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Monday, February 28, 2022

A College Minister Code of Ethics

 As a College Minister, I will strive:

1.  To serve for God's best for each student and not how they may best serve my ministry or promote my ministry goals.

2.  To practice balance and care for my spouse and my children while doing ministry.

3.  To be fair and honest in dealing with other campus and church ministries.

4.  To not sell or advocate the sale of products to students for my personal gain.

5.  To avoid the reality or appearance of inappropriate male/female relationships.

6.  To operate at the highest standards of accountability and openness in terms of finances provided to the ministry.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Monday, February 21, 2022

NAMB to Request SBC Collegiate Ministry Assignment

The North American Mission Board (NAMB) announced last week that their board of trustees had voted that NAMB request at this summer's Southern Baptist Convention meeting that they be given the assignment for collegiate ministry. For many years, the collegiate ministry responsibility and overall coordination has been at Lifeway Christian Resources.  When the pandemic came on full force and churches shut down, many churches quit ordering literature from Lifeway.  Since all of Lifeway's ministries and services are funded by the sale of their materials, they were forced to cut $25 million from their budget.  At that point, the collegiate ministry leader and contract workers were terminated along with other cuts. Since then, there has been no national collegiate ministry office.

Last week when this announcement was made by NAMB, a pastor contacted me to ask what were concerns or questions within the college ministry family about the possibility of NAMB taking on this role. Just like any big issue, there are a variety of viewpoints.  Some believe it is a no brainer for NAMB to take the assignment.  But, there are some questions.

Two Concerns Expressed:

1.  Will NAMB give emphasis and support in a positive way to BOTH traditional BCM/BSU/BSM ministry and campus church plants?  In recent years the emphasis of NAMB has been in the area of campus church planting and some NAMB personnel indicated that they saw campus church plants as THE way to do college ministry in the future. There are places where each of those is the best approach. Some have estimated there are about one hundred (100) campus church plants currently and there are about eight hundred (800) BCM ministries.

2.  Will NAMB restore the funding to the ER states?  It has not been widely known, but for several years, Lifeway has given $210,000 each year to the ER states for collegiate ministry.  ER or Emerging Regions is a term used to describe the "non-deep south states" that do not have a large number of strong churches.  Consequently, those states are not able to give significant financial support to their campus based college ministries.  This money was divided between those states and used at their discretion for either aid to salaries or college ministry budget.  If NAMB is to take on the college ministry role, will they restore this funding that is of great  importance to those states?  To my knowledge, there has been no public statement by NAMB leadership about this.  Prior to the vote at the SBC annual meeting, I would think NAMB needs to address this issue.  It is a significant part of what Lifeway was doing in college ministry.

Are either of these concerns deal breakers?

A statement from Paul Worcester:  Following this blog post and the different discussions and comments on Facebook, Paul reached out to me, said this, and gave me permission to share it.  "Our desire at NAMB is to partner with all expressions of collegiate reaching including campus based ministries, church based ministries, and collegiate church plants.  We want to add fuel to the fire of what God is already doing among our churches, associations, and state conventions.  Our only agenda is to be as much of a blessing as we can be."  

Arliss Dickerson's new book, "Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades" is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.



Thursday, February 17, 2022

College Ministers Must Think Like an Outsider.

 I see lots of promo announcements for collegiate Christian events and many times I think, if I were not already an involved Christian, there is no reason I would want to go to that event.

So, here is the deal, I think we have to think like someone who is not already involved in the ministry.  Many of these announcements are really pretty bland!  To me, it is just a reminder to those who already attend.  It just gives time and place.  I would think those already involved would know that, but maybe they need to be reminded that today is the day, etc.

Is there a topic that would be of interest?  Is there a question being addressed that students care about?  Is there going to be music or personal stories shared?  Is there food before or after?  Is the food free or does it have a cost?  Should you share what the food is?  If I am the typical non-involved Christian on campus, why would I want to come?  If I am the typical non-involved unbeliever on campus, why would I want to come?  Different ministries are reporting those opposed to Christian faith coming and being drawn to the sense of community.  Does your promotional pieces give a clue to a welcoming community?

It doesn't have to be in your face over-promising as the greatest thing ever.  But, is your promo piece a reminder to those who are probably coming anyway or is it aimed at those who have never been or maybe have been once or twice?  

Another place to think like an outsider:

What are the announcements like at your event?  If you cannot stand them and often cringe when they are made, how do you think new students feel?  

Remember "The Four Laws of Announcements":

1.  Make no more than four announcements.  The more you make.....the less people hear.

2.  The person making the announcements should know and understand what they are announcing.

3.  The announcements should be such that a first time attendee understands what is being announced.

4.  The announcements should not become the main event or distract from the worship or Bible study.

Arliss Dickerson's new book, "Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades" is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Monday, February 14, 2022

A Powerful College Ministry Tool

 I often say that money does not make a ministry, but it is hard to have much ministry without some money.  Yet, I believe one of the most powerful tools we have in college ministry is almost free.  I strongly believe in the power of the handwritten note.  I got a handwritten thank you note just the other day relative to a gift that Sue and I had given.  We felt appreciated.  Our giving to that cause does not depend on the notes, but that helps encourage it.

