To continue this series, here I will issue 5 concerns I have with our structure of small groups. In the next post (tomorrow or Thursday) I will issue some specific ways in which my concerns affect our college ministries. But this must come first.

I want to make sure it’s clear that these are concerns, not condemnations. There is certainly beauty that takes place in many small(er) groups. I do believe however that these concerns are things we ought to take into consideration and honestly process through.

Of course some of these concerns apply only to some, not all, contexts and groups. But I do think that these apply to MUCH more than we’d like to admit. This structure we’ve instituted over the last 40 or so years, I think, needs to be evaluated clearly and honestly. This series is an attempt to help us do just that – especially in our individual college ministries.

An overarching question I’d like to ask for this is: Are small groups the BEST way to go about ministry with college-age people? Only you can answer that for your ministry – and I hope this conversation helps you in clarifying your position in the ministry in which you serve.

Here are my 5 concerns:

They have an illusion of accountability. Small groups are said to be a structure for accountability, but the truth is they are not. They are a structure for disclosure, not necessarily accountability. In a small group that meets weekly we are only accountable for those things we disclose to others in that particular group. This is “selective” accountability at best. To take this a step further we only disclose what we see in ourselves – which we know we are blinded to some things. In addition, we not only have to see the issue, but we must also want help with that particular area in our lives. True accountability comes when my friends know all my other friends. I can’t hide. True accountability comes when people see me – not at a men’s group – but with my wife and kids on a daily basis. People see all the areas of me, not just those I see in myself and disclose to others. This, is accountability.

For the additional 4 click here

I have recently been thinking through philosophies of ministry – particularly when it comes to getting people engaged in small(er) groups.  I obviously have developed my own thoughts over time and certainly have reasons why I do what I do, and don’t do what we don’t do.

The reality is most of our ministries have some type of small(er) group gatherings.  We know people desire to connect at deeper levels with others.  We also know that this is an avenue by which we can speak more directly to issues.

So now that the school year is beginning, and likely your small(er) groups side of things will be getting off the ground sooner than later, I thought we’d do a series this week on this issue.  My hope is that all of us can glean off one another approaches and ideas.  Maybe we’ll even toss our previous ways out, for what we might think is a better way of going about small(er) groups after reading someone’s comments.

So, to BEGIN the discussion here are a few questions…

• Do you have small groups?  If so, how are they organized?  Adult leader, peer leader?
• Do your groups study a book of the bible or go through another book?  Both?
• Do you have both male and female groups, or include co-ed?
• If co-ed, what are some of the difficulties you see/have with that?  What are some great things you see in it?
• How do you find leaders?  Do you have any kind of formal training for them?
• Do your groups go for a certain amount of time (i.e. semester or school year)?  Campus ministries likely have some type of time frame on them, while church-based leaders may have a variety of ways they go about it.  Either way, what are the benefits of the way you go about it?  

In my ministry I have answered all the above questions as I assume most of us have to some degree or another – or at least are beginning to.  But I’m always up for learning as I hope you are…

Well, just shot a VERY quick (one take) video that hopefully describes some of my heart for our conference coming up. To see more on the conference, click here.

CollegeLeader Conference from Kristen Giesenschlag on Vimeo.

USA Today has highlighted some college students who are making a “difference on the world.”  They picked 20 students who were doing some amazing things around the world.  The 20 undergraduates’ accomplishments range from leading Hurricane Katrina relief efforts to helping NASA understand the geological history of Mars.  Yep, helping NASA “understand.”  I think that’s pretty cool!  To check out these 20 students and some of what they’re apart of, click here.

There is a lot of conversation from church leaders about the consumerism of people in churches.  A consumer, well, consumes.  He doesn’t give.  He accumulates.  He takes.  He gets what he desires and then leaves.  This frustrates many of us and, I think, it should.  Some questions I’ve been asking lately are:

1. What am I personally doing to battle this in my life?  The truth is my culture is about consumerism, so this is tough.
2. Are there ways in which we approach ministry that may actually be enabling a consumer mentality?  At worst, creating it?
3. Are there battles we’re not facing that we ought to be?  What fears are we giving into by not fighting those?
4. What does our infrastructure of ministry say about the Christian life, without using words?  In other words, what would an outsider say about the Christian life if they only had our ministry as an example?  Would it be self sacrifice, or feed a consumer mentality?

