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Yesterday, I had two conversations in which I described today’s observation about the field of College Ministry. One of those was in preparation for my time today with college ministers from around the country, as they meet in a cohort with Leadership Network here in Dallas… so I’ll probably share this observation with them, too!
So since it’s on my mind, I wanted to share this thought here, as well.
As I’ve made my way across the country (multiple times!) and sat with many college ministers from the various branches of our field (campus-based, church-based, institutional, and collegiate churches), I’ve noticed that, by-and-large, there seems to be far too much sameness. Too much homogeneity, especially given the contextual diversity of the places we serve.
That diversity isn’t simply regional; even campuses in the same town can be widely diverse. We may not recognize that diversity if we’ve only served on a campus or two, but it’s truly there: Every campus really is its own “tribe.” While we certainly can find similarities and discern categories among campuses, the point is that those things must be found and discerned. They’re not obvious or automatic campus-to-campus.
But here’s the weird thing: Even within all that sameness, there’s a level of disconnected difference that also makes me sad. Yes, most college ministries look very similar (even if on the tip-top surface they seem to be different). But at the level of practices and functional models and methods, there seems to be very little sharing of “Best Practices” and other wisdom – especially outside of the more established campus-based college ministries.
So in the very place I’d love to see some similarities – simply because there is wisdom to be gained and there are skills to be shared – I see everybody simply doing “as they see fit.” Not in a sinful way, but in a way that continues to point to the underdevelopment of our field.
More on this – and why it matters practically – later. Feel free to share your thoughts!
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This is the week of Catalyst Conference in Atlanta – and the College Ministers Cohort there! I’m excited to join with well over 100 college ministers at our various activities this week, including a big lunch tomorrow. Today’s the first “main” Catalyst day, though, so I wanted to revisit something that Cohort attendees AND the rest of us should consider.
Because we have to stand up for our field of ministry.
Last night we (in the Cohort) got the last-minute chance to tag along at a dinner. The speaker was David Platt, who spoke (phenomenally, as always) about mustering his family’s and his church’s resources to care for a hurting world. He had some Q&A time at the end, so I did what I hope I’ll always do.
I went to bat for College Ministry.
Simply by asking Platt how his church had mobilized college students to reach the world (which I knew they had), a room full of mostly non-college ministers got to hear – clearly – the potential our students bring to the cause of worldwide impact.
My question (obviously) wasn’t any big deal. But I bring up that episode from last night simply to encourage us all to consider raising the question of Collegiate Ministry every opportunity we have.
And at a place like Catalyst (or any conference or seminar), the opportunities are plentiful:
- To a seminary: “What programs do you have for training college ministers?” (No, not youth ministers. College ministers.)
- To a parachurch ministry: “How do you connect college students with this?” “Have you had the chance to engage people with this early in their lives, like in college?”
- A denomination or other multi-church group: “How do you mobilize and resource college ministry in your churches?” “I saw all your stuff for Youth Ministry… what kinds of Campus Ministry programs do you have?”
- To a publisher: “What do you market to college students?” “Do you have anything college ministers can use for small groups?” “Do you have any collegiate versions or study guides of your books?”
I’ve written before,
Christian organizations need to realize that the field of College Ministry shouldn’t be overlooked – not just because it’s such an important and valuable mission field, but because their very aims (of both ministry and sales) would benefit.
You never know when a seminary representative might return to her campus and say, “Have we ever thought about training college ministers here?”
We never know when a publisher – after getting questions at a few conferences in a row – might make a suggestion at a meeting back at the offices.
When they hear from us – especially if they hear from many of us – it’s going to make an impression.
We should be asking these questions, putting this topic on their minds. Because nobody else will.
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All week, I’ve blogged some thoughts about why College Ministers are really important – and I’ve aimed for reasons we don’t usually hear about / think about. Hope they’ve been encouraging. (Those four posts are here, here, here, and here.)
Now that it’s Friday, I want to encourage you to consider a Fridea along the same lines: Spend some hours (between now and the school year’s start) to actively remember why this work is SO vital.
Maybe you can start with my posts from this week…
…but I bet you have memories you can use: What was the first experience that made you think, “I want to be a campus minister”? How did God call you to this task? What were some of the early Best Moments, the moments when you saw exciting fruit and were glad to be exactly where you are?
