I love the wide variety of Christian events for college students I see and attend on campuses and in churches. I love the informality, the energy, and creativity. Some College Ministers say they "speak" weekly and others say they "preach". I think the differences sometimes refer to style or just a difference in terminology. But, to me it raises the question, "Is it possible for college ministry events to be too churchy?"
One of the ideas I have been committed to my whole ministry on campuses as a ministry of local churches is that we not replace the church where there are lots of great local church options. For church College Ministers, I would say there is always the line of tension that the college ministry does not in reality become a separate church from those who are not college students.
A great concerns of our time is the large number of college students who have come to faith in Christ and been active in a church walking away from faith and church while in college. Some studies indicate they are not coming back.....at least immediately following college. To me part of connecting with and helping those who have "Prodigaled" (a new term I've heard lately for those who have walked away.) is that we do things that specifically relate to where they are, but not replace church itself.
As a College Minister that has spoken for a weekly event and spoken in Sunday Worship services at churches, I would have to tell you that my Sunday preaching is very different from my Thursday talks. As you would guess, these talks were a lot about "Love, Sex, and Marriage"; "Relationships"; "Setting Priorities" and even "Time Management". College student events give us the opportunity to speak about things we would not do in Sunday Sermons at church. There is a preacher saying called, "Preach your sugar stick". If you don't speak that language, it means to preach your best, most liked sermon to impress people. My all time most requested talk is, "7 Red Flags in a Dating Relationship". It has lots of scripture in it, but it is not a Sunday church sermon. I have never done it in a Sunday service and will never do so. But, it has fit in lots of college ministry events.....by me and others.
Some would say because of the lack of awareness of scripture and God's basic message of salvation in today's college students, we just need to always speak a very basic gospel message. While I agree and lament the lack of "Gospel knowledge", I think there is a temptation that we not speak regularly to specific college issues and questions. I believe the Bible is the most incredible and practical book in how to live life in an every day way. Lots of students don't know the Bible is practical.
And, long ago I decided that fun and faith were not opposites. Laughter is a gift from the Lord. When people are laughing, they are least guarded and most at ease. I like collegiate events that have fun ice breakers in them and people are sharing funny things that have happened to them on campus, etc. The "fun" doesn't have to happen after the last amen is said. I did cringe a bit when a college worship band leader who had just participated in a fun game in the middle of a weekly event had to throw up in a waste basket before she could come back to lead the set before I spoke. But, college ministry is messy sometimes!
College students come to college looking for fun and friends. I happen to believe all of that can happen in a weekly spiritual collegiate event where they hear about the Lord and His love for them. Some even come to Christ in those "fun settings". Whether you preach or talk, I hope you are speaking to college student issues.....and having lots of fun with students and the most practical book ever written. "A merry heart doeth good..." Proverbs 17:22
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
Practical ideas for Campus and Church based College Ministers
Search This Blog
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Monday, September 9, 2019
Tee Shirts and College Ministry
Some years ago at a meeting I heard an older College Minister say, "I am not running a tee shirt shop.". Someone in the back muttered, "Then, you aren't working with college students.". Tee shirts and shorts tend to be the college student uniform.
Where do tee shirts fit in a college ministry? Some years ago I proposed to our leadership team that we not do tee shirts for our Back-2-School Retreat and that we do caps or vizors. My students looked at me like I had just said, "I've decided to get rid of the Bible." One spoke up and said, "Tee shirts are the reason we come to college." Well, that settled that new idea!
I first really began to realize the VALUE OF TEE SHIRTS several years ago when the Baptist Student Ministry at Texas A&M was told that to continue to be a recognized student organization they had to run their money through the school. That was a non-starter and so not being a recognized student organization meant they could no longer post flyers, advertise on campus, do information tables, etc, etc. Their solution was to do tee shirts that advertised their weekly large group worship event with time and place. And, they asked their students to wear them each week on that day. It worked great.
Instead of seeing tee shirts as a necessary evil, I would propose that you THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT YOUR TEE SHIRTS! I know that sounds a little too grandiose.....but seriously.
TEE SHIRTS CAN SERVE 4 DIFFERENT PURPOSES:
1. WITNESS
Lots of tee shirts are done with a scripture passage that is done in good taste and can be quickly read. This sort of tee shirt has often gotten a bad name as a result of what might be called, "In your face scripture shirts."
2. PROMOTIONAL
These are ones that promote your ministry. They can have the name of the ministry and even a time and place. Obviously, quality, attractive art work is key in any shirt. Someone has said that half of the reason students pledge a Greek organization is to be able to wear a shirt that says, "I belong.". All of us want to belong. Many ministries budget to give away shirts or sell them cheaply at the beginning of the year in order to promote their ministry on campus.
3. RECOGNITION/APPRECIATION
Many ministries have a banquet of some sort in the spring where they recognize outgoing and incoming leaders and give out awards. One way to recognize leaders and express appreciation at these events is to give them a special tee shirt that is different than any of your other ministry shirts.
4. SIGNING UP
Many years ago we began to make a tee shirt part of the cost of our Back-2-School Retreat (although we budgeted in order to reduce the cost). Students got their tee shirt as soon as they registered and paid. In order to get their shirt and have first pick at sizes, students would quickly begin to register.
By the way, I am not a fan of "free Retreats". If students do not have to pay to sign up, then they have made NO COMMITMENT and are very likely not to show up.
FINALLY, on this deeply theological topic of tee shirts, I have always said, "I don't care if I like the shirt....I want the students to like it well enough to wear it." So, it is important to involve some students in the design and selection.
Students wearing attractive shirts around campus with a Christian message and/or the name of your ministry on it is a plus. Remember, the whole reason students come to college is tee shirts!
AN ADDITION:
Kevin Cox, College Minister at Clarke College Worcester, Mass, sent this message in regard to tee shirts in a ministry. T-Shirt's are our best advertisement. I would add a 5th value. They help build cohesion in a group or momentum for an event. All year long the students who didn't attend Fusion conference see other students wearing them and say, "I want to go next year." And when your ministry doesn't have a building/location, T-shirts make them feel like they are part of something real. Other students at fairs and such recognize this too and it gives a tangible, visible expression to the community you are developing on campus.
Arliss Dickerson is a part time collegiate consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
Where do tee shirts fit in a college ministry? Some years ago I proposed to our leadership team that we not do tee shirts for our Back-2-School Retreat and that we do caps or vizors. My students looked at me like I had just said, "I've decided to get rid of the Bible." One spoke up and said, "Tee shirts are the reason we come to college." Well, that settled that new idea!
I first really began to realize the VALUE OF TEE SHIRTS several years ago when the Baptist Student Ministry at Texas A&M was told that to continue to be a recognized student organization they had to run their money through the school. That was a non-starter and so not being a recognized student organization meant they could no longer post flyers, advertise on campus, do information tables, etc, etc. Their solution was to do tee shirts that advertised their weekly large group worship event with time and place. And, they asked their students to wear them each week on that day. It worked great.
Instead of seeing tee shirts as a necessary evil, I would propose that you THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT YOUR TEE SHIRTS! I know that sounds a little too grandiose.....but seriously.
TEE SHIRTS CAN SERVE 4 DIFFERENT PURPOSES:
1. WITNESS
Lots of tee shirts are done with a scripture passage that is done in good taste and can be quickly read. This sort of tee shirt has often gotten a bad name as a result of what might be called, "In your face scripture shirts."
2. PROMOTIONAL
These are ones that promote your ministry. They can have the name of the ministry and even a time and place. Obviously, quality, attractive art work is key in any shirt. Someone has said that half of the reason students pledge a Greek organization is to be able to wear a shirt that says, "I belong.". All of us want to belong. Many ministries budget to give away shirts or sell them cheaply at the beginning of the year in order to promote their ministry on campus.
3. RECOGNITION/APPRECIATION
Many ministries have a banquet of some sort in the spring where they recognize outgoing and incoming leaders and give out awards. One way to recognize leaders and express appreciation at these events is to give them a special tee shirt that is different than any of your other ministry shirts.
4. SIGNING UP
Many years ago we began to make a tee shirt part of the cost of our Back-2-School Retreat (although we budgeted in order to reduce the cost). Students got their tee shirt as soon as they registered and paid. In order to get their shirt and have first pick at sizes, students would quickly begin to register.
By the way, I am not a fan of "free Retreats". If students do not have to pay to sign up, then they have made NO COMMITMENT and are very likely not to show up.
