The end of school always brings lots of different things. I have always said that May was my favorite month because school ended, but summer had not started yet. It was the most free of the whole year in many ways. One thing the end of school allows and even calls for us evaluation of the ministry. But, I believe we must take it a step further.....personal evaluation in our role as a College Minister. As you have time to think, ponder, and ruminate, here are some questions to help in consider your role in the ministry.
1. Do you handle ministry money in the most transparent and accountable way?
Several years ago, I had a friend who was a doctor who gave regularly to our ministry. And, I learned that he really looked at the financial reports that we sent out. He pointed out to me that it was not clear where some money was going. I changed the way we were reporting. What we were doing was not wrong, but it was not clear what we were doing. I have written in the past about consulting with a church college ministry and they shared that they had some doubts about the way the local College Minister handled some money they had given. I don't think he was dishonest, but I do I think he was sloppy. They were reluctant to give due to their concerns.
2. When parents, pastors, or others call with concerns about a student, do you do all you can to follow up on that concern? And, do you report back?
I know of a situation of a man who was a very significant donor to college ministry who called to ask that someone check on his daughter. To his knowledge, no one ever did. He stopped being a generous donor. Now, let me speak to both sides of this. There could have been multiple attempts to connect with her that failed. I have had that experience. But, someone could have responded to him that they had tried with no success to make contact with her. When possible, report back to those who indicated a concern about a student. I have called a parent back and would not tell them what all happened but that I had made contact and would continue to follow up.
3. Do you deal in a professional manner with school officials?
The key word here is "professional". I recently had a conversation with a College Minister who leads a large ministry on a nationally known campus. The campus officials recently informed him that they would no longer invite religious groups to participate in the Freshmen Orientation Fairs as they have previously, but that they would continue to have Greek letter organizations. He protested to the person who made the decision. That official remained steadfast in the decision. He indicated he would proceed up the chain of authority. But, he said, "I will not do it in an angry way and I will do my best to maintain my good relationship with them." He spoke wise words. Even when we disagree with school officials and fight for what we believe is fair treatment, we must be professional in how we do it. It may not make a difference this time.....but it may make a difference the next time.
4. Do you express thanks to those who help you?
I say this a lot at this time of year. This is a great time to write thank you notes to donors, to pastors, to school officials (Professional behavior). For some years, I maintained a "Friends List". About once a quarter I would send a general letter (not personalized) to the approximately seventy five (75) people on the list telling what had happened in the ministry in recent days. Some on the list were regular donors. Others had given large gifts at one time or another. Some had given at one point, but now were retired and did not give due to decreased finances. I did not include a return envelope and I did not ask for anything. It was to express appreciation and keep them informed.....and some of them were known to be "Prayer Warriors". A "friend of the ministry" does not have to be a donor to be a friend. This is a good time to thank your friends.
5. Do you return calls and messages?
I have dealt with college ministry people who only returned calls or called when it was to help them. A 24 Hour Rule is a good one to practice. If the message involves something you do not have time to provide an adequate response, then give a quick response that indicates you will follow up more thoroughly later. They know they have not been ignored. I also believe it is a good idea to respond to information sent to you that calls for no response. Simply respond, "Thanks". What they does is let them know you received it. Have you sometimes wondered if someone had received some information that you had sent?
6. How are you doing being "the face of the ministry"?
Whether we like it or not, whether it is fair or not, many judge the ministry totally by what they see of us. How are you doing at being the face of the ministry? That can mean lots of different things in different situations. Sometimes, it just means showing up at some events or places you need to show up. Other times it may mean acting in a professional manner. It may mean helping out another ministry or cause that needs help and not just being the one always asking for help. I strongly believe that applies to our being active church people. We show up for church. We serve on a committee when we are asked to do so. We encourage the pastor and staff not related to what they do for us.
7. What do students think about what you do well?
This one is scary. Ask two or three students to give you feed back on what you do. To keep it from going off the rails or to help them feel comfortable doing it. Ask them to tell you what you do that is most helpful and how you could do it better. That does not go down a negative road.....maybe!
Blessings to all of you celebrating....ITS MAY!!!
Coming Soon: "FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY"
Practical ideas for Campus and Church based College Ministers
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Thursday, May 4, 2017
Monday, May 1, 2017
Collegiate Ministries Summit - May 2-4, 2018 in Nashville
One of my all time favorite events is just one year away. It is the National Collegiate Ministries Summit in Nashville May 2-4, 2018. It is an event for campus based, church based College Ministers, and any who work with students. The Summit is moving from downtown Nashville to a new location at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville with hotels in the area that are cheaper than downtown Nashville.
Speakers for the plenary sessions are Ben Stuart, Russell Moore and Tom Ricter. Stuart is the pastor at Passion City Church in Washington and former speaker at the weekly Breakaway event at Texas A&M that drew 5,000 students each week. Russell Moore is the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, whom you see on the national news interview programs commenting on faith and politics, and Tom Ricter is pastor of First Baptist Church, Cullman, Alabama. Some more special speakers are in the process of being confirmed....more on that as it develops.
With 500 to 600 College Ministers together, some of my favorite and most helpful things has been the connections with people and getting to pick their brains on an individual basis. It has a real practical "workshop feel" with Mega seminars with well known College Ministers where they not only speak but do Q and A. At the previous Summit in 2015 one of the most popular sessions were the Affinity Groups that helped connect people to others who work in very similar situations. All of us want to talk to and learn from those who have similar questions......and pains that we do.
A favorite aspect of Summit for me has always been that it is SPOUSE FRIENDLY. The early registration cost is $125 (by January 15, 2018) and a spouse can be registered for just $60. The registration fee includes two meals on Thursday.
Here is the Schedule:
WEDNESDAY
1:00 Registration Opens
2-3 Early Bird Mega Seminars
3:15-4:15 Early Bird Mega Seminars
5:45-7:15 Howdy Party with Food Trucks available for Dinner Purchase
7:30 Plenary Session
THURSDAY
9-10:15 Plenary Session
10:15 Break
10:45-11:45 Mega Seminars
Noon - Lunch at FBC (included in registration fee)
1:30-2:30 Idea Labs
2:45-3:30 Affinity Groups
Free Time
5:30 Dinner at FBC (included in registration fee)
7:00 Plenary Session
FRIDAY
9:00 Plenary Session & Large Group Time
Noon-Dismiss
While Summit is put on by Baptists and lots of Baptists come, it is "Non-Baptist friendly". Last year I met a variety of College Ministers from different backgrounds that added to the wide variety of thoughts and approaches that benefit all of us.
The Summit is a gathering of the College Ministry Family that is encouraging, restful, challenging and affirming to those who do the high calling of ministry to and with college students. I look forward to visiting with you there. I will post some more information as we go along about Mega Seminars, etc. You can register at Lifeway.com/events. See you next year!!
Speakers for the plenary sessions are Ben Stuart, Russell Moore and Tom Ricter. Stuart is the pastor at Passion City Church in Washington and former speaker at the weekly Breakaway event at Texas A&M that drew 5,000 students each week. Russell Moore is the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, whom you see on the national news interview programs commenting on faith and politics, and Tom Ricter is pastor of First Baptist Church, Cullman, Alabama. Some more special speakers are in the process of being confirmed....more on that as it develops.
With 500 to 600 College Ministers together, some of my favorite and most helpful things has been the connections with people and getting to pick their brains on an individual basis. It has a real practical "workshop feel" with Mega seminars with well known College Ministers where they not only speak but do Q and A. At the previous Summit in 2015 one of the most popular sessions were the Affinity Groups that helped connect people to others who work in very similar situations. All of us want to talk to and learn from those who have similar questions......and pains that we do.