What were some of the victories of the past year?
You also have resources you can use to remind yourself that THIS WORK MATTERS. If you work for a campus ministry organization, there are probably some sort of “Why College Ministry?” pamphlets or other propaganda lying around… When’s the last time you read them to convince yourself?
But what’s more, you might even need to take your (own) word for it! Look at the emails you’ve sent out to supporters. If you’re in a church, think through the arguments you’ve made (or would make) to your overseers and to parents about why this stuff is vital. How have you explained the glories of college ministry to your family and friends? Listen to yourself!
You KNOW college ministry matters. But right here, right before you jump in again with gusto, it might help to REMEMBER WHY college ministry matters.
Enjoy the hours.
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This week, I’ve been posting some of the less-familiar reasons College Ministry is such an amazing field – I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get a little encouragement as school starts up!
While I’ve written about it here on the blog and in my book, you won’t hear too many people (yet) notice the obvious truth:
College ministers are operating “R&D” for the rest of the American Church.
We interact with lives (and whole generations) when they’re first “released into the wild”;
we do ministry in the context of the cutting edge of culture and education;
we encounter the adversaries and opportunities the rest of Christianity will face 5 years from now.
We are raising up the Church’s future leaders,
developing future forms of ministry,
in environments that foreshadow the future of the nation.
Can you believe we get to serve here?
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Yesterday, I posted a less-familiar reason we celebrate God’s calling to college ministry. Today, another encouragement as the new year approaches:
By serving as a college minister, you are accepting a very weighty baton – passed from parents and youth pastors of your many already-Christian students.
We may often concentrate on the glory of reaching non-Christians and the “dechurched.” But we are also reaching plenty of collegians well-discipled in churches and families for the past dozen years.
We are the successors of others who could make a much greater claim on these souls and their maturity… and yet we get to shepherd these souls as they claim “independence” and begin new lives.
It’s a weighty baton we receive.
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I figure in your world, short posts will be a blessing this week. So I’ll do my best at brevity – and encouragement!
Today, one more reason what you’re doing is awesome:
You are fostering an environment in which lifelong friendships are being forged.
Some of your ministry’s members will edify each other for decades to come.
Some will marry in fantastic unions;
some will conspire together in great, God-glorifying endeavors;
even some now strangers will connect years later, over shared memories of an amazing season in their lives.
All because of God’s work within your college ministry.
As you look out at that first large-group meeting, realize that much of what God’s doing isn’t between stage and audience… it’s student-to-student.
And the really cool thing is that what you see now is only a glimpse of what will blossom from some of these relationships over the next fifty years.
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I first posted this Fridea around this time last summer, but it’s something that could be really profound for your college ministry – and it’s even something that might be worth making into an annual tradition.
A while back, I discussed fasting as a great discipline to introduce to college students. And while there are plenty of ways to make this “vintage” practice part of your college ministry, here’s one of the bigger ways:
Call a college ministry-wide fast in preparation for the upcoming school year.
I recognize this is a bit tricky most of your students are away for the summer. But Facebook Events or phone calls can work wonders! And it’s a pretty neat way to participate in spiritual community together, even while separated by thousands of miles.
(If you’ve got some students local this summer who are going elsewhere in the fall, this can still be a personal fast as they prepare for their own next year.)
The first exposure to fasting I remember was in the youth group, where our youth ministers held an annual 40-day fast before Youth Camp. Not nearly all of us – and very few (if any) of the students – chose to fast from food. But many of us fasted from something for those 40 days.
I remember that first time we did it – and I remember how God prepared me for what He wanted to do. I entered Camp with a strong sense of expectancy AND saw God move in some really exciting ways that week.
Those are three of the potential benefits of a “anticipatory fast”
- opening ourselves to God’s preparation
- entering a new season or event with expectancy
- and then – as God sees fit – watching Him respond in cool ways to the fervency of His people
If it fits your group right now and fits your purposes, I’d encourage you to consider calling your students to a fast! It could prepare everybody for an astounding fall – or at the very least, help everybody start the school year in a very special – and anticipatory – way.
I listed a few resources for learnin’ about fasting on that earlier post. I’d love to hear about other ideas / resources, too!