One similarity that College Ministers have with college coaches is recruiting.  I heard an interview with a Head Football Coach of one of the nationally known college teams.  An interviewer ask how they had such a great recruiting class this year.  He said one thing  that they believe in strongly is that each of their staff writes five (5) handwritten notes a day....A DAY!  What if you and your ministry began to write notes to students you know who will be coming in the fall?  Don't wait till this summer to contact them, but write them a handwritten note the first day you get their name.  If you are fortunate enough to get some sort of incoming freshmen list, write personal cards to as many as possible.  You could write all of the seniors in the churches in your city encouraging them that if they go anywhere to college to connect to the ministry or a church serving that campus.

Some years ago, our BCM President asked me for a list of the churches and the pastors who gave to our ministry.  He gave each member of our Leadership Team a postcard and one of the names and asked them to write a personal thank you to that pastor for their giving and for each student to say in that note how the ministry had blessed them.  I bet those pastors had gotten few, if any, notes like that. A church ministry could have students write every Sunday School group that has provided food.  Or, all those that served at a college event could get a thank you.  Too often, church volunteers do not get thanked.

If an individual sends you a check out of the blue, write them a personal handwritten note.....even before you deposit the check.

There are about thirteen or fourteen weeks left in this semester. Did you know if you wrote just two handwritten notes a day for five days each week, you would write at least 130 handwritten notes?

Who needs thanking?  Who needs inviting?  Who needs encouragement?  Who needs to know you are praying for them? What high school senior needs to know you want them to be a part of your ministry if they come to school where you serve?

There are about 65 work days in the summer.  What if you wrote two freshmen a day this summer?  That would be 130 incoming freshmen who got a personal note from you.

Stamps and postcards don't cost much.  And, it could even be a postcard with a picture of your ministry on it...but that is not necessary.  Write someone a handwritten note right now!

Arliss Dickerson's new book, "Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades" is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

The 5 Lunch Challenge

 I am all about eating with students.  Besides liking french fries, I think it it is the way we can know someone best.  For some reason, all of us are more authentic and just us when eating.  A lot of pretention and posing is gone.

Here is the 5 Lunch Challenge:

Announce in your weekly event that you want to eat lunch with 5 different people over the next 5 days.  And, you want to eat where they normally eat...the cafeteria, the food court, a campus snack bar, etc.  But, it is not go out to a special place.....it is eating where students eat.

Their responsibility is simply to introduce you to whomever they know that is around or near by.  They don't need to make a big deal of it or whatever.  Just introduce you to them.

Your response is not to suddenly share the Roman Road or invite them to your weekly event.  Just tell them you are glad to meet them and ask them something about them like, "Where are you from?"  "How is the semester starting for you?"  "What did yo do over the break?"  Their response may be the end of the conversation as you and your lunch partner move on.  Show a genuine interest in them!

One Condition on the 5 Lunch Partners is they have to not be in all the same friend group.  The purpose is to connect with a wider variety of new people.

The result is simply connecting on campus to different students and seeing if God takes it anywhere with any of them.  You may be surprised.  And, it may not happen instantly.

What is the worst that could happen?  You have lunch with 5 of your students and probably know them a little better and you have eaten 5 lunches.

Walk across the campus and through the student center EVERY day.  You may even bump into some of the students you met at one of your 5 lunches.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX. Check out “Tips for College Freshmen”


Monday, February 7, 2022

2 Important Lessons I Learned From Discipling an International Student by Ben Neiser

Since i was 20 years old, i have spent time with younger believers.  Putting forth my best efforts to help them follow Jesus.  I'm 39 now and have lived long enough to see the fruit of these discipleship relationships.  It is still, to this day, one of the most encouraging and affirming things I hold on to when it comes to my calling in ministry.

By far the most unique and personally sanctifying for me was my discipleship relationship with Axan.  Axan is a Haitian international student that I had the privilege of discipling for over three years.  He lived with us and became a part of our family.  He and I met weekly for discipleship.  What the Lord taught me about discipleship through that relationship has shaped the way I disciple now and for the rest of my life.

#1.  Discipleship is deeper than personal compatibility.

Before Axan and I started meeting, all of my discipleship relationships were people that looked like me, had similar hobbies, socioeconomic backgrounds, and came from similar church cultures.  In fact, to my shame, I thought back on some of the discipleship relationships that I let fizzle.  That decision was primarily based on personal compatibility.  yeah we could talk about the Bible but they weren't really into sports like I was.  We could talk about the Gospel but not The Office.

