Do you have an intentional list of things you want to teach your students?
Roger and Rose Bear at Indiana State want to teach students God's heart for the poor. With permission, I want to quote a story from their newsletter (named Please Feed the Bears)... "We've always led our students to give to hunger relief. We tell them that giving for missions and for hunger relief is not a matter of whether or not they can, but of whether or not they will. We do a worksheet to help them see how much they spend in a year on 'recreational eating' and entertainment. We give them a handout full of suggestions on how to earn money. And then I say, 'At the very least, you can promise God that you will give all they money you find in the next year...under couch cushions, on the sidewalk, in the pocket of your jacket, etc."
"The first year I started keeping track of found money, I had over $24. Then this year during finals week I was walking past Lincoln Quad and saw some trash bags that were thin enough to see perfectly good food inside (packages of ramen noodles, boxes of pop tarts, etc.). I took the bags back to the BCM and found ...trash...and lots of good packaged food....and a 2011 planner with a hundred dollar bill inside!!! Do I have any trouble believing that the disciples pulled a coin out of the mouth of a fish? Not a bit--I pulled a hundred dollars out of the trash from Lincoln Quad! So when I send in our hunger offering to Baptist Global Response this month, it will be a hundred dollars more. God enables us to do what He commands us to do."
Great story. What are some things you want to intentionally teach your students about this fall? Make a list...check it twice. Is it hunger, God's heart for the nations, sexual purity, personal discipline, godly relationships, God's call to vocational ministry???
Roger and Rose Bear are some of those who raise their own salaries to represent the Lord and Southern Baptists to the campus where God has called them.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
"More Thoughts on the Rainmaker College Minister"
The generally accepted definition of a Rainmaker College Minister is someone who instantly has a huge response to their ministry wherever they go. The generally accepted view is this person is a gifted speaker with a lot of personal charisma.
In thinking about all the great/successful college ministers I know, I would only describe one as a rainmaker. He has served on 3 campuses as BCM Director. One was a small regional 4 year school and the other two have been nationally known major university campuses. At each place the ministry almost instantly boomed.
Here's the kicker.....he is not a speaker, does not dress cool and has never had gel in his hair! What he does do is work exceptionally hard. He is always looking for new ways to improve his ministry and he is continually asking students to do things and giving them opportunities to serve. He is humble and at the drop of a hat will tell other campus ministers all his "secrets". Some think he is brash, but rather it just is a desire to serve as best he can and he really does not care how he appears to others.
Is he the exception to what a Rainmsker looks like or do we have the wrong picture of how God makes/creates and uses Rainmakers for college ministry?
In thinking about all the great/successful college ministers I know, I would only describe one as a rainmaker. He has served on 3 campuses as BCM Director. One was a small regional 4 year school and the other two have been nationally known major university campuses. At each place the ministry almost instantly boomed.
Here's the kicker.....he is not a speaker, does not dress cool and has never had gel in his hair! What he does do is work exceptionally hard. He is always looking for new ways to improve his ministry and he is continually asking students to do things and giving them opportunities to serve. He is humble and at the drop of a hat will tell other campus ministers all his "secrets". Some think he is brash, but rather it just is a desire to serve as best he can and he really does not care how he appears to others.
Is he the exception to what a Rainmsker looks like or do we have the wrong picture of how God makes/creates and uses Rainmakers for college ministry?
Monday, July 16, 2012
"Re-visiting the 6 Types of College Ministers"
As the start of the fall semester begins to be a looming presence, it might be time to think again about which type of college minister you naturally are. Or, what type you saw your college minister be....and so, that is what you have tried to be.
1. The Rainmaker - instantly draws a crowd, either by speaking skills/personality or by presenting a large, challenging vision.
2. The Pastor - operates as "Brother so-in-so" and is very ministerial in appearance, action and attitude.
3. The Cool Dude or Best Friend - tends to be very trendy and operates with lots of buddy relationships and hanging out.
4. The Administrator - operates thru organization and key student leaders.
5. The Counselor - spends a large amount of time in one to one developmental or crisis counseling relationships. Often, he/she is a magnet to troubled students.
