How Long Should a Christian Speaker Speak?

 There has been a trend in recent years for Christian speakers to speak longer.....some do 45 minutes regularly.  Some are of the opinion that if you do not speak long, then you are not being deep.  I lean to shorter because I would rather be heard than considered deep.

Is there a PERFECT time length to speak?  Maybe not perfect, but here is what some "experts" know and say.

TED Talks are 18 minutes long.  Nobody gets more than 18 minutes.  TED Talk Curator Chris Anderson says, "18 minutes is short enough to hold people's attention, precise enough to be taken seriously, and long enough to say something that matters.”

Biologists say the brain starts to tune out after 10 minutes.  So, it is at the 9-10 minute mark that a gear has to shift or something done to bring the audience's attention back again.  One motivational speaker who makes BIG money speaking says when he sees the audience's attention shifting,  he will say something startling or he holds up one finger and says, "Let me tell you a joke."

I am convinced that stories catch people's attention and connect them more than any other thing a speaker can do or say.  People relate to stories about other people or about you as the speaker and funny stories or self deprecating stories are really well received and draw people into what is being said.  One of my first Christian speaker heroes was a man named Ed Seabough.  Ed always told a story or two with maximum impact.  He told me he did not just tell them off the top of his head, but that he would practice telling them out loud.

I learned from Ed.  I practice not only a story out loud, but I do my public presentations out loud in a room by myself at least twice before I speak.  And, unless it is a workshop setting with give and take discussion, I speak about 20 minutes.  I would always rather people say, "I wish he had gone longer than I thought that was never going to be over."

You can find Arliss' books at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX or just search Arliss at Amazon books.

Just Some Quick Thoughts on Dealing with Criticism

I write occasionally on dealing with criticism because if you are in a leadership role, you will get some.  So, here are my Quick Notes on Criticism.

1.  If you are in a leadership role, you will get some criticism.  It just goes with the territory.  It is one of the free benefits!

2.  Consider the source.  That can determine how seriously to take it.

3.  LISTEN!  If criticism is not from a continually negative person, listen and evaluate.  You probably are not perfect. 

4.  Leaders sometimes have to make decisions based on less than perfect choices.  Just remember, when you did the best you could with the options available to you.

5.  Communication is key.  Often when people know why you did what you did and what your heart is about it, much of the criticism will disappear.

6.  Always try to treat people with the respect you would hope they would extend to you....even if they don't!

7.  Have someone to whom you can pour out your frustration from criticism.....other than dumping it on your spouse all the time.

8.  Sometimes criticism comes as a result of someone feeling jealously toward you and or your ministry.  Understand that may be their way of expressing their frustration with their own situation.

9. Remember, it is easy to hear the negative voices and give them more attention than they deserve.

When we are in a leadership role, we will be criticized.....some will be fair and some will be false or unfair.  Thank God every day for your calling and His use of you....even on the hard days.  It helps remembering why you are doing what you are doing.

A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades is at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Which Style College Worship Event Do You Do and Why?

 Over simply put, there are two styles of college student worship events.  Which do you do?  Why do you do it that way?

1.  It is a Worship Service.

Of this type is held in a church setting and it is worship music and preaching with an emphasis on teaching scripture.  A few of these are verse by verse. Some college ministries today are using a team of students to speak at different times and helping them prepare and even helping them evaluate and learn when it is over.  I love the idea of teaching students how to do it.  Others focus on the College Minister speaking every week. Also, great emphasis is given to the quality of the music and may even include non-students who are excellent musicians and singers. These often utilize the College Minister as the speaker while some utilize area pastors and youth ministers.   In many ways, this style is a church service. 

2.  It is more casual and fun with teaching and worship led by a student band.

This style often features ice breakers, mixer games, and informal student testimonies.  The casual format can lend itself to more topical teaching.  The topics often come out of a student team that develops topics related to what they see as needs, questions, and concerns on campus.  The topics may be contemporary, but the teaching/speaking always has a biblical background or leads to a key biblical principle that is explained.  In the casual, fun format the music may not be of professional quality, but it is always student led and is used as a student teaching/training opportunity.

Which should YOU do?  

-Are there churches reaching out to the campus that do quality worship services for students?  Offering the same type thing may work contrary to their reaching students.  How can you be the best partner?

-Are your students very "churchy" or do they not have much church background?

-Is speaking one of your gifts?  Don't speak just because some think that's just how it is done.  Some of the strongest college ministries in the country are led by "non-speakers".