A favorite aspect of Summit for me has always been that it is SPOUSE FRIENDLY. The early registration cost is $125 (by January 15, 2018) and a spouse can be registered for just $60. The registration fee includes two meals on Thursday.
Here is the Schedule:
WEDNESDAY
1:00 Registration Opens
2-3 Early Bird Mega Seminars
3:15-4:15 Early Bird Mega Seminars
5:45-7:15 Howdy Party with Food Trucks available for Dinner Purchase
7:30 Plenary Session
THURSDAY
9-10:15 Plenary Session
10:15 Break
10:45-11:45 Mega Seminars
Noon - Lunch at FBC (included in registration fee)
1:30-2:30 Idea Labs
2:45-3:30 Affinity Groups
Free Time
5:30 Dinner at FBC (included in registration fee)
7:00 Plenary Session
FRIDAY
9:00 Plenary Session & Large Group Time
Noon-Dismiss
While Summit is put on by Baptists and lots of Baptists come, it is "Non-Baptist friendly". Last year I met a variety of College Ministers from different backgrounds that added to the wide variety of thoughts and approaches that benefit all of us.
The Summit is a gathering of the College Ministry Family that is encouraging, restful, challenging and affirming to those who do the high calling of ministry to and with college students. I look forward to visiting with you there. I will post some more information as we go along about Mega Seminars, etc. You can register at Lifeway.com/events. See you next year!!
Thursday, April 27, 2017
The Organized Campus Minister by Darrell Cook
Darrell Cook, Baptist Campus Minister at Virginia Tech, is the most organized College Minister I know. Here are his wise words on organization.
As a young campus minister I read several books on time management and organizing and I also would pick up tricks and tips from observing others who organized well. The things I picked up seem to stick and turn into habit only when I used them to change the way I thought. Like so many other areas of life, when I change my mentality my actions are more likely to change. That being said, here are three key places where shifting my way of thinking really helped me to be wiser at organizing.
1. VALUE PLANNING AND ORGANIZING AS A SPIRITUAL VENTURE - Don't feed the mentality that oversimplifies by separating ministry into spiritual parts and administrative parts. We often act like there is nothing spiritual about planning and organizing, but remember that Paul lists administrating among the spiritual gifts. (I Cor. 12:28) Yes, there are times we can get too tied to our desks and devices. Yes, I have never started a story about God's fruitfulness in our work with students with the phrase, "It all started when I was doing my monthly report...." But when I have prioritized and done my administrative work well, I am less distracted and can fully dive in to the others parts of ministry with better focus and purposefulness.
2. DON'T JUST ABSORB ADMINISTRATION - I have observed that a lot of people either avoid or absorb administration. As a young minister, I often put off planning and attention to details so I could do the "more exciting" parts of ministry. Planning, evaluating, and organizing would only get the leftovers of my schedule. The better we get at administration, the more we understand the importance of it and can stop the patterns of avoidance, but I have found a problem on the other extreme when I absorb administration so that others don't have to deal with it. As I work with staff members who are half my age, it is so easy to think, "I'll let them dive in with the relational parts and I'll keep the systems and details organized." To regularly do this is to rob them of the chance to learn how to more completely lead and organize well. The same is true with the students that I lead; I must leave room for them to try (and sometimes fail) to organize well, coaching them through the details instead of doing these things for them.
3. PRACTICE SAYING "NO" AND CELEBRATE WHEN YOU SUCCESSFULLY DO - Anyone out there a people pleaser? I see those hands, so you can put them down now. (Mine is raised too, by the way.) A dozen or so times a month I am asked by various people to do things that don't fit our vision or mission. The people pleaser part of me wants to say "yes" to each request, to save the day for someone, to not risk being labeled "unhelpful." What do these moments have to do with organizing well? A friend of mine says often, "The secret to concentration is elimination." When I choose to not be discerning and say "yes" to everything, I am adding more plates to spin and cats to herd, hence my ability to focus on the parts that matter most is diminished. And I need to celebrate from time to time when I am able to deliver a wise "no" because my people pleasing roots run so deep that even after that "no" is spoken I can still feel guilty for not "making that person happy."