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Last night I got to attend an annual event at my church from high school, a sort of “reunion concert” for current and former members of our youth choir. I’m quick to point out: I am no singer; it was a big choir. But it was a really neat part of my life, so the memories were great.
On Saturday, I got to hang out with a girl I’ve known since I was the leader of her freshman Bible study (I was a sophomore at the time). She later went on to be a leader in the same freshman Bible study a couple of years later, and we – as always – had fun reminiscing about those awesome days. I’ve even shared that same bond with people far younger than I am, who ended up leading in that same Bible study eventually, too.
Except for the occasional exception, college ministries don’t seem to do a lot with “tradition” or “nostalgia.” But instituting tradition and celebrating nostalgia can seriously benefit our ministries.
It’s a way to build community, for sure. It’s a way to build reminders – which God can use in people’s lives long past their college years. It can also invigorate current students, as they realize they’re part of something much bigger, much longer-lasting than the current campus ministry. It allows students’ own impact to last long beyond their few years with you. In a way, it adds a true depth to a college ministry that can’t be achieved another way.
If you’re interested in adding a dash of tradition to your college ministry, here are a few ideas to start brainstorming with.
- Celebrate the memories of each semester or year, as that “era” comes to a close. Encourage individual groups – like small group Bible studies – to do the same with their own groups. (Lists of memories make great T-shirts!)
- “Institute” traditions from the teaching points, favorite songs, or inside jokes that naturally arise within the ministry. Purposely use them in a regular way (as long as they’re useful.)
- Construct an ongoing “family tree” of small group leaders, ministry team leaders, or other positions in your ministry, letting new leaders realize the heritage they’re taking part in.
- Have present leaders write encouraging / exhorting notes to those who follow them in those positions.
- Have Seniors speak to the group before graduation each semester.
- Build actual or symbolic “ebenezers” (stones of remembrance) to remember what God taught and/or did in certain seasons of the ministry.
- Write out a history of your college ministry (or have students do it – they might even be able to do it for some school project!). I bet you even find out some exciting new stuff…
- Bring back alumni / former staff to speak to students.
- Hold reunions for alumni.
- Build alumni “clubs” – for encouragement, connection, and even fundraising.
- Get testimonies from alumni of how God used the ministry in their lives. Share some of these with supporters, overseers, and current students.
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Yesterday, I mentioned last weekend’s trip to perform a “Site Visit” at a particular college ministry. Since summer is now upon us, there could be plenty of other groups that could use some unique help – whether through a Site Visit or in other ways. Maybe some of this fits for now, maybe some of it’s better for the fall, but I’d love for you to take a look: Could any of these things help you, your larger organization, or other college ministries you know?
Plus, by using me – or encouraging others to use me – you’re helping me continue my ministry of exploring, advocating for, and furthering the field of Collegiate Ministry.
Here’s a (partial) list of ways I’d love to help you or college ministers you know “excel still more.” If you’re interested in knowing more, let’s talk about it!
- Site Visits: After seeing hundreds of campus ministries in action, I can bring a unique set of eyes to any ministry I visit. I’d love to come spend a week or even just a few days with your ministry, brainstorming with you about tweaking for the present and generating ideas for the future! Whether I’m assessing current forms or just sitting down with leadership to talk about options for next school year, I’d make an excellent “temporary teammate”!
- Catalytic Conversations: This is a VERY cool way to add value to any campus ministry gathering. Do you have any gathering of college ministries coming up? I’d love to make myself available for one-on-one (or one-on-a-few) sessions, directly discussing the individual needs of individual college ministries. It’s amazing how much ground on specific topics we can cover in an hour.
- Topical Speaking: Whether it’s speaking to regional directors, college ministers, student leaders, or even those who oversee college ministers (like church pastors), I’m right at home speaking on a variety of topics – bringing in examples and ideas from what I’ve seen all over the U.S.. (This would also be great for groups outside our field who want to better understand or connect with college students or college ministries.)
- Other Projects…: It may sound vague enough, but there really seem to be a plethora of ways my learnings can serve individual ministries, larger groups, and outside institutions that want to connect with our field. Whether it’s “exploration assignments,” writing jobs, consultations, program design, or more… what if we just brainstorm together about ways to connect what I’ve learned with what you’re doing?
How may I help you? This is why I’ve done everything I’ve done: To help all of us get even stronger!
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