Collegiate Ministry Discipleship Groups by Morgan Owen

Morgan Owen is the Baptist Campus Minister at The University of Tennessee at Martin.

Around 15 years ago we changed how we did small groups.  We went all in on gender specific small groups.  Instead of guys meeting in separate groups throughout the week, we set a specific night of the week as Men's Discipleship (we call it ManUp.). I got the  idea from someone who said that men are wired towards "conferences"....all guys gathering together to learn, grow, and have accountability and to feel like one unit (much like the values of a fraternity);

We meet all together on Thursday nights for a lesson from a speaker (20-25 minutes) and then the guys break up up into small groups led by ManUp leaders.  The ManUp leaders are interviewed in the spring and lead the following school year.  Each ManUp group has co-leaders.  Staff determines the theme for the semester and communicates with individuals to speak (pastors, youth pastors, professors, alumni) on the topics/scripture provided to them.  ManUp leaders are given discussion questions ahead of time to prepare.  Most of our speakers provide an outline that give focus and direction.  

This worked so well that a few years later our ladies asked to have the same approach, which we call Radiant.  Before this approach, we would have around 40-45 involved in small groups with both genders.  In the years following this change we were having 65-70 attending.  We've seen as high as 120 involved in ManUp and Radiant combined.

This is reprinted with Mo's permission from a comment he made in an on-line collegiate ministry discussion group. Are you doing something different in this area that you want to share?

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry advocate, author, and sometimes speaker.  You can check out some of his resources here:  Reaching More College Students Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN  and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV

Nostalgia Vs. Principles

 Mark Robinson, Baptist Collegiate Ministry leader for Louisiana, had a great post on Facebook recently about being in a meeting where young and old heads were planning a mission trip.  The old head wanted to do it like they had always done it in the past.  The younger guy said, "I refuse to be held hostage by Legacy Thinking.

I want to speak to both sides of sides of that (and from an old guy viewpoint).  

Students have changed and we must adapt to the changes.  If we think college students act and behave....and think like they did years ago, we are definitely out of touch.  We must be continually learning and adjusting.  Plus, every campus is a little different every year.  The ebb and flow changes at least slightly.

BUT, some things are principle driven.  Beware of doing something just because it is the latest thing.  I believe there are principles in college ministry, just like every ministry, that never change.  We must continually be about identifying and understanding those principles.  Is this new thing principle driven or is it just a fad that will soon pass away?

I was confronted once by a young and fairly new College Minister who said, "You do college ministry the old fashioned way."  He had recently come to a campus and had thrown out their program of Freshmen Ministry to do something entirely different.  I don't know the nice way to say this.  His new way was reaching far less than the old way had the year before.  He was reaching way less than our "old fashioned way" was reaching.  In two or three years he had gone on to another job.

Change, adapt, and don't just say, "That is the way we have always done it."  But, beware of falling prey to the bright and shiny object that is just new, but not principle driven.

One of the reasons I am high on experienced College Ministers mentoring new College Ministers is I think they both learn and benefit.  The new guy gets some principle driven facts and the old guy gets some of the new thinking.  College Ministry is better on both ends as a result.

Beware of "Legacy Thinking" and don't put something down because it has been done that way for a long time.  Look for the Principle!

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry advocate, writer, and once in a while speaker.  Check out his college ministry resources here:  Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX. and here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP

College Ministers Quick Tip #8 You are the FACE of the Ministry

Parents look at who they want their students to model themselves after and be mentored by.  Potential Donors want to invest in the ministry of someone in whom they believe.  Pastors and Youth Ministers want to have confidence in who they are sending students to.

You are that face!  It is not about ego.  People identify with people.  You must be responsible to embody the ministry that you lead. No one expects it to be any different than you are.

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry advocate and author.  Check some his resources out here: Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP.

 

College Ministers Quick Tip #7 You are more Critical than a Pastor

 God calls thousands of pastors. He only calls a few hundred College Ministers. Never ever underestimate the high calling of college ministry. It is perhaps the most crucial ministry of our time and this generation. YOU are one of the chosen and few. 

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry advocate and author. Check out his resources for College Ministers and students at Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP