Are you looking to start a college ministry at your church? Whether you're launching a university ministry or a church-based university ministry, there are certain principles that apply. Brad, with more than 10 years of experience in university ministry, is passionate about helping other university ministry leaders build healthy ministries that reach and disciple. Lance Crowell, from Collegiate Collective, provides us with a plan to start a university ministry in a local church. Before you begin, it's essential to recognize your limitations.
Take the time to thank and celebrate with the people who are already involved in the ministry, and evaluate the effectiveness of the university ministry. Running provides an enlightening illustration of what it takes to develop a university ministry in the local church. As for the students, they themselves, in churches without a university focus, serve or hang out in other ministries. An effective university ministry leader needs student leaders, parental figures, peer leaders, senior mentors, etc. Keep in mind that they won't be in your university ministry for long and you should do everything possible to integrate them into a local church.
Gather what you have to find church members who have a heart for college students, as well as those who are actually students. Lance is the director of online discipleship and training ministries for South Texas Baptists. If you want to develop a university department that will last in the church, you must have a vision that focuses on multiplication and replication. To ensure your university ministry gets off to a successful start, there are certain steps you should take. These steps include finding student leaders and parental figures, evaluating the effectiveness of the current ministry, and involving others in the creation process so that they take responsibility for its success and learn how and what is needed to build a new ministry from the ground up. For your university program to thrive, it's important to involve others in the creation process so that they take responsibility for its success and learn how and what is needed to build a new ministry from the ground up.
While these steps are just the beginning of a long process, they will ensure that your university ministry gets the start it needs to run the race well.