Axan and I had very little in common culturally.  In fact, I found myself being intrigued and curious about the Haitian people every time we met.  I would always ask him questions about his upbringing and church culture.  The two things that I have loved all my life are sports and movies.  I have two distinct memories with Axan around these two categories.  I remember having to teach the game of baseball and football to Axan while we were watching it.  He had no interactions with the game before then.  So we didn't find ourselves playing Monday morning quarterback together in our weekly discipleship.  Another memory I have is a conversation about movies.  Most of the time he would replay, "Yeah, I've seen parts of it."  Finally I asked him, "What's your deal with only watching parts of movies?  Can't you GenZers sit still long enough to watch a movie?" In one the most humbling moments of my time with him, he replied, "No, it's because because in Haiti the power can go out so frequently and we never know when it will come back on.  We rarely have power long enough to see a movie from start to finish."  Axan and I couldn't have been more different.  We couldn't talk shop about sports or movies much but he humbled me.  He instilled in me a sense of gratitude that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Some verses for reflection to avoid this tendency.  

(1) therefore, as  a prisoner for the Lord I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.  (2)  with all humility and gentleness, with  patience, bearing with one another in love.  (3) eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body and one Spirit---just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--(5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of  all, who is over all and through all and in all.  (7) But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.  Ephesians 4:1-7

(1)  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  James 2:1

#2  Discipleship is about multiplying Christ into others and not multiplying your Christian culture into others.

(1) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.  And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

Up until the point that I began meeting with Axan, I never really thought about how much of my white, middle-class, southern, seminary educated self was being instilled in those I was discipling.  Axan had/has aspirations of returning to Haiti at some point in his life.  Because our cultures are so different, I developed a concern that when he got back that he would no longer be relatable to the people there.  I didn't want him to go back to his people and they recognized that he had been with white American Christians.  I wanted them to recognize that he had been with Jesus.  So, I constantly evaluated what I was showing him and instilling in him.  Was it pure Bible?  Was it Jesus?  No doubt we have those people that sound like the seminary they attended or the church that they attended.  We are all prone to want to instill our particular theological learnings into others.  How do you pick what type of curriculum or book to go through?  Is more of your time devoted to Christian theology or Christian living?  Do you focus more time on the aspect of Christian living that are your strengths?  How do you discern between biblical Christian obedience and your Christian cultural norms?  Who are the people that you are discipling really following:  Jesus or you?  Do they sound like Jesus or you?  Do they live like Jesus or you?

Have they been with Jesus or you?

I can't help but wonder if there is a person in your ministry that is vastly different from you that you should be pursuing in a discipleship relationship.  Don't deny them or yourself that opportunity to be sanctified in it.

Ben Neiser is Collegiate Minister in Provo, UT and State Collegiate Network Coordinator for the Utah/Idaho SBC

Arliss Dickerson's new book "Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades" is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9  It can be a gift a church would give its seniors or one parents, grandparents, and friends would give.

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Introducing Something Brand New

 Through the years I have attended lots of church Senior Sundays and graduation banquets.  In some of these, the students have been given a book.  Most of the time, it was one I felt there was slim chance they would read it.  It seemed to me there needed to be something specific to Christian college freshmen.  I researched it and found to my surprise, there were college freshmen help books. But they were sometimes almost academic and contained little or no spiritual helps.  A continuing concern for me is that 7 out of of 10 high school seniors active in church make no spiritual connections in college.

So, I have just published "Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades" at Amazon Books.  My goal has been for it to be a quick, inexpensive, easy read and to have every day college survival tips as well as faith tips that will help them flourish during that transformative first semester of college.  There are 78 brief paragraph tips from me that range from "The Easiest Way to Pass a Class" to "What if Your Professor is Not a Christian?"  There are 38 one or two sentence tips from what I call "Former Freshmen who Survived".  Then, there are 8 scripture tips for encouragement and/or memorization.  It is 49 pages in length.  It could be read cover to cover in one sitting or a student could simply pick and read the tips that most spoke to their questions or concerns of the moment.

My hope is that those churches that give a book will see this one as one that really can be a gift.  And, I hope it might be one that parents, grandparents, and friends would use as a graduation gift that they can stick in with that check, shirt, or car. Also, it could be used for a Senior Prep class in a Youth Ministry setting. Or, when parents unload that last box in their dorm room, they would leave it laying on the desk.

If you think it might be of value, would you consider passing the word to a friend or posting something on social media?  

I already have thoughts about a revised and updated version for next year.  So, I would be interested in your thoughts or ideas. 

Some of the Tips Are:

Should I Join a Sorority or Fraternity?

The $10,000 Suggestion

Dirty Laundry Happens

Dropping or Adding a Class

7 Red Flags in a Dating Relationship

A Recipe for College Success

The 5 Dumbest Mistakes Freshmen Make

Doubts About Your Faith are Normal

Being a Contagious Christian

Arliss Dickerson's new book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.