6. The Hybrid - intentionally works at combining his/her natural style with one of the others to meet a specific need or an attempt at greater ministry balance.
Now, before the school year begins, which are you? And is it time to move to being a hybrid? Which one of these styles needs to become more a part of who you are to strengthen your ministry? Continue to play to your strength, but add another dimension.
Or, it might be to admit that you have been trying to be one of these styles and it is not who you are. Maybe, you are trying to copy your mentor or to be another version of whatever the cool ministry is on campus. Maybe, it is time to admit which style is honestly who you are and let God use your uniqueness.
1. The Rainmaker - instantly draws a crowd, either by speaking skills/personality or by presenting a large, challenging vision.
2. The Pastor - operates as "Brother so-in-so" and is very ministerial in appearance, action and attitude.
3. The Cool Dude or Best Friend - tends to be very trendy and operates with lots of buddy relationships and hanging out.
4. The Administrator - operates thru organization and key student leaders.
5. The Counselor - spends a large amount of time in one to one developmental or crisis counseling relationships. Often, he/she is a magnet to troubled students.
6. The Hybrid - intentionally works at combining his/her natural style with one of the others to meet a specific need or an attempt at greater ministry balance.
Now, before the school year begins, which are you? And is it time to move to being a hybrid? Which one of these styles needs to become more a part of who you are to strengthen your ministry? Continue to play to your strength, but add another dimension.
Or, it might be to admit that you have been trying to be one of these styles and it is not who you are. Maybe, you are trying to copy your mentor or to be another version of whatever the cool ministry is on campus. Maybe, it is time to admit which style is honestly who you are and let God use your uniqueness.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
"5 July Do's for College Ministers"
1. Make a list of upper-class students who disappeared from your ministry following
Spring Break and make a positive contact with them.
2. Lay out all the scripture and topics for your large group speaking for the fall
semester
3. Send out a feedback sheet to 10 students.
Pick 5 students very connected to you and your ministry and pick 5 who come, but
arenot core and may not be fans of you personally. Put just 3 to 5 questions
And a return envelope. Ask what were strengths of the ministry. What were
Weaknesses and what are some new or different things that need doing. Make
sure they know it is anonymous and send a stamped return envelope.
4. Enlist a Prayer Team to pray for the first 3 weeks of school. Send them a weekly
request each week till school starts.
5. Double check your Leadership Team.
Send them reminders about their commitments, responsibilities, and required dates
for training, ministry, etc. Make sure they are still in and ready to serve. If
not, you have time to make alternate plans.
Spring Break and make a positive contact with them.
2. Lay out all the scripture and topics for your large group speaking for the fall
semester
3. Send out a feedback sheet to 10 students.
Pick 5 students very connected to you and your ministry and pick 5 who come, but
arenot core and may not be fans of you personally. Put just 3 to 5 questions
And a return envelope. Ask what were strengths of the ministry. What were
Weaknesses and what are some new or different things that need doing. Make
sure they know it is anonymous and send a stamped return envelope.
4. Enlist a Prayer Team to pray for the first 3 weeks of school. Send them a weekly
request each week till school starts.
5. Double check your Leadership Team.
Send them reminders about their commitments, responsibilities, and required dates
for training, ministry, etc. Make sure they are still in and ready to serve. If
not, you have time to make alternate plans.
Monday, July 9, 2012
"Changes in College Ministry and Drinking the Cool-Ade"
It is no secret this is a time of change and flux in college ministry. A dear friend who formerly worked in campus based college ministry and is now pointed toward church planting, told other friends, "Campus based ministry is a thing of the past". Those he told that to said, "He drank the cool-Ade".
Simply put, they are referring to the idea being advanced by some now that the ONLY way to go is planting a church on college campuses. First, some facts to consider, there are 819 campus based Southern Baptist College ministries where 358,000 students attended this last year. There are 45 Southern Baptist campus church plants. I know of no figures on how many students attended.