These are questions I’ve really been thinking through.  Literally sleepless nights.  Why?  Well, the very core of the gospel message is anti-consumer.  Sure, we certainly benefit from the death of Christ and enjoy many blessings.  And I’m VERY thankful for that!!  But as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:15:

“and he died for all, that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised”

This certainly isn’t consumerism.  It’s actually exactly the opposite.  Christ also speaks to consumerism when he says that in order to follow him we have to “deny ourselves.”

So, ok, we get that.  But what about college ministry?  How does this apply to us, in college ministry, today?  Two things.  First, for our own life.  I’m actually going leave you to think through that and ask yourself whether or not you have a consumer mentality – but I will say it of course has to start with us.  The second has to do with college-age ministry and this is where I’ll try to direct some thoughts and questions.

One of my observations over the years regarding college-age people is that many of them are at a stage of consumerism.  Some of this is due to a search for identity, a search for anything to grab a hold of really.  And, truthfully, I think we’d all prefer them to be “searching” in Christian circles (at least at some levels) than we would in secular ones.  The zeal of college-age people is one of them most beautiful things about college ministry!  On the flip side we see many of them being a part of numerous ministries all at once and not investing in anything – just taking.  

There is however a fine line we must walk in college ministry.   If they view us as trying to “use” them in any way, we’ll repel them – and quickly!  So, here’s some questions…

How do you deal with consumerism in your college ministry?  What boundaries are important to watch, especially in asking college-age people to serve?  What are some things you’ve done that have been effective in helping college-age people embrace a “life of giving?” 

Getting the word out.  The next 5 leaders that register for the CollegeLeader Conference and bring  student leader with them will receive a free downloadable version of College Ministry 101, plus a copy of 99 Thoughts for College-age People.

There is a new “gadget” out (well, I’ve never heard of it) that is, well, interesting to say the least!  It’s called, “Nabaztag.”  It claims to be a new community of “rabbits.”  Like I said, interesting.  Watch this intro that explains all this thing does.  Would you want one?

I have been asked to elaborate more on Appendix B of my book College Ministry 101, which speaks directly to church-based leaders who are working in a college town where campus ministries are present.  This issue can be a major tension for church-based leaders.  Do I go on campus?  Surely the answer is yes.  But unfortunately there does seem to be a sense (for lack of better terms) of  competition – or to some degree an ora of “what are you doing here, this is where I’m working.”  At least that’s been the majority of my experience as a church-based leader – and many others I’ve worked with.  There are however, of course, campus ministers that are not only “open” to church-based pastors coming onto campus, but actually initiate and help cultivate that.  I think this relationship needs to be cultivated much more and I will likely write a book on how this can happen at a later date.

That said, I’ve been asked (via twitter request) to elaborate on that specific Appendix and so I will do so (if you have not read it, click here).  I will attempt to give some perspective on campus ministry from a somewhat outside point of view.  I have certainly been a part of campus ministry, served in numerous and worked alongside dozens and dozens of others.  I have, however, never led one personally.  So, hopefully an outside opinion will be taken, not as a critique, but as helpful insights into some potential areas (much of which I’m sure people have already thought through and are implementing).  

The specific request was for me to give some more insights into how a campus ministry can be more discipleship focused and how assimilation can work – rather than give programmatic insights.  I’m thankful, as I’m not into giving those – as you know if you’ve read my book.  So, let me begin this series of blogs by issuing one thought regarding the assimilation side.  I’m trusting many of you (church-based and campus-based leaders) will jump in and give your thoughts…  

Thought #1 for campus leaders: Clarifying the goal of your ministry.  You may make a broad statement like, “Make disciples,” “to glorify God,” or something to this affect.  Certainly not bad goals and we all have broader, more general statements like that.  I would however issue you another, hopefully helpful and very specific goal as a campus minister (that by the way, would accomplish both of the above broader statements): to connect college students to the beauty of being a part of a local church.  Why?  Well, ultimately they will leave your ministry.  People will need to connect to a local body if they are going to continue to mature and campus ministries have a crucial role in this.  So getting people to come to or be a part of a campus ministry surely cannot be THE goal.  I don’t think anyone would admit that this is the goal (or at least I hope not), but our actions often prove differently.  More on that in a minute.

