Arliss' Crazy and Sometimes Stupid Rules for College Ministry

1.  Make NO MORE than 4 announcements.

2.  When an outside or entry door has double doors, unlock BOTH doors!  Why have double doors and leave one locked all the time?

3.  BEFORE your major weekly event(s) check the bathrooms for toilet paper....and an extra roll as well.

4.  When setting up for a meal, the fork always goes on the LEFT. Only Oster Forks go on the right.

5.  Do not leave stacks of chairs randomly and carelessly setting around the room.  Put your extras somewhere that can be quickly retrieved, if needed....but neatly stacked and out of the way.

6.  Walk across the campus and through the Student Center EVERY day.

7.  Eat where students eat at least once a week.....cafeterias, food courts, campus hangouts.

8.  The outside appearance of a campus religious center is more important than the inside appearance to your donors and supporters......most will only see the outside when driving by.  This is ESPECIALLY true in the summer when parents and prospective students are visiting campus.

9.  Write personal, HANDWRITTEN thank you notes.

10. If your Center or meeting space is dirty, messed up, or haphazard, it says to people that your ministry is haphazzard.

11.  Pray out loud with students in individual meetings, so they will learn to pray out loud with others.

12. It is the LITTLE things done right again, again, and again that make the difference.

It is BRAND NEW:  A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen.  Check it out:  Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98 

"In person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing..."

 According to II Corinthians 10:10, that is what they said about the Apostle Paul...you know the guy that wrote all those books in the New Testament.

So, why are those of us in ministry surprised when we or our ministry....or both are criticized?

Some things to do and remember when you receive criticism:

1.  FIRST, consider the source.  Is it coming from someone who cares about you and your ministry?  Or, is it from someone who has no direct connection and may not even have correct information?

2.  Avoid the two extremes:  You can take it all to heart and let it burn a hole in your soul.  Or, you can immediately and totally ignore it.  Maybe, there is something you can learn from it.  So, hear it first and then decide to consider it or ignore it.  Maybe, skip down and read number 7 now.

3.  Consider but avoid dwelling on it.  If there is something to learn there, then take it in.....and that can come from even an unfriendly source.

4.  Consider if that criticism comes as a result of a lack of communication on your part.  Do people outside the ministry know what is going on?  Are your stakeholders well informed?

5.  One good rule is, "If it is anonymous, then it is not worth your consideration."  I have a friend who pastored a large church.  He got an anonymous letter full of criticism.  So, at a worship service he said he had received a letter that was not signed and therefore he could not respond to it.  So, he read it out loud to the entire congregation and responded.  I like that...don't you?  Remember:  Anonymous letters or second hand unnamed critics mean to hurt....that is their purpose and goal.  They are not to inform or give helpful feedback.  Their purpose is to sting.  When you remember that, it is easier to ignore them.

6.  Some criticism comes from a lack of balance.  One of the really difficult things about college ministry is we have some many different things we are supposed to do.  It is easy to get over one end and neglect the other side.  And with all College Ministers have to do, you will never have perfect balance.

7.  If you cannot let go of it, share it with someone you know who cares about you and your ministry and ask them if there is anything there you need to hear.

One last word:  If you hear a fellow minister being criticized unfairly or due to incorrect information, speak up on their behalf.  I know a person saved my bacon like this in a public meeting one time.  The critic had me confused with someone else.  Speak up!

Finally, the guy who they said was "unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing" had a pretty fruitful and successful ministry.  So keep on!

It is BRAND NEW: "A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen" is an updated and expanded adaptation of my book, "Tips for College Freshmen."  You can check it out here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98.

Where is College Ministry in the Bible?

 Someone said to me, "I don't see college ministry in the Bible."  I think his point was that the Bible talks about the church.  I don't see church vans in the Bible either.

I see lots of things in the Bible that college ministry is all about.

-Jesus preached to and taught large crowds made up of both true followers and the merely curious.

-Jesus invested deeply in a few for future leadership.

-Jesus went to and connected to a wide variety of people.

-Paul engaged people of the intellectual community in open discussion.

-Some of whom Jesus helped turned away.

-Jesus said, "go and make disciples of all nations."  College ministries all over the country are reaching out to many of the nearly one million International Students in the U. S. and sending Student Summer Missionaries all over the world each year.

-Jesus fed the 5,000.  That was obviously the first college ministry Lunch or Supper Program.  I notice that only a few helped clean up after it was over......that has continued to be true through the years.

