Top Gun for College Ministers

 Here is a story from many, many, many years ago that has a point and current application.

A group of us had gone to a fast food place after an evening session of a regional College Ministers conference that had not been very helpful.  Sitting around the table 8 or 10 of us from 3 or 4 different states began asking each other questions about HOW they did this and that.  The discussion was great and super helpful.  After awhile, someone said, "Wouldn't it be great, if we could do this for two or three days?"

So, the next summer, we met for three days at one of our campuses.  We put up a white board and started putting questions and topics on it. One morning or afternoon, we would go play bad golf.  We did it again the next summer and the next, rotating around where we met.  Someone jokingly called it Top Gun School.....obviously, after the Tom Cruise movie had come out.  It grew, but somehow partly due to the informal name it had gotten, it got a little bit of a name for being "exclusive" or in some way "secretive" or "political."  One State BCM leader told his people they were not to attend it.  So, the next year some of them took two or three days of vacation about the same time.

As it grew through the years and those who attended it would speak of how helpful it had been, some State leaders would tell their campus ministers to attend, if it were held in their state.   Somewhere along there, it got a better and official name.  It was called College Ministers Summer Fellowship or some variation of that and seminaries and other groups started paying for the meals.

Those first summer meetings affected my ministry more than anything I had ever been part of.   Out of those first Top Gun meetings came a couple of the ideas that most affected and grew my ministry over the years!  One guy shared something he had done with freshmen and others began to pick up on it, try it, modify it to their campus, etc. 

Okay, here is the application.  Call four or five buddies in college ministry and meet somewhere for the day and just talk about what you do and why. It can just be one day.  Ask each other questions.  Go eat something fun and not healthy and laugh some.  Encourage and pray for one another.  Don't plan a program with a speaker.  All of you are the program!  But, be careful not to tell anybody what you are doing.....they might think you are trying to win all your campuses for Christ or something weird like that.

Here is another crazy thought.  If you know someone who is doing a good job that is not of the same denomination or tribe as you.....invite them!  I have learned that we silo too much and we can learn so much from each other.

It's not too late.  Do it THIS SUMMER!  I know you want to.....call your buddy and say, "Who else should we invite?

You can check out 162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen:  Fun, Faith & Good Grades here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9

Where Did "Tips for College Freshmen" Come From?

 Four years ago I self-published a book entitled "Tips for College Freshmen" and this year have done an expanded version called "162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen."    When I first had the idea and put it out there, I thought there was not any such thing. I learned there are a ton of Freshmen tips books with the best known and number one selling one being, "The Naked Roommate."  But, I also learned that my Tips book was unique in that most are either all academic tips, social, or Christian apologetics.....where mine combines all three.

Here is where it started.  Many years ago when I was the Baptist Campus Minister at Arkansas State, the school came out with a new Freshmen Orientation format and indicated they were going to offer during each Orientation day, two different times of seminars and anyone could offer to do one.  I said I wanted to do one called, "How to Make it in College."  I did it all summer.  The next summer they said they were going to do the ten that had gotten the best reviews the summer before.  "How to Make it" was one of the ten.

A year or two later they changed formats again and asked, could I do it in ten minutes instead of thirty minutes and they would rotate freshmen through four of them.  I said, sure and did a ten minute version.

Another year rolls around and they said, "Could you do a 5 minute version at the Welcome session for all freshmen and parents?  Sure!

Somewhere in there I started being asked to speak for High School Graduation  Parent and Senior Lunches.  I did a talk I called, "7 Things High School Seniors and Their Parents Ought to Know."

Along in there, some churches would ask me to preach for Senior Sunday in addition to or instead of their Senior/Parent Luncheon.  I did a sermon called, "The College Freshman from Luke 15:11-31.

In my being at lots of Senior Sundays in churches, I saw them often give their high school grads a book.  I would always look at the book and almost every time, I knew it had good information in it, but the chances of their reading it was near zero!  Most looked and read like a text book.

So, I decided to do a quick and easy to read one full of all kinds of practical tips for everyday school life and adjustments as well as spiritual tips.  I have been super pleased with the reception it has gotten and many churches now give it to their seniors on Senior Sunday, as well as individuals giving it as a gift. One church uses it in their Senior Sunday School during the Spring Semester.  Last year Williams Baptist University gave it to each of their incoming Freshmen.

I share this for two reasons:  Some people have asked how it started.  Second, I believe more College Ministers need to be self-publishing.  YOU know stuff that would benefit others.  Do it!!!

Both the original "Tips for College Freshmen" and "162 Tips and Hacks for College Freshmen" are available at Amazon Books.  Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9, Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

5 Things Every College Minister Can Do That God Uses

1.  Be an Example - Nothing takes the place of our personal example.  We cannot expect what we do not model.

2. Express Affirmation - One of the greatest things we can do for a student for their whole life and well being is to communicate genuine affirmation of their abilities and potential.  Many have never experienced much affirmation and are clueless to their possibilities.

3.  Forgive - Students will let you down.  Student leaders will mess up or not do what they committed to do.  For their sake and your health, you need to forgive and let it go.  Hold them accountable, but don't continue to hold it against them.

4.  Listen - A lot of  "counseling" is just being an aggressive listener.  A psychiatrist told me many of his patients just needed someone to listen to them.  Also, if you really listen to students, you will find out more about what in your ministry is really blessing them and encouraging them

5.  Express Appreciation - Never forget that students are volunteers.  Don't forget to say thanks occasionally for what they do.

You can check out "162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9 .

Thoughts on Hiring in College Ministry

Some College Ministries are hiring Associates or Interns during the early summer weeks.

Here is one thing I learned the hard way:  When hiring to work with you, chemistry is even more important than abilities and experience.  If the two or more of you don't fit on the same page, the abilities that person or persons brings to the job is greatly negated.  I hired someone whose resume was unbelievably good....what they had done and who they had worked with.  But, we did not connect well personally.  

So, always consider chemistry....how well do you connect?  It will matter more and more every day.

Remember on checking references:  Obviously and of course, you check references and I generally prefer a phone call over a written one.  I think their tone often tells you something.  A friend of mine who supervised more than one hundred College Ministers, once said, "When you call and ask about X person and the first thing out of their mouth is, "Well"......hang up then.

All of us can get 3 or 4 friends to say good things about us.  Figure out someone that would know them that they did NOT list as a reference and call them. 

There is a popular MYTH in hiring that "Anyone is better than no one."  It aint so!!  If no one is in that position, you know that things are not being done and you can compensate for that.  But, if someone is in a position, you will naturally assume things are getting done that need to and are being done right.

It is always better for a position to be open than to hire the wrong person.

Finally, give them some very clear and basic instructions as to what is expected when they start.  Don't assume they will know or make those things the priorities they need to be.

Second after they start, give them feedback.  Where possible, give them praise and express appreciation for a great start in that area.  That also helps, if you have to ask them to do something differently in another area.

My overall hiring philosophy is hire people sharper and brighter than yourself and when others come trying to hire them, help them go where they feel led and want to go.  And by the way, there will be other sharp people come your way as a result.

Check out 162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen:  Fun, Faith & Good Grades at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9.