengths of it AND to identify the weaknesses. It is easy to just try to be what you have seen someone else be and you are trying to do that, but that is not really your type.
1. The Administrator/Facilitator: This person operates through organization and sees themselves as strictly someone who operates through the student leaders and provides the resources and structure necessary for a strong ministry.
2. The Counselor: Lots of students are dealing with issues and this College Minister spends a large amount of time listening to students who are struggling. Another aspect of the Counselor can be one who is helping students make life decisions for what is next, etc.
3. The Cool Dude or The Personality: This person operates out of the force of their personality. They tend to be very trendy and operates through a wide variety of relationships and connections.
4. The Pastor: Often this College Minister is very ministerial in appearance, actions and attitude. In guys, they often are known as "Brother_________".
5. The Rainmaker: This is that one that instantly draws a crowd, by presenting a large vision and really able to quick draw lots of students into that vision. Large crowds develop almost over night. In my observation, lots of us would like to think of ourselves as Rainmakers, but we are not. And, there are very few Rainmakers.....but in talking to lots of ministries looking to hire a College Minister, that's what or who they are looking for.
6. The Hybrid: Due to specific gifts, needs, or intentionality, this College Minister is really able to combine a couple of these styes.
Think about WHICH YOU ARE. Identify the strengths and make sure you are leaning into them. Get honest with yourself about what the weaknesses or limitations of that style are. If you are long term, consider whether age leads you to a different style. That is NOT necessarily a bad thing. It just may be an adjustment to a new chapter in your ministry.
Perhaps, wherever you are age and experience wise, you may need to work at bringing another role in which would move you to The Hybrid.
Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and Tips for College Freshmen is at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9
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