Some situations call for a collegiate church plant and others call for campus based ministry. This past fall I was privileged to visit with one of the very successful pastors of a college church plant. They have 600 students total in their two Sunday services. Some have pointed to this as an example of "college church plants are the better way to go.". In visiting with me, he told of his 8 or 9 full time staff members. I don't know of a single campus based Southern Baptist ministry that would have that many staff members. There are a few that have 4 or 5...while most have one. We aren't comparing apples to apples.
Simply put, let's don't be arguing that a ministry that is on 819 campuses needs to be shut down because we have seen a few places that something else is really working well. To make that argument, you have to drink the Cool-Ade!
Simply put, they are referring to the idea being advanced by some now that the ONLY way to go is planting a church on college campuses. First, some facts to consider, there are 819 campus based Southern Baptist College ministries where 358,000 students attended this last year. There are 45 Southern Baptist campus church plants. I know of no figures on how many students attended.
Some situations call for a collegiate church plant and others call for campus based ministry. This past fall I was privileged to visit with one of the very successful pastors of a college church plant. They have 600 students total in their two Sunday services. Some have pointed to this as an example of "college church plants are the better way to go.". In visiting with me, he told of his 8 or 9 full time staff members. I don't know of a single campus based Southern Baptist ministry that would have that many staff members. There are a few that have 4 or 5...while most have one. We aren't comparing apples to apples.
Simply put, let's don't be arguing that a ministry that is on 819 campuses needs to be shut down because we have seen a few places that something else is really working well. To make that argument, you have to drink the Cool-Ade!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
358,517 College Students!!
358,517 college students attended campus Batista Collegiate Ministry events this year.
69,535 were actively involved (leadership, weekly attendance, etc)
819 campuses had a Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
430 people served as full-time Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders.
258 served as part-time Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders.
269 churches report they have a full time college minister.
69,535 were actively involved (leadership, weekly attendance, etc)
819 campuses had a Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
430 people served as full-time Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders.
258 served as part-time Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders.
269 churches report they have a full time college minister.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
"Campus Minister Code of Ethics"
It has been with interest I have read the new "Pastor's Code of Ethics" just signed and promoted by some prominent pastors such as Rick Warren. It reminded me of some conversations in college ministry where we discussed an individual or ministry that we felt was acting unethically.
Yet, in my 40 plus years in college ministry, I can remember no seminar, class or informative discussion of what was proper college ministry ethics. It occurred to me that usually when someone in college ministry was accused of unethical behavior, it was someone young and inexperienced. How were they to know what was considered ethical behavior other than instinct? Here is my first thought at a code of ethics in campus ministry. I welcome and invite other thoughts, suggestions and corrections.
As A Campus 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 strive for balance and care for my spouse and children while doing ministry.
3. To be fair and honest in dealing with other campus ministries.
4. To not sell or advocate the sale of products to students for my personal gain.
5. To avoid the reality and appearance of inappropriate male/female relationships.
6. To operate at the highest standards of accountability and openess in terms of finances provided to the ministry.
Arliss Dickerson
Lifeway Collegiate Ministry Contract Worker
Yet, in my 40 plus years in college ministry, I can remember no seminar, class or informative discussion of what was proper college ministry ethics. It occurred to me that usually when someone in college ministry was accused of unethical behavior, it was someone young and inexperienced. How were they to know what was considered ethical behavior other than instinct? Here is my first thought at a code of ethics in campus ministry. I welcome and invite other thoughts, suggestions and corrections.
As A Campus 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 strive for balance and care for my spouse and children while doing ministry.
3. To be fair and honest in dealing with other campus ministries.
4. To not sell or advocate the sale of products to students for my personal gain.
5. To avoid the reality and appearance of inappropriate male/female relationships.
6. To operate at the highest standards of accountability and openess in terms of finances provided to the ministry.
Arliss Dickerson
Lifeway Collegiate Ministry Contract Worker
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