Questions to Ask as You Prepare to Speak to College Students this fall

In recent years, it has become more and more the trend that College Ministers speak at their large group worship events.  

If you fall into this category, I want to throw out 5 Questions to ask as you begin to prepare:

1.  What are some Biblical basics, they need to hear or understand?  We know increasingly that many Christians are biblically illiterate.  A recent survey indicated that the major of church goers do not read the Bible regularly.  So, are there some basics you believe must be part of this fall's talks?

2.  What do students WANT to hear? I think that has to always be part of your equation as you plan.  I think we always have some responsibility to speak to where they are.

3.  What are some "every year topics"?  Unless your ministry is the total perfect exception....as I am sure it is....there will be some students only there one year due to change in schedules, due to change in priorities, etc, etc. If they are only in your ministry one year, what is something you want them to hear?

4.  What are some possible "attractional topics" for the first three weeks?  I am unapologetic in being a "Topic Speaker" to college students.  Even when I have done a book study, I used a topic title for each week.  I also am unapologetic about the need and value of utilizing topics that students want to hear as they make those key start of school decisions about where they will go.  But and however, it cannot be bait and switch.  Speak on what you advertise.  One reason I favor topics, is that it makes it easy for students to use those in inviting people.

5.  What are some "issues" on YOUR campus?  Some years there are issues and questions that arise among Christians and Non-Christians in different locations such as faith healing, speaking in tongues, etc, etc.  Would it be helpful and beneficial to speak to them?

One More Thought:  When you have made a list of possible topics, throw it out to your leadership team and see what feedback you get. 

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Hard Conversations in College Ministry

 Part of doing College Ministry well is having hard conversations.  Here are some examples.

I went to visit a College Minister at his office and he was tied up with a student.  As he came out, he said, "That was one of those tough conversations.  I had to tell him if he was going on the Spring Break Mission Trip, he had to take a shower every day."

Some students indicated to me that one of our Freshmen Ministers was involved in some behavior totally contrary to the lifestyle commitment she had made.  I confronted her about it.  She denied it and I told her I would take her at her word.  I think the information I had been given was accurate, but I also think we must take people at their word.  That was a painful conversation!

One of the most committed students I ever had and an excellent student in the midst of a conversation said that she was doing a book report on a book she had not read.  I said, "Isn't that cheating."  She looked stunned and said, "I never thought about it."  The next week when we met, she said, "I read the book."

One of our guys was a natural leader, but had never stepped up in a leadership role in our ministry.  One day, I said, "If you aren't going to do a leadership role in BCM, you need to run for president of the student body."

One of our newly elected ministry leaders was a very attractive young woman and well liked.  I said to her at our first meeting, "You can get by on your good looks or you can really grow your leadership ability."  She became one of the best leaders we ever had.

A College Minister friend of mine who leads a large church ministry had to leave a meeting in Nashville early to go home and deal with the word that his Worship Leader was being seen drunk in student bars on Saturday night.  You think that was a hard conversation?

One of our really good BCM Presidents transformed personality wise almost over night it seemed and no longer was the leader he had been.  We had multiple hard conversations that resulted in no explanation or change and he sleepwalked through his last couple of weeks as our student leader.  I later learned that his parents were going through a divorce.  We never know all that is going on in a student's life.

What HARD conversations are you having with students?  It is part of the job AND it is part of doing the job well.  Often, saying something to a student they don't want to hear is for their benefit and future benefit.  Some will walk away, but many will stay and grow because you care enough to have hard conversations.

"A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen" is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98

The Crime of "Extreme Confidence"

A story is circulating in my part of the world about a lady who was going into a chain of Maverik convenience stores with her clip board and vest on who was doing quality checks on their snacks, drinks, and getting gas.  This went on over a period of four months.  She was quite efficient and pleasant to deal with.  One day, she came in when another employee was there from Maverik Headquarters......and well, well, well.  The Quality Control Inspector was NOT a Maverik employee.  In addition to the snacks and drinks she had gotten each time, she had gotten $2400 worth of gas and not paid.

She was arrested and charged with theft.  One of the arresting officers said, "She should be charged with Extreme Confidence.  I did not know that was a crime!  

Two Points to be Learned Here:

1.  She dressed the part and people generally treat you like you appear.  She had on the professional appearing work vest and the clip board. Fair or unfair...right or wrong that is a principle that continually demonstrates itself.  First impressions are huge and generally are relied on until proven differently.

I used to speak for lots of state-wide Campus Minister gatherings.  Often, the leader would say to me something like, "In one of your presentations, can you say something about dressing professionally when meeting with school administrators and pastors."  Lots of College Ministers dress like the students they are around and consequently the first impression they give off to administrators and pastors that do not know them causes them not to be treated with the professional regard that they should be and deserve. One first year College Ministry Intern told me once that she was embarrassed by the way her Lead Campus Minister went into a meeting with top school officials.  The Intern was embarrassed!! My simple rule is:  Dress like others at the meeting will be dressed.  

2.  She acted confidently like she knew what she was doing. Sometimes, as Christian leaders are  genuinely humble, they come across apologetically.  It is NOT ARROGANT to come across confidently.  There is a difference in arrogance and confidence.  You are a professional who knows what you are doing.  It is okay to believe that and definitely to act that way.  As a result, others will believe that and trust what you say.

I wrote an article once on the difference in Emceeing a Meeting and Leading a meeting.  An Emcee just announces what is next.  A leader (acting confidently) makes sure what needs to happen happens.

It is alright to be confident that God can, has, does, and will use you.

You can check out "A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen" here:  Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98.

Calendar Your Summer

As this semester winds down and you hug students good bye and do some evaluation and planning, this is time to "calendar your summer."  What does that mean?  Someone once said, "Sometimes, life just gets so daily."  Their point was that it is easy to just take things as they come and not be intentional about the use of time and days.

What are some things you would like to accomplish this summer?

    -Read some specific things for your own growth or to develop the ministry.

    -Paint that one wall in your Center or re-do the pitiful landscaping outside.

    -Visit some churches and pastors in the area.

    -Develop that new Bible study material for your groups.

    -Write the outline of a better training for your group leaders.

    -Take two days and go somewhere to dream and plan for the long term of your ministry.

    -Lay out all your speaking topics for next fall and do a quick outline of each.

Okay.....now put those things on your calendar....so that the daily routine and things that just come up don't drown them out and SUDDENLY........IT IS AUGUST!

Make double sure that you have any Summer Orientations or other incoming Freshmen events or opportunities are on your calendar.

I would also suggest that you plug some "Golf Days" or whatever in there somewhere.  I used to go play golf one day shortly before school started.  It was my annual "Pre-school Tournament."  I always won!

Did you know there is a brand new E-Book Version of "A College Minister's Tips for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0GFLFNX98