FINALLY, on this deeply theological topic of tee shirts, I have always said, "I don't care if I like the shirt....I want the students to like it well enough to wear it." So, it is important to involve some students in the design and selection.
Students wearing attractive shirts around campus with a Christian message and/or the name of your ministry on it is a plus. Remember, the whole reason students come to college is tee shirts!
AN ADDITION:
Kevin Cox, College Minister at Clarke College Worcester, Mass, sent this message in regard to tee shirts in a ministry. T-Shirt's are our best advertisement. I would add a 5th value. They help build cohesion in a group or momentum for an event. All year long the students who didn't attend Fusion conference see other students wearing them and say, "I want to go next year." And when your ministry doesn't have a building/location, T-shirts make them feel like they are part of something real. Other students at fairs and such recognize this too and it gives a tangible, visible expression to the community you are developing on campus.
Arliss Dickerson is a part time collegiate consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
Thursday, September 5, 2019
How to Minister to a Campus that Doesn't Want You There.....a Guest Blog by Ben Neiser
There are pockets in our country and definitely in Canada that have campuses that are not just indifferent but hostile to our presence among their students. This doesn't change the call to fulfill the Great Commission to these places. So, how should we proceed in carrying out the call?
1. See Prayer as the weapon that it really is.
The early believers were born-again into a community that was immediately hostile to their presence. How did they react to this? They prayed. They prayed often (Acts 1:14, 2:42). They prayed first (4:23-24). They prayed because they didn't know what to do. We we pray when we don't know what ELSE to do. The early church's prayers had power (Acts 4:25-31) because they were praying for God to do GOD-sized things. The book of Acts records significant movements of God turning many hearts to Him that were preceded by the faithful prayers of the saints.
How devoted to prayer are you for your campus?
When you face opposition, do you pray first?
What are you asking God to do on your campus that only He can do in His power?
2. Wait
What!? Yes, wait. "But you don't know how much there is to do!" Yes I do. I have 75,000 college students in my metro area. Less than 100 are born-again. The early believers were commanded to wait (Acts 1:4) and nearly the entire known world had not heard the Good News of Jesus. They were to wait on the Spirit of God to move, then they were to respond in faith. The value of waiting is something that I have learned over time in a hostile area. Most of us are familiar with making plans and then asking God to bless them. It is much more effective to wait on the Lord to move and prompt your heart and spirit to partner with Him in the work that He is doing on campus. This is where prayer is again vital. Prayers for a sensitivity to the Spirit and wisdom are common should be common for us.
What am I waiting on exactly?
A. Clarity of vision and direction given by the Spirit. If you don't know how to clearly articulate the purpose of the activity, then you are not ready.
B. Unity among believers filled with the Spirit. You many not have many believers in your ministry but seek unity among local church leaders and believers outside your context as well. You can never have to much unity.
C. Passion and Boldness by the Spirit to move forward regardless of the results. We all long for the day when we hear, "Well done good and FAITHFUL servant." It is faithfulness not effectiveness for which we strive.
Waiting builds dependence on God and not you or others.
Waiting increases sensitivity to the Spirit and wisdom/discernment.
Waiting help us achieve what Christ commands His disciples: "Behold I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16
3. Move in Faith - Going back to Matthew 10:5-42
a. Share the Gospel. The early church in Acts 4 prayed for boldness in continuing to share the Gospel in the midst of persecution. It is illegal, YES ILLEGAL, to proselytize on my campus. What we found is that about 2/3 of the students live within walking distance off campus.. So we share the gospel there. Let the most distinguishing factor of your ministry be the Gospel that we proclaim and live.
b. Highly Intentional Discipleship. Matthew 10 shows us how intentional Jesus was with the disciples. He commands them to spend the most time with those who hear and believe in the Gospel and to stay with them. Why was this not foreign to the disciples? Because this is what Jesus was doing with them. Jesus prepares them for opposition by reminding them of the opposition that He experienced. What are the chosen few that you are taking with you? Who are the ones that are close enough to you to have seen you weep in prayer for your campus? Who have seen first hand the opposition that you face?
