Are You a Teacher, Preacher, Or Speaker?

 I am sure some of you have heard me tell the story of as a boy asking my dad what was the difference in preaching and speaking.  I would hear them say someone was coming to our church to preach then at some point, they would be telling of someone else coming to speak.  So, I asked my dad the difference.  My dad was not an educated man; he had only gotten to go through the 6th grade when he had to quit and go to work.

My dad scratched his chin and said, "I think when you speak, you have to have something to say."  I am not sure what all he meant by that. But, as a College Minister, I primarily spoke at our weekly student event, but did speak fairly regularly in churches.  Often, someone would come up to me and say something like, "I enjoyed your talk."  That meant I did not sound like a preacher to them....which for some that was bad and for others it was good.

So, if you are a College Minister, do you consider yourself a preacher, speaker, or teacher?  So, is there a difference and does it matter?  I consider myself a speaker.  I worked at not "sounding like a preacher."  One of my goals and commitments always was to try to connect to students that had walked away from church or was not a church person at all.

But and however, I really think it is important that College Ministers see themselves as teachers.  To me the idea of being a teacher helps.  There are things that Christian college students need to know and learn that will NOT be Sunday morning church topics.  There are lots of issues and questions they need to see and hear a biblical viewpoint on.  Lots of those topics need to be spoken on every year because there are students that have not heard it and for different reasons, many students are only going to be around one or two years.  I talked about forgiveness in some way or other every year.  I talked about God's Will every year.  

One thing I think that pushes College Ministers toward seeing themselves as a preacher is the increasing number of students that are not believers and need to hear the Gospel.  I definitely get that.  But, I think we cannot lose our "teacher cap" and role.  Also, for those of us whose ministries are on campus and sponsored by churches, we don't want to offer just another version of what they are getting there.  If we do that, why do they need both?

For some, the difference in a Preacher and a Speaker is whether you yell or not.  I'm just not a yeller! 

So, do you see yourself as a Teacher, Preacher, or Speaker and why is that? 

Have you reached all the students you want to reach, if so, you do not need this Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

Tasks for Every College Minister Age

 Last week I did a Facebook Live Post on the tasks for every College Minister Season.  Here they are, if you missed it or just want to see them in black and white.

First of all, remember my basic premise:  There are strengths to EVERY age and Weaknesses to every age.  Lean into your strengths and mitigate the weakness.  But, you have to be honest about where you are.

The Near Peer or Everybody's Buddy Tasks:

Look at different ministries to learn and formulate your own college ministry philosophy.

Discover by trial and error and honest evaluation what your personal ministry gifts and strengths are.

Be coachable.  Realize you have a lot to learn.

Find a wise pro mentor to develop, nurture and encourage you.

The Cool Adult or Role Model Tasks:

Develop a network of friends and colleagues for learning and support.  Feeling alone is one of the college ministry killers.

Become more intentional in planning and strategizing as a result of your growing experience.

Learn to balance ministry and family, if married or if single, have a life outside of work 24/7.  Be fair to BOTH work and family or you.  Burnout is real.  Family crisis is real.

Admit you are not a peer anymore.

The Respect Veteran Tasks

Work at staying tuned to students' viewpoints and perspectives.

Spend some time building and developing the ministry support base as a result of your earned respect and experience.  Share the vision and the needs.

Begin to minister to and invest in younger College Ministers.  It will benefit them AND keep you fresh in seeing things from a younger perspective.

Be intentional in developing a ministry larger than your personal ministry.

The Builder or Statesperson Tasks:

Don't become just an administrator...be out on campus.

Be intentional about benefitting college ministry as a whole by writing, speaking out wisely.

Put the support base of the ministry on a firm and strong foundation for the future.  Build or re-do a ministry Center or House?

Don't let bitterness from denominational politics or lack of advancement to negatively color your perspective and actions.

Some people get out of college ministry just when they are beginning to know enough to be the most effective.  We need MORE old pro College Ministers.

Adapted from Almost Everything About College Ministry Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX Check out A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV

The New Semester Challenge

 When you try something different to reach college students who have not been reached, you often fail.  When you don't try, you always fail.

Try something different this semester.  It may just be a one time thing.  Or, it could be a whole semester experiment.

