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 collee 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.

The Evolution of a Title in Baptist Collegiate Ministry

It has been interesting to me to see the evolution and use of different titles for those who do college ministry in Baptist life.  I think some have been intentional to convey a specific understanding of the role and I think some have also been more accidental.

Student Secretary was the primary term used during the 50's.  I don't know what the intent was for this title. That title also reflects how college ministry used to be called "Student Ministry" in the 50's and 60's.  But, youth ministry began to use this term during the 60's and 70's.  If you were to use this term today, almost no one would think it tied to college ministry.

BSU Director came to be the term used from the 60's through the 90's.  One of the purposes of this title was to emphasize the emphasis of that time that it was to be a ministry done by students for students.  It was often said and my supervisor said to me, "If you are up front all the time, you are not doing your job."  You were to be an equipper. The students were to be the prime do'ers.

Campus Minister has come to be the predominant term during the 2000's.  One of the reasons for the intentional use of this term has been to emphasize that college ministry is a God calling just like that of a pastor or Youth Minister, etc.  Many had seen college ministry as just something you did while you were young or until you could get a real ministry job at a church.  In the 60's through the 90's some of the best known BSU Directors were women.  I think one of the unintentional results of the switch to Campus Minister was to cause fewer women to be able to serve in this role as a result of the use of the term "Minister".

Campus Pastor is one of the newer title evolutions.  I will confess to liking it the least as it conveys the idea of the college ministry being a church.  That has been the thing that Baptist collegiate ministry has worked hard not to be, but to be a ministry of the local churches.  Now, there are churches being started on campus by some and perhaps this would be the best title for them.

Campus Missionary is perhaps the latest term.  It has been used primarily by most who are serving a one or two year term on campus under a veteran Campus Minister.  A few long term folks are taking this title.  The obvious purpose of this to help people in the churches to see and understand the importance of reaching college campuses and to give it the same emphasis as Foreign Missions.

Which title do YOU prefer?  Or, what do you see as the next evolution of the title? 

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1

Many College Freshmen have Half-Way Dropped Church Before they get to College

What do I mean by, "Many college freshmen have half-way dropped church BEFORE they get to college?"

You will hear many college ministry folks like me quote the statistic, "60 to 70% of high school seniors active in church make NO spiritual connections in college."  

I stand by that statement and those percentages......but........and however

Youth ministry folks will tell you that many of their senior high students come on Wednesday night for youth group and are not regular attenders on Sunday for big church and Bible study groups.   Their schedules are packed with all kinds of activities and they have gotten their driver's license.  Often, their folks, who know they are run down and tired, give them the option of going on Sunday morning and many of them do not.

So, when they graduate from high school, they have basically graduated from their church.....the youth group.

Some larger churches to combat the loss of youth to Sunday morning church have gone to having Sunday Youth Worship.  They are there on Sunday, but not connected to the church as a whole.  

So, it is not that the vast majority of college freshmen make an abrupt change in their church involvement.  For many, they have been in the process of dropping out the last couple of years.

In addition, some larger churches have gone to Sunday Youth Worship which is separate from the church as a whole.

If we want to combat losing our youth to faith commitment and involvement in college, we have to realize that it needs to start early in high school. I will go as far as to say, Sunday school and worship involvement are MORE important than Wednesday youth group, if you have to drop one.

BUT, IF YOU HAVE A FRESHMAN NOW, HERE ARE 4 THINGS YOU CAN DO:

1.  Contact the BCM or other campus ministry or local college church with their contact info.  A grandmother just had me pass on the info for her freshman to a BCM Campus Minister.  It is not too late.

2.  You can encourage them to go and ask about what they may have already done.  You still have influence in their life.

3.  If you are going for parents weekend or Homecoming, make plans for all of you to attend a college friendly church that weekend.  It is way easier for them to go back to some place they have already been.

4.  Pray for your freshman.  If you are half way comfortable doing so, ask them when you talk, what they would like for you to pray on their behalf.  That in itself will be an encouragement!

Know a freshman that needs some help, try Amazon.com/dp/B0H466/D8Z9