The 10 Commandments of Collegiate Ministry

 I first wrote "9 Shaping Principles of an Effective Collegiate Ministry" in 1991.  Since then, it has evolved at different times and ways into some variations of The 10 Commandments of Collegiate Ministry.  Here is today's version.

1.  Don't underestimate the need to communicate a VISION for the ministry and who God is that will shape the ministry and its outreach to the campus.

2.  Be a student of your campus. Every campus is different and continues to evolve.  The ministry must be developed uniquely for that campus.

3.  You must have a plan and strategy to connect to and reach Freshmen during the first 2-3 weeks of school, which is their most available time.

4.  Be intentional in making the campus aware of the ministry and giving the campus an accurate perception of the ministry.

5.  Remember, students are looking for what benefits them. The felt needs of students must be intentionally and obviously met for students to respond and to continue to respond.  Also, it is a key part of their seeing the Bible is relevant to them.

6.  Never forget the role models that students see in a ministry (both staff and students) will greatly shape the style, quality of the ministry, and the response to the ministry.

7. You must help students feel ownership of the ministry which will help determine their degree of commitment, investment, and desire to involve others.

8.  You must help students feel KNOWN and CARED FOR in some personal ways through community, small groups, etc.

9.  The ministry must adapt to changing situations and new student leadership gifts and abilities, as well as develop students to fill necessary on going leadership roles.  This also helps develop and prepare them for local church leadership roles in the days to come

10.  The ministry must connect to a broad base of churches and interested individuals to provide its necessary financial and emotional support base.

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and "A College Ministry Success Formula" at Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP.

Significant Recommendations for BCM to be Made at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention

 A motion to appoint a committee to study Baptist Collegiate Ministry and to make recommendations to strengthen it in Arkansas for years to come was approved at the 2025 Arkansas Baptist State Convention in its annual fall meeting.

The study committee announced this week that they will make some big recommendations in regard to facilities and staffing at this fall's annual meeting of the Convention at the First Baptist Church of Rogers October 19-20.

They will recommend a three year statewide BCM Capital Campaign to run from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029 with a goal of raising $15 million to support the construction, acquisition or renovation of BCM facilities at strategically selected university campuses across Arkansas.  This campaign would begin with a $1,000,000 infusion from the Convention.

Obviously, there are no specifics given in terms of BCM facilities.  But, at this point, there are not BCM Centers at Arkansas Tech in Russellville and the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.  Arkansas Tech has an enrollment of 9,500 students and UCA has an enrollment of 9,900. The Center at the University of Arkansas is essentially the same facility that was built in the 1950's despite some updating and renovation of the chapel within the last five years.  The undergraduate enrollment at UA has grown to 29,000 students. 

Another recommendation will be to strengthen staffing, consider how many staff, and look at different funding models.  Some funding for staffing would come through the Dixie Jackson Missions Offering.

Obviously, these recommendations are a big deal and would make a significant impact in the college ministry in Arkansas.  In recent years, some state conventions have trimmed their college ministry staffs and or sold campus centers to developers to build multi-use buildings for apartments, businesses and with space for the BCM Ministry.

Should these recommendations by the committee pass and it is anticipated that they will, the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is positioning itself as a leader and role model in college ministry for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Check out A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV

4 Simple Ideas for Growing Your College Ministry

 1.  Work on developing "Campus Awareness".  Is the campus as a whole aware that your ministry is there?  Consider doing some publicity or an event strictly to grow awareness.

2.  Target one or two groups on campus for relationships and outreach.  If you have left over food from an event, take it to a dorm, fraternity, sorority, etc....no strings attached.  Take popsicles to the band on a hot day.  Bake a bunch of Brownies and take them to different groups.

3.  Meet somewhere different one week or try a different time for your weekly meeting.  Different students are available at different times.  Perhaps, proximity is an issue for some.

4.  Is your meeting too long or is it famous for running over time?  Start on time and end on time.

Interested in more growth ideas?  Check out "Reaching MORE College Students" at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN

4 Possible Reasons a College Ministry is NOT Reaching More Students

1.  Lack of an intentional strategy - It is so easy to just get caught up in living day to day and being in survival mode.  Do you have a plan and are you doing things to work that plan?

2.  Facilities or Budget - Money does not make a ministry, but it is hard to have much ministry without adequate funding.  If money is a factor for you, are you communicating the need and your vision to your alums, interested individuals, or your church supervisor or Budget Committee?

3.  Club Atmosphere -  It is easy for students in a ministry to enjoy being together and are not reaching out to others as well as projecting a closed atmosphere.  First, are YOU out on campus and trying to connect to new and different students....or just hanging out with your tribe?  Help your students buy into the idea of reaching out to others.....and making them feel welcome when they come.

4.  Happy with our 50......or 25......or 70?  There is a very fine line between being unsettled in your ministry, being frustrated about numbers, and trying something new, and evaluating what things make a difference and what are just "energy eaters."  Hear me:  In some places reaching 25 or 50 is a miracle of God!  Beware of the College Minister Killer of COMPARISON.  But, also continue to evaluate and see what does and does not make the difference on your campus.

Remember:  Growth does not have to be miraculous or dramatic.....small incremental growth usually sticks better than a big flash!

If your weekly event averages 25, could you do something that would reach 5 more?

If your event reaches 50, could it increase to 60?

If you are reaching 100, could you do something to increase to 105 or even 110?

For more ideas on growing your ministry, check out "Reaching MORE College Students" at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.