-If you are on a campus or at a church reaching out to a campus with multiple ministries aimed at students, what are they doing and should you offer a different alternative.  Beware of just copying the "It Ministry".  Find your niche is the advice one College Minister gave when it comes to being one of multiple ministries.

Every campus is different and the gifts of the College Minister vary.  Be YOU on the campus WHERE YOU ARE!

A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity is at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and Reaching MORE College Students is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

Church Plants and Campus Based College Ministries

I am unabashedly an advocate of campus based college ministry and the value it brings to Christian witness and ministry to the college campus.  In recent years, there has also been a movement of planting churches for the primary purpose of reaching and ministering to college students.

I was visiting with a friend who is going on staff with a large church plant that started about five years ago to reach a nationally known college campus.  Within that five years, they have grown to an attendance of one thousand (1,000) on a normal Sunday.  That is a jaw dropping success story, which should be celebrated.  

In situations such as this, there has often been a campus based ministry that has not had nearly that numerical success.  Some point to this as evidence that the church plant is the only way to go.  That is not my conclusion, but it raises the interesting question,  what are the differences?

From the outside looking in from a distance on these church plants, I see four distinct differences from most campus based ministries.

1.  They start with a core.  In many of these church plants, a core group of people move there to begin the church. It is not just the pastor and family.  There are 20 to 30 to begin with.  So, the ministry and outreach is shared and there is something to invite people to join into.  I helped a friend once try to begin his school year with some specifically freshmen programs and topics.  One night we had enlisted some upperclassmen to be a part and then publicized it to freshmen.  At the last minute, all of the upperclassmen notified us that they could not come.  Two freshmen we had never seen showed up and it was me and the College Minister and the two freshmen.  We did what we planned to do and they never came back.  They did not feel they had come to anything.  Having a core to begin with is huge!

2. Resources - Most of these type plants have a sponsoring church or multiple churches and begin with some resources that they provide.  These resources not only provide needed equipment, funds for special events, etc, they give a message of the significance of this new thing. For a variety of reasons, campus based ministries often do not have any or much significant sponsoring partnerships, at least in the beginning.

3.  Multiple Staff - Many of these type church plants have more than one staff member as a result of people raising their own salary from other places in order to be there and minister there.  More campus based ministries are now moving toward having multiple staff raising their salaries,  It is a simple fact:  more staff reaches more students.

4.  Entrepreneurship - I believe THIS is the single greatest difference.  These church plant pastor/leaders usually see the issues, situation, etc and look at and develop new ways to address these needs.  They don't think it has to look exactly like something else.  One state wide College Ministry BCM leader said that one of his sharp young College Ministers left because the State Convention Business Office would not let him use a Square Reader to allow students to pay at their Lunch Program.  It didn't work in their system.  Hooray for entrepreneurship!!  

Many campus based college ministries are sponsored by State Baptist Conventions or other state or regional organizations.  They have guidelines and generally approved methods.  While these provide some obvious benefits, they also can be a hindrance, particularly relative to number 4.  

For campus based college ministries, we must see and maintain the advantages of our organization and templets, but also encourage new thinking and approaches.  I continue to believe there is both the need for and value of campus based ministry and church plants aimed at campuses.

Campus based ministry, church college ministry, and campus focused church plants are cousins, but not triplets.

Check out Reaching More College Students at amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN and A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 .

Why Do Student Leaders Often Not Succeed?

 If you know me at all, you know I am a huge proponent of developing student leaders in a college ministry.  The two greatest factors in a ministry (apart from the work of the Holy Spirit) are the College Minister and the student leaders.

Some Reasons Student Leaders Often do NOT Succeed:

1.  Right Student....Wrong Spot - They are a great student who loves the Lord and we just have put them in the wrong place.  it is particularly easy to do with one who will do anything we ask.  Proper placements by gifts and temperament is huge on our part.

2.  We HAD to have someone. - This is closely related to number 1.  We have a position and we feel the pressure of having someone there.  So, we place them in a position they just don't fit.  Some times we just have to say, we don't have anyone to fill that spot.  That is tough, but usually works out best in the long run.

3.  They are overwhelmed with discouragement. - Sometimes, a student does everything that can be  done and there just is not the result anyone would desire.  That is where we must help them evaluate on effort...not result.  And, help them never feel alone.  Be a partner with them.  Praised them for effort.

