What is the Personality of Your College Ministry and Why is it that Way?

 I asked some students once to tell me about the different church college ministries in town.  They named one church and said, "That is where the Greeks go."  They named another church and said, "That is where the hipsters go."  A third church they named they said was all students who grew in town and at that church.

So, what is the personality of your ministry and WHY is that its personality?

5 Ministry Personality Shapers:

1.  The personality of the leader.  Whether we like it or not,  our personality is a huge factor in the personality of the ministry.  The longer we lead a ministry, the more it will take on our personality with its strengths and weakness.  When one College Minister leaves and another takes over the ministry, part of the struggle is, what will the personality of the ministry be.  Our personality being the number one shaper of the ministry personality makes it even more important that we know what our strengths and weaknesses are.  One benefit of a multi-staff ministry is the blend of personalities that shape the ministry.  But, the personality of the staff leader will still be key.

2,  The personality of the campus.  Every campus is unique and that helps determine what students come to school there, which in turn continues to shape the personality.  Just as the campus situation must affect the ministry,  Each campus has open and closed doors.  Of course, not every student is the same and there will be pockets of different types of students.  Sometimes, a ministry is tailored or aimed at one particular group....either intentionally or as a result of who has responded.  The smaller a ministry is the more a student must be a "certain type" or "personality" to fit in the ministry.

3.  The student leaders.  One of the truisms of ministry is that groups attract and keep people who are most like those already there.  The impact of the personality of our student leaders is such that we must work at having a variety of leader types.  That in term broadens the appeal of our ministry and the comfort level of different students attending and feeling welcome.

4.  The meeting space.  This is the one factor that can be immediately changed.  A meeting space says something about the ministry....attractive.....dirty......messy.....big or small.  It gives off a "vibe".  Your space may not be first class, but it can be presented in the best possible way.  Lighting is another factor  Fix and control what you can fix and control.

5.  The philosophy of the ministry.  If the ministry has a philosophy of outreach and witness to non-believers, it will affect all areas of the ministry.  If the ministry has a philosophy of wanting to impact the entire campus, that will affect the "feel" of the ministry.  The philosophy cannot just be that of the leader, but it must have infiltrated the whole ministry.

So, what do we do about our "Ministry Personality?"

1.  Be self-aware of your goals and your own strengths and weaknesses.

2.  Be a student of your campus.

3.  Work at developing a wide variety of student leaders.

4.  Make sure you are utilizing your strengths and gifts to the max for the benefit of the ministry.

So, what is the personality of your ministry?  How do you feel about it?  Should there be any changes made to affect the personality?

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Which of these Two Causes a College Minister the MOST Pressure?

What do you think College Ministers feel the most pressure or stress about? 

I would argue that it is either ministry finances or attendance numbers.

Finances

 My first college ministry job was on a campus of 3,000 with a modern Center across the street from one of the two largest dorms.  There was only one other ministry on campus and they were not too active.  But, having the money to pay the light bill and do much ministry was the issue.  The profit from the Coke Machine was our second largest supporter.  Sometimes the money ran out before the month did.  My first month there, a generous supporter wrote a check just so I could get paid my travel allowance....which I needed.

I think there are lots of College Ministers whose number one pressure is dealing with the finances.  They either have a booming ministry that has outgrown the budget or they do not have enough budget to do much that will grow the ministry.  This is compounded when they have a Center where the local budget has to pay all the utilities and upkeep.  This usually means that upkeep and repairs are skimped on or not done in order to put the money on the ministry. Money does not make a ministry, but its hard to have much ministry without money.  Lack of finances forces College Ministers to charge students the max amount for everything.  There are no scholarships for retreats or conferences and there certainly are not nice refreshments or food after lots of events. Yes; food matters in college ministry.

Numbers

For other College Ministers, the pressure is numbers.  For different reasons and in certain situations there is a concern for how large the ministry is and how many attend your worship events.  Some campuses are called "Flagship Campuses" usually they are the one or two larger or best known schools in a state.  A campus based College Minister in those situations knows that eyes are on him or her and that the perception of that ministry affects the perception of other ministries in the state.  This also feeds into financial support (See Finances.).  If churches and individuals feel a ministry is booming, they are more likely to provide financial support.  While I believe it is very rare, I know of situations where numbers were just plain fabricated to meet or exceed the numbers expected or desired.  In some situations, they "estimate" attendance.

Some have indicated that many Church College Ministers feel pressure for numbers to either justify the college ministry budget to the church or the pastor expects large numbers.  One large Church College Minister told of his pastor being upset because their numbers were down on the first fall weekend without a home football game.

I have confessed other times to being "numbers conscious."  There is a fine line between wanting to minister to as many students as possible and letting the whole ministry being numbers driven. and the College Minister feeling that as a constant pressure. When we live or die on numbers, it can suck the joy out of your ministry.

On my first campus, I felt the pressure of finances in how it affected the budget and what we could do.  On my second campus, I felt the pressure of numbers.  I knew lots of people were counting on me for different reasons. 

Some would argue that feeling pressure on finances or numbers is a lack of spirituality or trust in the Lord.  I think it falls into the category of our being human and we wrestle with issues just like other Christians do in their work.

What is your greatest pressure.....Finances, Numbers, or _________________?  If you have a different one, I would love to hear it.

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My Annual Spring College Ministry Announcement

I know you are either on Spring Break or it is just around the corner, but put this in the back of your mind for after Spring Break.

What is something you have always wanted to try, but were afraid to?  Or you don't want to try it, but others have suggested it....maybe even your students have suggested....and even begged you to do it?

The MOST OBVIOUS thing is to experiment with your large group event.

Should you try a different time?

What about a different night?

What about a different location?

