Helping Students Become Leaders and Difference Makers

Student leaders are the multipliers of college ministry.  They reach people we cannot reach and they do things we might not be gifted to do.  And, their service frees us to do other things.  Some students come to college as established difference makers.  They have the polish and confidence that goes with having been leaders in high school and home churches.  I am convinced there are those that come to college that have not been in that category, but they have the potential to be.

Here are three steps in helping students become difference makers:

1.  AFFIRMATION

In college ministry we have to be talent scouts.  When we see students that we think have the potential to be a difference maker, it is our job and opportunity to affirm that in them.  Affirmation is the first and probably largest step in students rising to their potential.  These are ones who due to their previous circumstances for some reason or other just did not get the opportunity to do the things that bring polish and confidence.  God can use us to tell students what we see in them and what that could mean for their life and the lives of others.

2.  CHALLENGE

That is where we look them in the eye and challenge them to be all they can be.  I told a girl in our ministry that had come out of a very small church and small high school that she could get by in college and even the rest of her life just by being pretty.  She was pretty and have you noticed that people cut pretty girls more slack?  I think that happens with handsome guys too.  Personally, I would not know.  But, I told her she had the potential to be a difference maker and I hoped she would not just settle for being pretty.  She became a leader in our ministry.  Today she is a Christian author and speaker....besides being pretty.

3.  TRAINING

I am not of the "sink or swim" method of developing leaders.  That is the school that says give them a job and let them sink or swim by learning on the job from their own mistakes or whatever.  Failure leads often to giving up.  When we see potential in students, then we must challenge them, but then we begin to train them how to do what we say they have the ability to do and be.  Mentoring potential leaders is a huge opportunity to shape the campus, the church and the world.

College Ministry Truths from Andy Stanley's Book

In recent years one of the most influential books in my life has been Andy Stanley's, 7 PRACTICES OF EFFECTIVE MINISTRY.  For me the overwhelming message that really helped me make some decisions about time and focus in my ministry at Arkansas State was to "Play to your strength.". It was not a major theme of the book, but it resonated with me.   It really helped me to prioritize some things both personally ministry wise and in our ministry as a whole.  I recently went back and did an "underlined reading" of the book.  I read things I had underlined.

Here are 6 That Relate Strongly to College Ministry:

1.  Narrow your focus.  Do a few things well.

2.  Define what is important.  What is the MOST important?

3.  Volunteers need to know their investment of time will make a difference.

4.  Discipleship happens most naturally in the context of meaningful relationships.

5.  Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing.

6.  You need to figure out who you are good at reaching and go for it.

I could give lots of my thoughts on each of these, but will let them stand on their own.  I lean heavily on number 1 and 6 as super truths for college ministry.


Coming soon:  FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY

5 Ways to Enlarge Your College Ministry.....Only #5 is Guranteed

Throughout this last school year I talked with different college ministry supporters, supervisors, and area pastors who thought their particular college ministry should be larger.  Two different ones said to me, "I think they are just happy when they get their 50.".  In some instances 50 would be a miracle, but in others there is a feeling that it just the easy number and that more is way within the realm of possibility.  Numbers are never the ultimate test of success but every number represents someone the Lord loves and wants to redeem and use.

Is your ministry reaching its potential or are you "just happy with your 50"?  Here are five ways to attempt to enlarge your ministry. Have you considered something that might enlarge your ministry?  Only number 5 is guaranteed.

Five Ways to Enlarge Your College Ministry:

1.  Add another staffer (full or part-time) with the responsibility and job description of reaching out to a totally different group on your campus.

They might focus on greeks, athletes, a particular dorm, the band, or an apartment complex totally populated by students.  If another staffer is not in the realm of possibility, could there be a new student team formed for that one purpose?

2.  Add a different night or time to your weekly big event.

One ministry that had a Thursday night worship event added a Tuesday night worship event with the same theme, etc, but utilizing a different speaker, etc.  The ministry staff did not attend both nights in order to not double their work expectations.  Some campus based ministries have experimented with having a worship event at 7:00 and then repeating the same event at 9:00.

3.  Reduce your events to focus on one or two.

Sometimes we have so many different events and times that students not only cannot attend them all, but they cannot keep it straight.  But, perhaps even more importantly, the main event does not get the focus and attention it needs in order to have a quality event and work at bringing and connecting with new people.

4.  Combine multiple events into one night.

Many BCM/BSM/BSU ministries have a Freshmen Night one night and a large everyone event on a different night.  Others have small groups that meet at different times.  Would it be possible to have all of your small groups meet on the same night following the large group worship event?  There are two reasons to be there and small group leaders are encouraging and reminding students to be there.  Plus, it reduces the time/nights commitment of your leaders.

5.  Lie about your numbers.

It works.  Everyone loves stories of huge crowds.  A friend tells of a large week night college worship event that featured a well known speaker who often spoke of their having one thousand each week.  My friend was there one night when the speaker indicated there were a thousand there.  My friend counted and there were just over 600 there.  My friend lost respect for someone he admired. It was a great crowd, but it was not one thousand (1,000).  And, there are some who don't lie....they just "estimate" attendance.  Be a person of integrity.....if there are 50 there, it is not "about 100".

Have you considered doing something different to reach more.....not work harder.....not be on campus 24/7....do something different?  Remember the definition of insanity:  "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.".

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry/leadership consultant and the author of five books on college ministry at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).  "ALMOST Everything About College Ministry" will be available in early summer.

Asking the BIG Question About Your Ministry

Recently, I was visiting with someone who supervises lots of college ministries.  He said he had recently asked one of their team, "What would it take to double our ministry?".  He said the team member was dumbfounded and seemed to indicate it was a silly question.

Really I think there are likely three questions we need to ask:
1.  Am I asking the big question?
2.  What is the big question?
3.  Who or where can help me answer the big question?

It is tempting for me to say all of us need to ask, "What would it take to double our ministry?".  But, it may be there is a different question that you need to ask.  Are you asking it?  Are you willing to ask it?  Asking it may take you somewhere very uncomfortable.

Sometimes others may be key in either helping you answer "Your big question" or even to decide what it should be.  In the early days after coming to Arkansas State, I made two visits.  First, I went to Texas A&M to visit Ron Wells and the Aggie BSU.  Ron was known then as one of the top College Ministers in Baptist life.  I followed him around for two days.  We talked and I watched him.

A bit later on I went to Mississippi State to visit the BSU and to see their Lunch program which attracted 200-300 students each week.  We had just re-started the Lunch program at ASU and I had never led one. Their ministry was led by Ken Watkins and June Scoggins.  Their ministry had "invented the Lunch Program" as a result of the University scheduling an activity period at Noon when there would be no classes.

I cannot remember any specifics out of those two visits.  Those visits answered questions I was not wise enough to ask.  I remember them as shaping in that they helped me ask some "Big Questions" about our ministry.  Some of those questions it took years to answer.

Are you asking the BIG questions?  Are you looking for someone to help you answer them.....OR first, help you even know what YOUR big question ought to  be.

Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.