4.  They were never taught how to do what they are asked to do. - Some believe  the way you teach leadership is to throw someone into a role and let them sink or swim on their own.  I believe this is a recipe for disaster.  One of the reasons I strongly believe in weekly meetings with student leaders is that it is a continual coaching and teaching time.

5.  They wanted a position....not a responsibility. - Everyone wants to be chosen.  Everyone wants to be recognized.  One of the difficult things in selecting student leaders is discerning if they just want a position or are they really willing and able to accept the responsibility.

6.  They were not told clearly what the responsibilities were. - We must communicate clearly what the responsibilities are and what it takes to accomplish them.  We can tell them some of what has been done previously by others who served in that role, but give them room to do it in their style.

7.  THIS IS THE WORST ONE:  Seeing a student with GREAT potential and putting them in a role they are not ready for.  I have seen freshmen and sophomores ruined for future leadership because they were thrown into roles that overwhelmed them.  Some ministry leadership roles are Junior or Senior roles...they just are.  That negative experience can cause them to back away from future service. 

Check out these college ministry materials by Arliss Dickerson:  Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX or Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

Some Rules for College Ministry

1.  Believe and act on the fact that God is ALWAYS doing more than you know.

2.  Ask a student to do it, if at all possible.

3.  Affirm student leaders, express appreciation for their service, and help them grow personally and as a leader.

4.  Play fair with the school and with all other ministries.....even those you don't like.

5.  Build on previous years while realizing every year is brand new.

6.  Look for partners.

7.  Always express thanks to those who serve and support the ministry......personal notes are never out of style.

8.  Model what you expect from students.

9.  Make the most of each campus season and of each personal season.  They all have pluses.

10.  Never let the ministry take the place of your relationship to the Lord.....beware of the temptation to love the work more than the Lord.

11.  Work wisely hard and take care of your family.  

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry resources can be found here starting here:  amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 

Some Ways to do College Ministry WRONG

I have often said there is more than one way to do college ministry right.

So, are there DIFFERENT ways to do it wrong?  

1.  Copy another ministry.  No two situations are alike.  No two ministries have all the same resources.  No two campuses are totally alike.  No two College Ministers have the same gifts and abilities.  You get the idea.  Learn from others, use the same principles and essentials.  

2.  Become a closed group.  This can happen two ways.  The first is philosophical.  "We are a discipleship ministry and only for those who are ready to be serious and go deep.  That does not leave much room for the student who has questions about faith.....either as a Believer or Non-Believer.  And, it usually precludes the the Believer that has strayed and struggling with how to "come back."

The Second is when a group just becomes an unhealthy clique.  Everyone is best buddies and you have to be best buddies with the group to be in the ministry.  There is a fine line between a group being caring for each other and not shutting others out.  If we are honest, most ministries struggle with this to some degree or other.

3.  Fight or Ignore the Administration.  Some ministries take great delight in breaking the campus rules.  The campus may say, "No flyers put on windshields."  The ministry says, "We are telling people about Jesus, so it is ok."  The more rules we break, the more rules and restrictions tend to get put on religious groups.  A rule breaking ministry can harm all other ministries.  Doors get locked to these ministries.

Second,  some ministries just ignore the administration.  When campus administrators see our ministries as partners or at least, not harmful, it is beneficial.  Doors open to helpful partners.  If administrators  don't even you or your ministry is there, how does that benefit anyone?  Know and befriend those that need to know you.

4.  Church college ministries that separate the college ministry from the church as a whole.  In the short term, this may seem beneficial as everything is college student friendly, directed, and some would say, it keeps students from seeing unpleasant church stuff.  But, here is the thing, will these students love the church and fit into the imperfect church with all kinds of different people in the years to come? Doing real church over the long haul usually means being with a bunch of people who are not just alike and all on the same page.

5.  Thinking YOUR ministry is the only one God can use or cares about.  There is a story about a city wide church progressive dinner organized by the campus based ministry for freshmen to be exposed to different churches in town.  The first stop was at the large and strong college ministry church that had a super attractive set up with lots of different games, etc.  When, the food was winding up and time to go to the next church, it was announced, "If you want to stay here for the evening, our bus will take you back to campus later."  Many of those students stayed and did not go to the remaining churches.  REALLY?

6.  Thinking it is all up to you and that the Lord is lucky to have you leading it.  

Some people read and are helped by Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books.  If you might be one of those, you can start checking them out here, Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.