What about two worship events in one night due to crowding?  There could be one at 7:00 and one at 9:00 or 9:30. Or, do the same event and Bible study on two different nights.

What about your church's College Sunday School?  Different approach?  A Breakfast of some sort that you might do each week?  Student led classes?  Guy classes, Girl classes? 

Think REALLY hard!  What is something different you might experiment with at least once.  You might prove it will not work....OR......it might just be something that would take your ministry to a different level!

Trying it before school is out would give you the chance to make the adjustment for the fall, if it works.  Plus, it would help you see what adjustments or tweaks would need to be made.

Think EXTRA HARD!  What could it be?

What about asking your leadership team to brainstorm and come up with something new and different to try?  Or throw out some options and let them pick one.

WARNING:  As I always say, if it is something way out on the edge, make sure your supervisor is in the know.

I would LOVE to hear from you, if you try something....let me know what and how it went....and if you still have a job.

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February in College Ministry

 I have always hated February in college ministry.

The excitement of a new semester wore off back in January.  Students are already counting the days until Spring Break.  They are not wanting to live in the present and make the most of it.  They are leaning hard out of the month.

Students would come in and hug me and I would say, how are you doing and they would say something like:  Awful, I don't know if I have the flu or what, but I have been throwing up all day.  What???  You just hugged me.  So, as I was able to untangle myself and make myself walk....not run.... to the bathroom and scrub my hands hard enough to take the skin off.

Students and parents and boyfriends and girlfriends get crosswise in February.  Why???  Because, it is February.  They want to cry on your shoulder about it.

As the College Minister, you are working hard at the everyday things of making the ministry go AND, you are working at all the details of the Spring Break ministry team or teams that are going everywhere.  It is two full time jobs. You have to talk to the father who wants you to promise there won't be any violent outbreak in the country where you are taking his daughter....and oh yeah, 35 other students.

Attendance is ALWAYS DOWN in February.  You can lie to yourself and others and say, "Attendance does not affect me or the quality of the ministry."  How many times have you heard a College Minister say, "Oh goody, attendance has dropped off."  Three Nevers!

Where is the GOOD NEWS in this post!  February is over.....you have survived another February!!! Students attitudes have started to improve.  More sunshine on campus brings out more students and the campus comes alive again.  Students come out of hibernation.

You can renew your commitment to college ministry because February is over!

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What Are The Different People Groups on Your Campus?

 One of the facets of every campus being different is the difference in "People Groups" and their needs and "reachability."  Just as a foreign missionary does, Campus Ministers should be students of the people groups.

Campuses pretty well have most of the same People Groups, but they may vary in their prominence, needs, etc.  For example, Greeks exist on pretty well all four year campuses.....but....their prominence, availability will vary.  

What are some of the different People Groups?  Commuters, Dorm students (Or, different Dorms), Band, Internationals, Apartment students, Athletes (but, different teams vary in their needs and availability.), Specific clubs, etc.

Some questions to ask:

1.  What group has the biggest needs?

2.  What group might be most reachable?

3.  What resources or plan would be needed to connect to that group?

4.  Do you have a specific resource or opportunity that would connect to a particular group?

If you identify a group to focus on, where do you start?

-Talk with your student leaders and begin to pray about next steps.

-See how YOU personally might make some connections or in-roads into that group.

One of two things may be your driving motivation here:  

1.  What group has the biggest need?

2.  What group potentially could really expand our ministry?

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Time to Think About FALL Freshmen Ministry

 I know that Spring Break has not happened yet....but it is time to think Fall Freshmen Ministry.

WHY?

-Many schools will have Freshmen Orientation/Registration events throughout the spring.  You need to be prepared to have a good looking handout or display.  

-To have a good looking handout, you need to know what special freshmen events you will be having and when.

-It's a good time to check with area churches about when their Senior Sunday will be and possibly if you can attend or even one of your sharp leaders say a word in their youth Sunday School.

-Now is the time to begin or get ready to train upperclassmen to be Freshmen Bible Study leaders.

-What material will you use for Freshmen Family Groups or Bible Study Groups?

-Ask your leadership team to begin praying now about the fall and reaching new students.

-Now is a good time to find out someone who does an excellent job in Freshmen Ministry and what tips they might have.  What have they done well and what have they learned from their mistakes?  You don't have to learn all the mistakes the hard way.

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The BE-Attitudes of a College Minister

1. Be Intentional

Have a plan for your ministry and be working that plan.  Set priorities and work by those priorities.

2.  Be Grateful

No ministry succeeds to any degree without help from others.  Write thank you notes.  Tell people you appreciate them.

3. Be Prompt About Returning Messages

We all know the frustration of needing to hear from someone or thinking they possibly did not get your message.  Your promptness shows you care.  Some responses just need to be Ok or Thanks.

4.  Be in Contact with Alumni

They can pray.  They can speak a good word about your ministry or college ministry in general.  They can contribute.  Contact with alums is a win win!

5.  Be Evaluating

Every semester teaches us something.  Don't miss those messages.  The campus changes.  Your students change.

6.  Be Tweaking

As a result of evaluating, make some adjustments  that need to be made as you go along.

7.  Be Aware YOU are the Face of your ministry AND the Best Tool

Remember, you are never off duty.  Your personality, abilities, relationships, and knowledge will shape the ministry and the longer you serve there the more it will reflect who you are.

8.  Be Aware that Student Leaders are the Second Best Tool and they are Volunteers

Don't take for granted the time and energy they invest.  Always be developing and building up your student leaders.

9.  Be a Witness

By word and deed.  Our deeds validate our words.

10.  Be a Friend

Be a friend and encourager to everyone in college ministry and for your own health, have friends apart from your ministry.

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