Many of the young adults that we minister to are stepping out into independence and becoming students of the "how to's" of life. So, as a minister to young adults you are, whether you like it or not, a modeler of many things. Have fun growing in your own stewardship of organization, because the ripple effect in the lives of those watching can be pretty significant.
As a young campus minister I read several books on time management and organizing and I also would pick up tricks and tips from observing others who organized well. The things I picked up seem to stick and turn into habit only when I used them to change the way I thought. Like so many other areas of life, when I change my mentality my actions are more likely to change. That being said, here are three key places where shifting my way of thinking really helped me to be wiser at organizing.
1. VALUE PLANNING AND ORGANIZING AS A SPIRITUAL VENTURE - Don't feed the mentality that oversimplifies by separating ministry into spiritual parts and administrative parts. We often act like there is nothing spiritual about planning and organizing, but remember that Paul lists administrating among the spiritual gifts. (I Cor. 12:28) Yes, there are times we can get too tied to our desks and devices. Yes, I have never started a story about God's fruitfulness in our work with students with the phrase, "It all started when I was doing my monthly report...." But when I have prioritized and done my administrative work well, I am less distracted and can fully dive in to the others parts of ministry with better focus and purposefulness.
2. DON'T JUST ABSORB ADMINISTRATION - I have observed that a lot of people either avoid or absorb administration. As a young minister, I often put off planning and attention to details so I could do the "more exciting" parts of ministry. Planning, evaluating, and organizing would only get the leftovers of my schedule. The better we get at administration, the more we understand the importance of it and can stop the patterns of avoidance, but I have found a problem on the other extreme when I absorb administration so that others don't have to deal with it. As I work with staff members who are half my age, it is so easy to think, "I'll let them dive in with the relational parts and I'll keep the systems and details organized." To regularly do this is to rob them of the chance to learn how to more completely lead and organize well. The same is true with the students that I lead; I must leave room for them to try (and sometimes fail) to organize well, coaching them through the details instead of doing these things for them.
3. PRACTICE SAYING "NO" AND CELEBRATE WHEN YOU SUCCESSFULLY DO - Anyone out there a people pleaser? I see those hands, so you can put them down now. (Mine is raised too, by the way.) A dozen or so times a month I am asked by various people to do things that don't fit our vision or mission. The people pleaser part of me wants to say "yes" to each request, to save the day for someone, to not risk being labeled "unhelpful." What do these moments have to do with organizing well? A friend of mine says often, "The secret to concentration is elimination." When I choose to not be discerning and say "yes" to everything, I am adding more plates to spin and cats to herd, hence my ability to focus on the parts that matter most is diminished. And I need to celebrate from time to time when I am able to deliver a wise "no" because my people pleasing roots run so deep that even after that "no" is spoken I can still feel guilty for not "making that person happy."
Many of the young adults that we minister to are stepping out into independence and becoming students of the "how to's" of life. So, as a minister to young adults you are, whether you like it or not, a modeler of many things. Have fun growing in your own stewardship of organization, because the ripple effect in the lives of those watching can be pretty significant.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The 5 Rules for College Ministry Promotional Materials
Yes, I have already seen my first promotion materials for college ministry events for freshmen next fall. One of the crazy things we all know in college ministry is that there are Freshmen Orientation events happening in the midst of "Senior Goodbye Events". In many situations many college ministries are able to be present and hand out materials at Orientation events. And, a surprising number are still able to mail to a religious preference list. Fortunately, with the advent of lots of great on-line services, it is possible for all of us to now design materials without going to a high dollar print shop. But, we still need it to be high quality.
Here are my 5 Rules for College Ministry Promotional Materials:
1. The quality of the publicity or promotion piece says something about the quality of your ministry. A poor piece does not say this is a high quality event or ministry. Look at other materials that are being sent to students. How does yours compare?
