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.

College Ministry is This Simple........and this Hard!

 All of us who do or have done college ministry are always trying to continually understand the basics and in the midst of all that has to be done to break it down to those difference makers.

Here are 5 Difference Majors for College Ministry:

1.  Develop and train leaders.  Nothing expands the ministry or touches more different students for witness and connections than a strong group of core leaders who are invested.

2.  Share a vision and draw students into it. Where is the ministry trying to go?  Is it just a club on campus or is it a witness for Christ?  

3.  Work at making the ministry widely known on campus.  The more the ministry is known, the more likely it is for students to considering connecting or to respond when invited.  Remember, the number one reason students attend the first time is, "Someone invited me."  Some do it with big deal Welcome Week events. Others advertise widely.  Some do service projects on campus.  How can you make your ministry more widely known on campus?

4.  As a leader, be visible on campus. Walk across the campus and through the Student Center every day.  It gives opportunity for connecting with administrators (who open and close doors), workers, students that your students will introduce you to in just being there.  Plus, you will have a greater feel of the campus.

5.  Cast a WIDE net.  Do your best to reach into a wide variety of groups.  When you reach a student in a different campus group, you have a greater possibility of reaching more students in that group.

It's that simple......and that hard!

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