I will leave it up to you to find church vans in the Bible.  Let me know.

I have just released through Amazon Books, "A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen".  It is an updated and expanded adaptation of "Tips for College Freshmen" which has had a great response from individuals and churches.  You can check it out here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98

College Ministers' Quick Tip #9 It is not a business.....GOD is at the Center of What You are Doing!

 In spite of having to pay ministry bills, write goals, or do monthly reports, never forget that God is using you in students' live and on a campus. God is at work and you will never know all He is up to.  

Your success is determined by your faithfulness.  God honors and  uses faithfulness.

Something new is coming later this month.  Until then, have you read A College Ministry Formula Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP?

9 Truisms in College Ministry

A Truism is defined as:  "A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting." I would define it as something that is generally said and believed by many to be true or at least true the majority of time or in some situations.  Also, we do not know who first coined the statement.

Here are some common Truisms in College Ministry:

1.  To reach a particular campus group, reach at least one student in that group.

2.  It takes three years  to establish a college ministry or for an existing ministry to transition to the philosophy and style of new leadership.

3.  What students a ministry reaches determines what students that ministry can and cannot reach.  

4.  What is done the first three weeks of the fall semester determines the ministry for the whole school year.

5.   Once a student has been inside your facility, they are more likely to come back.

6.  Good falls are made in the summer.

7.  A meeting space will fill to only 80% capacity on a regular basis.  To continue to grow, seating space has to continue to grow.  But, too many empty seats will negatively affect attendance.

8.  A college ministry will come to reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the leader.

9.  The "Unforgiveable Sin in College Ministry" is not getting a student's name and contact information the first time they attend. 

Something new is coming in Mid-January.  Until then, have you read "Reaching MORE College Students"?  Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN

Give $25 and why $25

Every year at this time, I advocate and post "Give $25 to the college ministry that blessed you.  Here is why.  I learned a long time ago that most people think you need to give a significant sum such as at least $200-$500 for it to matter.  They are embarrassed to give a small amount, so they don't give anything.

Just think if every student who has gone through your ministry where you are were to give $25.  It could be a stunning and even transformative amount.

Why talk about it now?  Lots of people get a year end bonus or profit sharing, etc.  Some are trying to shore up their giving for their taxes. Others are just checking to see if they have given what they have intended to give. Why don't they have your ministry on their mind then?

So do me a favor and SPREAD THE WORD to give $25.  Maybe your ministry doesn't need it, but someone else's does.  As crazy as it is, some College Ministers are not allowed to ask for money.  I know; it is crazy but true.  Your promoting it might help your brother or sister down the road.

Give $25.  #Give25

Something new is coming from me in January.  Until then, have you read, "Reaching More College Students?"  It is a one hour read:  Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN

Most Popular Blog Articles: The Quick Cheat Sheet for Repairing or Growing a College Ministry

 A Cheat Sheet is a quick summary of a lot of information.  Here is my Quick Cheat Sheet for a college ministry revitalization or intentional growth plan.

1. Look at and as honestly as possible, determine what issues are holding your ministry back.

2.  Listen to and get input from your core students.  Get input, but do ask them to vote on actions to take.  

3.  Determine if any of "The Ministry Killers" are at work in your ministry.  (Playing favorites, Inappropriate behavior by student leaders, No joy or fun in the ministry, Same old/Same old, Lack of excellence).

4. Decide which of two basic approaches to take. Is it a complete overhaul and change everything or Tweak some things within the current ministry.

5.  Establish a starting point....this is FIRST!  Prioritize it and move on it.

6.  Look at the common characteristics of  large and growing ministries.....what is one that could most quickly move your ministry in a positive direction.  The two most common are:  Effective small groups with strongly engaged and trained group leaders and A Sense of Mission throughout the ministry.

7.  Develop an overall plan.  A written plan or strategy is a plus to making continual progress.  Don't let the everyday tasks keep you from doing the things necessary for the change.

8.  Assess honestly the ministry's healthy or unhealthy "atmosphere. "

9.  Be prepared for the push back and even personal attack that can come with any dramatic changes.

10. Consider slimming down what your ministry offers to beef up the quality of your offerings.

11. Make an OBVIOUS change or multiple changes that show this is a new day. (This is particularly aimed at those fixing a broken ministry."

11.  Invest deeply in a few student leaders who can be difference makers.

This was adapted from my book, "Fixing a Broken College Ministry" Amazon.com/dp/1521876665 .