8 Reasons Why College Students Should Be in Church Leadership

1. They will change the world for the gospel, why not let them change the church for the sake of the gospel.
2. Collegians have teachable hearts and willing spirits.
3. If the church is called to reach the world, that means the college campus and training it's leaders.
4. Empowering collegians with leadership encourages them to tap into their God given potential.
5. Noone else in your church has the energy & enthusiasm alongside availability & ability like a college student.
6. College students aren’t power hungry and don't have anything to prove.
7. They aren’t as flaky as most people believe.
8. Collegians want to be themselves and no one else: they are honest...

College Ministers: What Legacy are You Leaving?

This past Saturday, well over 400 friends, family, alumni, and college ministers gathered at the ASU fowler Center to celebrate 40 years of service and retirement for Arliss and Sue Dickerson. After receiving two standing ovations, 8 powerful testimonies, and 3 moving videos, Arliss and Sue shared a simple but life changing truth; "College Ministry wasn't work for us, it was just what we were called to do."

It is evident that the same God from whom BIG things happened in scripture used Arliss and Sue for BIG things at ASU and throughout the world. This celebratory event caused collegiate ministers from around the country to be sobered and humbled to the simple truth that college ministry is a calling that is bigger than ourselves and we are continually leaving a legacy to the countless number of students that we meet annually. Arliss and Sue's 40 year legacy will continue to live on as they provide national BCM consulting and as the lives they impacted will continue to minister as they were influenced by them.

Do College Ministers Work in the Summer?

I was reading a college ministry blog yesterday and one writer asked what do campus ministers do in the summer? The sad part about it, he was a campus minister. The key to a successful fall is the preparation in the summer. For lack of a better example, the campus minister is comparable to that of the football coach; there’s alot going on including implementing vision, strategy, planning, recruiting, and networking. The advantage of lower ministry activity can lead to greater productivity if time is used wisely. So what do you do in the summer. Here’s a list that I’m working on

1. Have a weekly summer Bible Study
2. Plan weekly Fall & Spring Bible Studies
3. Create graphics, promo tools, videos, and all programming elements for fall/spring events
4. plan weekly fall freshmen ministry activities
5. plan fall/spring International ministry activities
6. Calendarize Fall and Spring Dates
7. Plan Lunch program and speaker
8. Attend freshmen orientation to meet new students
9. Add incoming freshmen to our Facebook fan page
10. Mail invitations to incoming freshmen
11. Mail promo to upperclassmen
12. Send handwritten invitations to incoming Freshmen
13. Meet with influential campus staff and/or faculty
14. Meet with pastors, college ministers, and associational missionaries
15. Send an alumni newsletter to keep alumni in the loop.
16. Clean/fix/update/maintain building
17. Go to college minister conventions
18. Read those books you never got to read in the school year
19. Pray for the school year
20. Stay connected to the upperclassmen, namely leadership.
21. Hang out with students away from campus.
22. It’s never too early to think about mission trip opportunities and start making phone calls
23. Invite incoming Freshmen to participate in a Freshmen Leadership Team
24. Create Freshmen Leadership Team Curriculum.
25. Speak in Churches, youth rallies, and to incoming freshmen
26. possible summer mission trip
27. go to conferences for fresh ideas
... Oh and maybe blog...

There's much more that can be done too.. any other immediate thoughts?

Making The Most of College

1. With freedom comes responsibility so be responsible and you will grow emotionally and spiritually.
2. Don’t pack up your faith with all the other high school memories; start owning it
3. You are not alone in anonymity and insecurities so get involved.
4. Major in the best profs and get to know them beyond the classroom environment
5. Ask a senior “What would you do different?”
6. Get involved on campus with people you want to be like and student organizations that appeal to you
7. Join a church that fits you, and form mentor relationships with older individuals
involved in your future vocation
8. Study in small daily doses, not in all nighters before the test.
9. Don’t let your mistakes keep you from God; Let them draw you closer to God.
10. Take out the garbage at least once a month so your dorm won't stink