2. Pictures say more than lots of words. It is possible to have a very nice piece that has a great design without a picture or multiple picture. But, pictures answer lots of questions about the ministry. It often answer questions you might not even think to answer and would not have the space to answer. Make lots and lots of pictures at your ministry and then choose wisely a few to use. A "Picture Board" at a Freshmen Orientation event is always a plus!
3. The promotional piece must clearly answer the questions "When and Where???". If it is promotion of a special start of school event, is it clear when and where it will happen? If it is promoting the ministry's regular weekly events, is it clear when and where they happen? Don't assume!
4. WHY? This may sound a bit strange, but I have seen promotional pieces that are about a ministry, but it does not in any way tell me why I should attend. Is it assumed I am looking for a college ministry? Is it assumed I will go to a freshmen event? What at that event will happen that is worthy of my attending? What happens at "Big Weekly Lunch"? What happens at "Tuesday Night Live"? It is possible that we are assuming that all the students who will see this are looking for a Christian event to attend. More and more that is a very bad assumption.
5. Show a variety of students. This is tough to address. But, if you are hoping to reach students of different races, if there are pictures, do they show students of different races? One of the questions students looking at your materials will ask in their heart is, "Is there anybody there who looks like me?".
For the first 10,000 to read this Blog Post, here is a bonus number six.
6. Students must receive and or see the material MORE THAN ONCE! One "expert" has ventured to say that students must see something at least five (5) times for it to register. If you mail, I likely would not mail five times, HOWEVER, I would mail more than once, if it is affordable at all! Some mail earlier in the summer and then mail again just before school starts in August. Or, the same materials that have been mailed or handed out can be posted and handed out again when students arrive. We have also found when handing out materials at Orientation events, It is wise to hand materials to parents also.
Coming in May: "FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY"
Here are my 5 Rules for College Ministry Promotional Materials:
1. The quality of the publicity or promotion piece says something about the quality of your ministry. A poor piece does not say this is a high quality event or ministry. Look at other materials that are being sent to students. How does yours compare?
2. Pictures say more than lots of words. It is possible to have a very nice piece that has a great design without a picture or multiple picture. But, pictures answer lots of questions about the ministry. It often answer questions you might not even think to answer and would not have the space to answer. Make lots and lots of pictures at your ministry and then choose wisely a few to use. A "Picture Board" at a Freshmen Orientation event is always a plus!
3. The promotional piece must clearly answer the questions "When and Where???". If it is promotion of a special start of school event, is it clear when and where it will happen? If it is promoting the ministry's regular weekly events, is it clear when and where they happen? Don't assume!
4. WHY? This may sound a bit strange, but I have seen promotional pieces that are about a ministry, but it does not in any way tell me why I should attend. Is it assumed I am looking for a college ministry? Is it assumed I will go to a freshmen event? What at that event will happen that is worthy of my attending? What happens at "Big Weekly Lunch"? What happens at "Tuesday Night Live"? It is possible that we are assuming that all the students who will see this are looking for a Christian event to attend. More and more that is a very bad assumption.
5. Show a variety of students. This is tough to address. But, if you are hoping to reach students of different races, if there are pictures, do they show students of different races? One of the questions students looking at your materials will ask in their heart is, "Is there anybody there who looks like me?".
For the first 10,000 to read this Blog Post, here is a bonus number six.
6. Students must receive and or see the material MORE THAN ONCE! One "expert" has ventured to say that students must see something at least five (5) times for it to register. If you mail, I likely would not mail five times, HOWEVER, I would mail more than once, if it is affordable at all! Some mail earlier in the summer and then mail again just before school starts in August. Or, the same materials that have been mailed or handed out can be posted and handed out again when students arrive. We have also found when handing out materials at Orientation events, It is wise to hand materials to parents also.
Coming in May: "FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY"
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