4. Build an Army not a Crowd.
This is the culmination of the previous three. Christianity is a movement centered around the message of the Gospel, empowered by the Spirit, fueled by the prayers of the saints. It is not an event. An event indicates a starting and stopping. A movement is continuous. I love my uncle, who is a Marine. I made the mistake )albeit once) to call him a former Marine. He quick to correct me to say, "There is not such thing as a former Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine." The enemy can scatter a crowd buty they can't stop a movement (Acts 8:4)! In September 2017, campus administrators shut down our weekly Bible study that we held on campus. It had gained to much traction by unbelieving students. The crowd gathered gained the attention of the wrong people and they squashed it. Oh, but to Go's glory, ou believers came to me and immediately began to pray with me for God to give us resolve in continuing to share the Gospel. We prayed, fasted, waited on the Lord to give clarity, unity, and boldness. Now we are connecting, sharing, inviting more students than we ever have before. More seeds of the gospel are being sown than ever and there has been more receptivity than ever. Stop focusing on drawing a crowd and start building an army.
Ben Neiser is the Collegiate Network Coordinator for the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. Ben has served in collegiate ministry for 10 years.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available for 99 cents each in eBook format at amazon.com. FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY is in paperback. He is also a part time consultant for the Collegiate Ministry Office at Lifeway Christian Resources.
1. See Prayer as the weapon that it really is.
The early believers were born-again into a community that was immediately hostile to their presence. How did they react to this? They prayed. They prayed often (Acts 1:14, 2:42). They prayed first (4:23-24). They prayed because they didn't know what to do. We we pray when we don't know what ELSE to do. The early church's prayers had power (Acts 4:25-31) because they were praying for God to do GOD-sized things. The book of Acts records significant movements of God turning many hearts to Him that were preceded by the faithful prayers of the saints.
How devoted to prayer are you for your campus?
When you face opposition, do you pray first?
What are you asking God to do on your campus that only He can do in His power?
2. Wait
What!? Yes, wait. "But you don't know how much there is to do!" Yes I do. I have 75,000 college students in my metro area. Less than 100 are born-again. The early believers were commanded to wait (Acts 1:4) and nearly the entire known world had not heard the Good News of Jesus. They were to wait on the Spirit of God to move, then they were to respond in faith. The value of waiting is something that I have learned over time in a hostile area. Most of us are familiar with making plans and then asking God to bless them. It is much more effective to wait on the Lord to move and prompt your heart and spirit to partner with Him in the work that He is doing on campus. This is where prayer is again vital. Prayers for a sensitivity to the Spirit and wisdom are common should be common for us.
What am I waiting on exactly?
A. Clarity of vision and direction given by the Spirit. If you don't know how to clearly articulate the purpose of the activity, then you are not ready.
B. Unity among believers filled with the Spirit. You many not have many believers in your ministry but seek unity among local church leaders and believers outside your context as well. You can never have to much unity.
C. Passion and Boldness by the Spirit to move forward regardless of the results. We all long for the day when we hear, "Well done good and FAITHFUL servant." It is faithfulness not effectiveness for which we strive.
Waiting builds dependence on God and not you or others.
Waiting increases sensitivity to the Spirit and wisdom/discernment.
Waiting help us achieve what Christ commands His disciples: "Behold I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16
3. Move in Faith - Going back to Matthew 10:5-42
a. Share the Gospel. The early church in Acts 4 prayed for boldness in continuing to share the Gospel in the midst of persecution. It is illegal, YES ILLEGAL, to proselytize on my campus. What we found is that about 2/3 of the students live within walking distance off campus.. So we share the gospel there. Let the most distinguishing factor of your ministry be the Gospel that we proclaim and live.
b. Highly Intentional Discipleship. Matthew 10 shows us how intentional Jesus was with the disciples. He commands them to spend the most time with those who hear and believe in the Gospel and to stay with them. Why was this not foreign to the disciples? Because this is what Jesus was doing with them. Jesus prepares them for opposition by reminding them of the opposition that He experienced. What are the chosen few that you are taking with you? Who are the ones that are close enough to you to have seen you weep in prayer for your campus? Who have seen first hand the opposition that you face?
