I first wrote these thoughts way back in 2008, but it’s a topic we don’t think about enough: How to welcome in students before they’re on our campuses. There are many hundreds of handwritten pages of notes from my yearlong road trip (not to mention the other cross-country trips after …
It’s possible you’ll have some time to “ponder” over the Winter Break, maybe even a chance to get away with staff or key leaders to plan or tweak the upcoming semester. You’re the expert on what your ministry needs most, but I thought I’d throw out a list to help …
My wife and I have been on vacation in New England (which is why the blogging has been a little spotty). But the other day we ran into a dad and son – who happened to be from Dallas too – who were on a college visit. I asked where …
You’ve got a crop of freshmen coming, and hopefully you have some way to get in touch with them – or even their parents. Maybe you get names and can send things, or maybe you have to be more “creative” – working through youth groups in your city or state, …
It’s September. So as a college minister, you (or leaders under you) should be discipling your students as they walk through two vital searches: the front-end search: finding a church Nearly every campus-based college ministry and institutional college ministry (spiritual life programs at a Christian college) will state a belief …
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 …
In a severely disjointed field, it’s rare for the “cream” in collegiate ministry to rise to the top. Even though a resource, a practice, or an idea might be extremely valuable, organizational and regional lines often keep exposure limited. While that is quite a bummer, a silver lining is that …
A while back, I had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion by leaders in the field of Youth Ministry at a seminary. The panel was very well attended and really informative… plus, it even showcased an impromptu debate between two really well known communicators about the value of home …
As this week’s Fridea, I want to turn the corner toward… the Start of School! I figured if I could begin offering ideas this early, they might seamlessly fit into your new-semester plans, or even just help springboard you to even better thoughts! (And as this yearly ritual begins, yes, …
You might know that I’ve been exploring the campus ministry scene in the great town of Fort Worth; as I began preparing this post, I was still there. Then a birthday dinner with my sister and her buddies, and then I finally made it back across the Metroplex to home. …
