4 Possible Reasons a College Ministry is NOT Reaching More Students

1.  Lack of an intentional strategy - It is so easy to just get caught up in living day to day and being in survival mode.  Do you have a plan and are you doing things to work that plan?

2.  Facilities or Budget - Money does not make a ministry, but it is hard to have much ministry without adequate funding.  If money is a factor for you, are you communicating the need and your vision to your alums, interested individuals, or your church supervisor or Budget Committee?

3.  Club Atmosphere -  It is easy for students in a ministry to enjoy being together and are not reaching out to others as well as projecting a closed atmosphere.  First, are YOU out on campus and trying to connect to new and different students....or just hanging out with your tribe?  Help your students buy into the idea of reaching out to others.....and making them feel welcome when they come.

4.  Happy with our 50......or 25......or 70?  There is a very fine line between being unsettled in your ministry, being frustrated about numbers, and trying something new, and evaluating what things make a difference and what are just "energy eaters."  Hear me:  In some places reaching 25 or 50 is a miracle of God!  Beware of the College Minister Killer of COMPARISON.  But, also continue to evaluate and see what does and does not make the difference on your campus.

Remember:  Growth does not have to be miraculous or dramatic.....small incremental growth usually sticks better than a big flash!

If your weekly event averages 25, could you do something that would reach 5 more?

If your event reaches 50, could it increase to 60?

If you are reaching 100, could you do something to increase to 105 or even 110?

For more ideas on growing your ministry, check out "Reaching MORE College Students" at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.

10 Reasons to Quit College Ministry

1.  Everybody you went to college with is making more money than you.

2.  That upperclass leader you invested so much time in has walked away to go to another ministry.

3.  The church college ministry you have been trying to help just scheduled some of their big stuff the same time as your weekly event.

4.  You saw somebody spit on the publicity piece that had your picture on it.

5.  You got home before dark one day and it felt good.

6.  Your spouse suggested the two of you wear name tags at home.

7.  You just got asked for the 10th time if what you do is a full time job.

8.  You just drove 50 miles to speak for an event and they didn't even pay your mileage.

9.  One of your faculty friends asked you if you go home about 4:00 o'clock like they do.

10. The Publicity Team forgot to put up the flyers.

2 Reasons to Stay:  God called you and it is the most exciting thing you can ever imagine doing.

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and "7 Red Flags in a Dating Relationship" Amazon.com/dp/B0DTTRJH38

College Ministry Influencers - Part 2

 In an earlier Blog article, I wrote of the significant effects of Max Barnette, Linda Halfacre Weir, and Steve Masters and how they have been very significant in their influence on college ministry as a whole are making transitions and that is opening the door to others.

Another person in this line is Beverly Parrish Skinner who is in the "process" of stepping away from her college ministry role in Georgia.  Beverly's story is unique in some ways.  She did college ministry in flagship ministries in both Mississippi and Texas.  But, possibly her greatest influence has come in her role in Georgia.

About 14 years ago, Beverly married Warren Skinner, who at that time was BCM Campus Minister at Georgia Tech, and transitioned into Women's Ministry through Georgia WMU.  About 5 years ago, the Georgia Baptist Convention, due to budget changes, made significant cuts in the number of BCM Campus Ministers through early retirements, etc.  Due to this significant change in the number and placement of Campus Ministers, it was their plan to challenge, recruit, and train local churches, staff, and members to pick up the campus ministry role in an even more direct way.

Beverly was asked to assume this role as the "Collegiate Ministry Catalyst."  To be honest, many felt this was a near impossible task.  Beverly moved into this role and combined the knowledge and experience of a proven local Baptist Campus Minister with the willingness and imagination to combine that experience with new ideas and approaches that have worked better than many anticipated.

As I spoke of the influence of Linda, Max, and Steve, Beverly shared these great thoughts:  

"These 3  and others became great leaders because they stepped up when given the opportunity.  Though I don't know for certain, I can only guess they rarely felt 'ready' for the challenges......no one does.  They kept trusting God and He kept using them.  There are many great men and women serving on campuses right now that don't feel 'ready' for the next level of leadership......but God is as faithful to you as He was to Max, Steve, and Linda."

Beverly said better what I was trying to say.  As people like Linda, Steve, Max, and Beverly change roles, we need new folks to step up and trust God to use them for the good of God's kingdom in college ministry.  

 Beverly has taken what many saw as a lemons situation and made lemonade.  It was not a role she sought or asked for, but allowed God to use her in new and unexpected ways.  She is a great role model for what many are facing as funds decline and new thoughts have to be had and implemented.

Special thanks and blessings to Beverly Parrish Skinner as she is in the process of transitioning to retirement and is a great example of being a College Ministry Influencer by example and insight.

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCNB1 and "7 Red Flags in a Dating Relationship" at Amazon.com/dp/B0DTTRJH38.

Change of College Ministry Influencers.....Thanks to Max, Steve, & Linda

In every field there are people who are influential in what they do and say.  Obviously, that is true in college ministry.  I believe there are times when there are some obvious changes as key people who are influencers change roles for some reason or other, or transition to a new stage of life.

I think we have hit an obvious time of change in influencers in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry world.  Max Barnett passed away earlier this year. Max had been the long time leader of the ministry at Oklahoma University and was retired, but continued to speak into the college ministry world and be a voice for college ministry.  He had been a leader in promoting one to one discipleship and personal evangelism. Max was one of the first to model raising money from alums and friends for staff.  He led out in sending his graduates to start ministries on other campuses.  For several years, his how to seminars at collegiate conferences were a "must attend."  

 Steve Masters, long time BCM Campus Minister at LSU, transitioned into retirement this year and moved to South Carolina.  Steve has been a huge influencer through his role as a consultant for Lifeway working in the area of coordinating different national collegiate ministry groups such as CRU, Navigators, and others in getting high school graduate names and passing them on to State BCM organizations.  In addition, he coordinated the College Ministers Fellowship which was the informal summer meeting where BCM Campus Ministers from different states met for connections and learning from each other.  For many of us, this was a key meeting in our professional growth, as well as the personal friendships and encouragement.

This week Linda Halfacre Weir announced her retirement this coming December.  Linda has been a key voice in developing specialized Freshmen ministries and in her leadership role at Lifeway Christian Resources where she served as the Director of National Collegiate Ministries for several years.  Prior to that she was the lead Campus Minister at Florida State University and Louisiana Tech and is now serving as the Director of College Ministry for Pinelake Church, a multi-campus church, in Mississippi. In addition to her work, her mere presence in these roles has been an encouragement to young women sensing a call to college ministry.

So, what does this mean?  First, our college ministry world owes a debt of gratitude to Max, Steve, and Linda.  Obviously, they are not or were not the only ones being a positive voice and innovators in our world.  But, they were significant and their voices and input will definitely be missed.  Part of what this means is, it opens the door for other people to fill some of these roles. 

We need influencers......College Ministers who don't just keep their head down and do their own campus, but are willing to go the extra mile and do things that benefit other ministries.  We need people to speak up.  We need folks who will lead out in certain areas.  

If you are asked to serve on a committee, say YES.  If you see a need that someone needs to meet, maybe that someone is YOU.  If you see someone who is doing something to benefit college ministry as a whole, help them.  Encourage them.

Thanks to Max, Steve, and Linda.  Their ministries made a bigger difference than just where they served.  We look forward to seeing what their new chapter brings.  Neither Linda or Steve are the sit down and rock type.

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCNB1 and "7 Red Flags in a Dating Relationship" Amazon.com/dp/B0DTTRJH38.