4. Build an Army not a Crowd.
This is the culmination of the previous three. Christianity is a movement centered around the message of the Gospel, empowered by the Spirit, fueled by the prayers of the saints. It is not an event. An event indicates a starting and stopping. A movement is continuous. I love my uncle, who is a Marine. I made the mistake )albeit once) to call him a former Marine. He quick to correct me to say, "There is not such thing as a former Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine." The enemy can scatter a crowd buty they can't stop a movement (Acts 8:4)! In September 2017, campus administrators shut down our weekly Bible study that we held on campus. It had gained to much traction by unbelieving students. The crowd gathered gained the attention of the wrong people and they squashed it. Oh, but to Go's glory, ou believers came to me and immediately began to pray with me for God to give us resolve in continuing to share the Gospel. We prayed, fasted, waited on the Lord to give clarity, unity, and boldness. Now we are connecting, sharing, inviting more students than we ever have before. More seeds of the gospel are being sown than ever and there has been more receptivity than ever. Stop focusing on drawing a crowd and start building an army.
Ben Neiser is the Collegiate Network Coordinator for the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. Ben has served in collegiate ministry for 10 years.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available for 99 cents each in eBook format at amazon.com. FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY is in paperback. He is also a part time consultant for the Collegiate Ministry Office at Lifeway Christian Resources.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
5 Possible Reasons a College Ministry Does Not Reach More Students
1. Lack of an INTENTIONAL STRATEGY.
It is easy to become overwhelmed in just dealing with what comes our way that we don't have a plan or we are not working the plan. Can you articulate your strategy? Are your actions and time use consistent with that strategy?
2. FACILITIES or BUDGET
Money does not make a ministry, but it is hard to have an effective ministry without money. If money is a factor for you, are you working at finding more resources? Facilities are not something that can be instantly fixed. BUT, they can look their best. Does your meeting place look clean, orderly and set up for its purpose?
3. CLUB ATMOSPHERE
It is easy for students to be happy with each other, enjoy being together and it does not enter their mind to reach out to others. We must always be about developing a warm and inviting atmosphere, but we have to work at it not being closed. Look for those that come that may not "feel" apart and work at connecting them AND HELPING CONNECT others who feel that way as well. If you are not out on campus meeting and connecting with new students, why should your core students think to?
4. HAPPY with our 50....or 25....or 70.
Whatever the magic number is. There is a fine line between being unsettled and unhappy with your ministry and feeling good about what is happening and yet continuing to reach out. Try something different, do a new thing occasionally.
5. OTHER MINISTRIES
Sometimes in multiple ministry situations other ministries are doing well and that's all students hear or know about. Or, your ministry just is not on the radar. Don't fall into the temptation of copying the "IT MINISTRY". Rather, work at defining what the strength of your ministry is and making that known to students. What your ministry uniquely offers is part of how to help it be on the radar.
Finally, remember God does not love us more if we have a hundred than if we have fifty. The question is simply, are we doing our very best with what God has called us to do in our circumstance with our resources?
Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry coach, blogger, and author. His new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com. Type in his name or the title.
It is easy to become overwhelmed in just dealing with what comes our way that we don't have a plan or we are not working the plan. Can you articulate your strategy? Are your actions and time use consistent with that strategy?
2. FACILITIES or BUDGET
Money does not make a ministry, but it is hard to have an effective ministry without money. If money is a factor for you, are you working at finding more resources? Facilities are not something that can be instantly fixed. BUT, they can look their best. Does your meeting place look clean, orderly and set up for its purpose?
3. CLUB ATMOSPHERE
It is easy for students to be happy with each other, enjoy being together and it does not enter their mind to reach out to others. We must always be about developing a warm and inviting atmosphere, but we have to work at it not being closed. Look for those that come that may not "feel" apart and work at connecting them AND HELPING CONNECT others who feel that way as well. If you are not out on campus meeting and connecting with new students, why should your core students think to?
4. HAPPY with our 50....or 25....or 70.
Whatever the magic number is. There is a fine line between being unsettled and unhappy with your ministry and feeling good about what is happening and yet continuing to reach out. Try something different, do a new thing occasionally.
5. OTHER MINISTRIES
Sometimes in multiple ministry situations other ministries are doing well and that's all students hear or know about. Or, your ministry just is not on the radar. Don't fall into the temptation of copying the "IT MINISTRY". Rather, work at defining what the strength of your ministry is and making that known to students. What your ministry uniquely offers is part of how to help it be on the radar.
Finally, remember God does not love us more if we have a hundred than if we have fifty. The question is simply, are we doing our very best with what God has called us to do in our circumstance with our resources?
Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry coach, blogger, and author. His new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com. Type in his name or the title.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)