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

4 Steps to Consider to ENLARGE Your Ministry This Fall

1.  Talk to some core students and get their feedback and thoughts as to some possible changes, tweaks, or adaptations.  Listen to them and think through all their thoughts and ideas.

2.  Consider slimming down all your ministry offers in order to focus more on what you see as your main ministry drivers.  It may not be a question of what is good or bad, but simply is it worth the cost time and emphasis.  Are you spreading your leadership team too think?

3.  Make an OBVIOUS change to your weekly Large Group Event.  It may be time, day, place, format, etc.  Has it grown stale?

4.  Does there need to be MORE of you or LESS of you?  Are you upfront too much or two little?  Should there be more students in up front roles?  Should there be more or less guest speakers?

Finally, go back to your Core students for their feedback on your tentative plan. Get their input, but you make the final decision.

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

Questions to Ask as You Prepare to Speak to College Students this fall

In recent years, it has become more and more the trend that College Ministers speak at their large group worship events.  

If you fall into this category, I want to throw out 5 Questions to ask as you begin to prepare:

1.  What are some Biblical basics, they need to hear or understand?  We know increasingly that many Christians are biblically illiterate.  A recent survey indicated that the major of church goers do not read the Bible regularly.  So, are there some basics you believe must be part of this fall's talks?

2.  What do students WANT to hear? I think that has to always be part of your equation as you plan.  I think we always have some responsibility to speak to where they are.

3.  What are some "every year topics"?  Unless your ministry is the total perfect exception....as I am sure it is....there will be some students only there one year due to change in schedules, due to change in priorities, etc, etc. If they are only in your ministry one year, what is something you want them to hear?

4.  What are some possible "attractional topics" for the first three weeks?  I am unapologetic in being a "Topic Speaker" to college students.  Even when I have done a book study, I used a topic title for each week.  I also am unapologetic about the need and value of utilizing topics that students want to hear as they make those key start of school decisions about where they will go.  But and however, it cannot be bait and switch.  Speak on what you advertise.  One reason I favor topics, is that it makes it easy for students to use those in inviting people.

5.  What are some "issues" on YOUR campus?  Some years there are issues and questions that arise among Christians and Non-Christians in different locations such as faith healing, speaking in tongues, etc, etc.  Would it be helpful and beneficial to speak to them?

One More Thought:  When you have made a list of possible topics, throw it out to your leadership team and see what feedback you get. 

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