We have to prepare these students for a life of being a disciple and campus ministry can play a vital, yet small, part in the life long discipleship of an individual.  So, naturally, if connection to a local church is the goal then EVERYTHING we do in our ministry ought to work toward this end.  This is true in any organization.

I will say this: I think the heart of many campus ministers is to prepare their students for a life of being a disciple of Christ.  I will also however say: many of the methodologies of campus ministries are undermining what they say they desire to do.  How?  Well, first off,  I think it shows in that a ton of time/energy/resources are put into attracting people to the events and gatherings of the campus ministry itself – especially in comparison to connecting students to the local church.  So, maybe not in words, but at least in action there are ways in which our methodology can actually undermine what we’re saying.  

I will say that having methodologies that often undermine our words is not a “campus ministry” issue, it’s more of an overall leadership issue we all face.

There is (in general) a lack of intentionality from both ends – campus ministries and church based – building ongoing relationships with each other.  I know some hairs are standing up right now and I’m sure some people will say, “Hey!  We are doing that!!!”  I agree, I’m just saying there needs to be much more initiation on both ends – church-based and campus-based leaders – on initiating this connection.  If we can’t be in relationship, truly like-minded, unselfish, and completely Kingdom minded we’re robbing the life-long discipleship process of our students.  I will also take this a a step further and say that the relational connection needs to be the focal point of everything we do.

Working toward this can be intentional, but I would say it cannot be “programmed.”  In short, I think you can take all the advice I gave in Appendix B to a church-based leader and flip it around to be written to a campus ministry leader.

So, to guide discussion let me ask the following: Church-based leaders, what are the road blocks, tension points, fears, you have engaging campus leaders?   And, for campus leaders: What do you think about the goal I’m suggesting for your ministry?  And, what are your thoughts on my concerns regarding methodology?

Well, I think that “opens enough cans” for now, this discussion should be fun…

For training in the trenches of college ministry click here.

In this video I discuss three movements I’ve seen that are needed in student ministry – this is a Youth Specialties podcast I did for those serving in student ministry and desire to prepare their kids for life after youth group (i.e. college-age years). However, I think these are certainly movements we need to be focusing on in college ministry, for sure. So, hopefully these will give you some insights that stretch your philosophy of ministry…

It shouldn’t shock you to know that community college’s across the US are growing rapidly.  There are, in my mind, two major reasons why the number of students attending these schools is increasing:

1. The economy.  They are less expensive per credit, plus most students can remain living at home decreasing living costs.
2. Lack of clarity.  Most graduating high school do not have a clear picture of what they want to do for a career.  Community college allows them more time before they have to declare a major.  They get essentially the same education, but less expensive and with little commitment.  Plus, they can transfer as a junior more easily than get in as a freshman to many schools.

The interesting thing is most college ministries haven’t figured out how to reach commuter campuses.  Even most para church campus ministries don’t focus on them.  That to say, this is a mission field that is essentially untapped.  Also, I’d say that the majority of churches work in this context – most are not close to major university campuses.  I did include an Appendix in College Ministry 101 on this that may be of assistance to you.  You can also read an article here about the challenges of commuter schools like this.

Although it’s yet to be seen how accurate it actually is, it’s fun to know there is a new show on NBC coming up called, “Community.”  It’s all about community college life – supposedly.  However “theatrical” they need to make it to be successful, I’m sure there will be a lot of accuracy in regards to culture.  I think we’ll be able to relate it to “The Office” and shows like this that have moments of insight that create the humor.  Of course The Office has some interesting characters that also add to the humor (of course).

If you want to check out some of the trailers for this new show, click here.  But, I thought I’d include one for you below (actually there’s two).  I will also be issuing reviews of the show from time to time (if not week to week).  I’ve worked mostly with community colleges, attended one myself for two years, and have worked with hundreds and hundreds of students attending them.  So, I’m excited to see what the show is like and potentially has to offer in regards to insights (if any) into the life and mindset of those attending community colleges.  Higher Ed has an article about some concerns, you can read that here.