You can think about it and maybe even try something you have always wanted to do OR,

At one of your Leadership Team meetings, have "Crazy Idea Time".  What is one thing we have never done before?  Just brainstorm for about 10 minutes and then have your leaders pick one of the "Crazy Ideas" you are going to try.  Yeah, I know that sounds scary.  But, think about it.

Wayne Gretzky, the great hockey player said, "You miss every shot you don't take."

Go for it.  Try one different thing.  Then, see what you learned from it.

Wednesday, January 8th at 10:00 a.m. Central, I will be doing a Facebook Live Video, "Part 2 of The Seasons of a College Minister."  Hope to see you then!

A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 

A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV

Things to do BEFORE School Starts

1.  Write a brief one page letter sharing some of the things that happened during this past semester and send it to everyone that contributed, both individual and church.  One way to personalize those that are just copied is to write a brief handwritten note at the bottom.  One Congressman was famous among his colleagues for not letting a single letter go out to a constituent without his quick scrawl at the bottom.  He would bring these letters to the floor of the House and do it while they were debating bills, etc.  It does not have to be fancy.  It can just be a "Dear Friend" letter listing 4 or 5 good things that happened.  Some enclose a return envelope.  Although I am all about a Return Envelope in Alumni Newsletters, I don't prefer it in this letter.  Let it just be a thanks and I appreciate you.  But, you can make your own call on this.

2.  Make a list of students you did not see the last month of the semester.  Send each one a personal message before they come back.  DON'T let it be one of those, "Where have you been you dirty dog?" messages.  Rather, just indicate you hope they had a great Christmas and look forward to seeing them soon and to catch up on their holiday.

3.  If you speak at your large group event, lay out your topics for the whole semester with the scripture.  If you have time past that, do a brief outline of each,  so you are not starting from scratch each week.  Remember, you can always change if something comes up that needs to be spoken to. 

4.  If you have a building or meeting space, is there something that needs to be done to freshen it up for the Spring Semester?

5.  What about those sure fire freshmen names a pastor or alum gave you and they never showed up?  Send them a message or mail them something.  Or, call and check in with them.  They may have realized they messed up last semester not connecting.  Or, their schedule may have changed for the good in terms of connecting to your ministry.  I always gave a little extra effort in connecting with a freshman, if I knew their dad was a pastor, church staffer, or missionary.  In my mind, their folks had earned that.

Watch for one of my occasional Facebook Live videos on different college ministry topics.

You can check out A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula here Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV or A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity here Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1

Spread the Word....Give $25

 Just imagine if every alum that has ever come through your ministry were to give $25 by the end of the year, what it would mean to your ministry.

Every year at this time, I post on social media the idea of anyone that was blessed by a college ministry to give $25 to it by the end of the year.  I post a different college ministry picture and ask them to give.

Would you join me?  You can do your own posts or share mine from X/Twitter or Facebook.  Obviously, you can promote your own or just do a general post.  Can you imagine how much money would be given every EVERY ALUM from EVERY COLLEGE MINISTRY, gave $25 before the end of the year how much money that would be?

#Give25

Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and  A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity is at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1.

Funny Things Happen When You Are Guest Speaking

 All of us in ministry can tell stories about times we have been "guest speaking".  Lots of them center around how much we did or didn't get paid.

Of course, there are the stories of speaking at Youth Retreats when they put you in the cabin with the Junior High boys.

One of my funnier ones (now) was the Youth Retreat where I had had a crazy week and was worn out and then got off late on that Friday afternoon.  I was to meet them at the camp.  When I got there, the Youth Minister said, "We are going to swim in the lake and then for supper, we will roast weenies around the campfire. 

As I said, I was worn out, but I had brought my swimsuit and a beach towel.  The swim felt good.  As I was drying off, he said, "You will speak after we eat around the campfire."  Ok, I thought, then I get to the cabin and get some sleep.

They listened pretty well....and now I thought, I get to go to the cabin.  Then, the youth started pulling out sleeping backs and tucking in around the campfire....as did the Youth Minister.  So, I pulled out my damp towel from having dried off after swimming and began to roll up in it for the night.

The Youth Minister said, "You really travel light don't you."  I said, "Yeah, that's me, I really travel light!" It was a l-o-n-g night.

What is one of YOUR "Funny" guest speaking stories?

Check out Almost Everything About College Ministry at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and Reaching MORE College Students at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.  

Why We Need MORE EXPERIENCED and OLDER College Ministers....10 Reasons

 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