Day: February 23, 2023

Transitioning semesters, transitioning from one leadership team to the next, transitioning to new methods of outreach as campus environments change—collegiate ministers live and lead in an almost constant state of transition. In addition to the normal transitions that happen through the course of any year, there are also those exceptional seasons of transition such as moving to a new position, moving into or out of a building, or changes in convention or church leadership. You can probably think of at least a dozen other transitions you have or will navigate. The challenge all collegiate ministers must rise to face is how to effectively lead students and staff through those seasons of transition. 

Over the past (ahem…none of your business) years, I have transitioned in and out of six collegiate ministry roles, plus a short term of service in women’s ministry. Fourteen months ago, I moved back into a collegiate ministry role. Of course, every role change meant a season of transition, but some have included more challenging transitions than others.  I did not intentionally sign up for the “Leading Through Transition” course, but perhaps some things I have learned can be valuable to you. 

 Recently, as I was reading Romans 12-15, I was struck by how much of Paul’s instructions to the church in Rome can be a help when leading through transition. These six principles reflect what I have found to be most critical in even the most challenging of transitions. 

Start With Humility

12:2b-3 “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect…Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

I like that Paul starts this whole section with a generous helping of humility! I once heard a Bible teacher say, “you can bend your knee before God or He will break your legs. Either way, your humility matters to Him.” How do you think rightly about God and yourself? Surrender fully to Him daily and allow Him to transform the way you think. At the same time, remember you are in a position of leadership by God’s plan.  Whether you are glad to be there or wish God had chosen someone else for the task, He divinely appointed you for it. Rather than lead to pride, allow this truth to lead you to humility.

Respect The People You Lead

12:5b-6 “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…”

Just as God has divinely appointed you for this moment of transition, He has appointed the students, staff members, and colleagues you lead. Each of them are gifted by God and are an important part of the body. Listen to them, learn from them, discover and empower them to use their gifts. 

This is worth repeating—LISTEN to them. Especially during times of transition, everyone in your ministry needs the permission and freedom to express their fears, concerns, and excitement about the future. After you have listened, be responsive to their concerns. When you act on what you have heard, people will know they can trust you and will be more willing to stick with you through the transition. 

Perhaps most importantly, listening to people will give you insight on how to best empower them to embrace their God-given role in the body of Christ. 

Take Responsibility and Work Hard

12:11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”

Chapter 12 verse 8 reads, “If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.”  Here, just a few verses later, Paul tells us to work hard—with enthusiasm!  This task the Lord has given you deserves your best attention and commitment. Every leader will make mistakes—be gracious and forgiving with yourself and others; but, don’t allow fear of making a mistake keep you from taking your responsibility seriously and working hard…with enthusiasm! 

Expert Challenges

12:12 “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” 

Don’t be surprised by challenges along the way and don’t give up. Sometimes the trouble will be so overwhelming you may think you completely misunderstood God’s direction. Keep praying. Keep trusting Him in confident hope. Remember, “He who called you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24)

Shepherd The People You Lead

12:13 “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.”

Your role as a leader during transition is to steward and shepherd the students, staff, and colleagues in your ministry. A shepherd cares for her sheep and leads them where they need to go. Don’t let the second task overtake the first. When the people you lead are in need, be ready to help them. Even the most difficult transitions can be successful, if students and staff know you care for them by the actions you take to demonstrate it.

Respect Authority

13:1b-2 “…for all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”

Every leader is under authority. The authority of God first and then the authority of another leader. Treat those leaders with the respect God commands. Rebelling against authority can look like: speaking of and to them and with disrespect, neglecting the duties assigned to you, undermining their plans, and so much more.  To lead successfully through transition, a leader needs the favor of those he leads, but he also needs the favor of those in authority over him. The quickest two ways to earn favor are to work hard and show respect. 

Finally, the most important thing I have learned: depend only on the Unchanging Father to be YOUR shepherd and leader through every season of transition!

Beverly Skinner is the Collegiate Ministry Catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. You can follow Georgia’s BCM ministries on Instagram @georgiabcm. 

College ministry is hard. It’s a joy, certainly! I’ve never experienced more excitement about Jesus and His mission than I have working with and alongside college students. Their excitement and passion for Christ is infectious and life-giving.

Yet, we should acknowledge that the joy of college ministry comes with great difficulty. We can all think of students who have broken our hearts, leaders who have left us, burdens from lostness on campus, or overwhelming obstacles to effective ministry.

We go into battle daily on the college campus, with the souls of college students at stake. 

The frustration and pressure easily leads to loneliness in ministry. Do you ever feel like a one-man army? That the success or failure of your ministry rises and falls solely on you?

I’m reminded of a time when Moses likely felt that way. Exodus 17 tells us of a time when victory literally rose and fell by the strength of Moses’s arms. As the people of Israel fought, Moses held his staff above his head. As long as he kept his staff aloft, the people of Israel pressed forward, winning the fight! But the moment his strength failed and his arms sagged, the enemy surged forward and prevailed. 

In that moment, I imagine that Moses felt like the battle depended solely on him. 

Have you ever felt that way in ministry? I know I have. I can think of countless moments where I felt like, were I to run out of steam, the ministry I worked tirelessly for would crumble to the ground. 

For Moses, this was certainly true. The Israelites’ victory depended on his ability to keep his arms aloft. And he recognized he did not have the strength to secure victory.

However, in what was surely a moment of loneliness and defeat, God wanted to teach Moses something: it actually didn’t depend on him alone. Aaron and Hur came alongside him and lifted his weary arms for him, so the army of Israel could prevail. Moses needed to hold the staff up; but he didn’t have to do it alone. 

As you go out to the battlefield of the college campus or your church, who is holding up your arms?

The author of Hebrews echoes this idea when he says this in 11:36: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” This idea is tied to earlier in the chapter, in verses 24-25, where he calls believers to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 

Although this is in the context of the local church, the principle is clear: every believer needs people to encourage them in ministry, or they can not endure. We need people who can hold up our arms when we have run out of strength, so that we may see God’s victory carried forth.

Building community as a busy college minister

Seek peers.

I serve on the staff at a local church. Those of us who are college ministers at local churches tend to be pretty bad at building peer relationships with other college ministers. By contrast, when I look at my brothers and sisters who work in on-campus roles, I notice that they tend to have networks of peers to support and encourage them.

Regardless of your role, however, we need people who get what we do. As a college minister, you have countless younger people you’re investing in. You may even have a couple of older people who invest in you. But you also need peer relationships with people who truly get college ministry. I love the people I work with on my church staff; yet, most of them don’t get the unique joys and struggles that come with working in college ministry. I have found few things more encouraging than simply sharing my struggles with someone who instantly understands because they have lived it.

If you don’t know where to find peers, start by calling the other college workers in your city or your state. Begin meeting periodically to pray for your city and for one another. Call each other with questions, or to express concerns or frustrations. Hold up each other’s arms.

Seek coaching.

No matter how long you’ve been doing college ministry, find a coach. I spent years thinking that a coach would be nice, but was not a priority. I began working with a coach three years ago, and I can’t believe I didn’t prioritize it sooner. Coaching has helped me identify blind spots in my leadership and has been a constant source of encouragement for me during difficult seasons of ministry.

Seek networks.

If you’re a campus-based minister, there’s a good chance you’re already a part of a network. If not, find one, and lean into it! 

If you’re a church-based minister, however, you probably don’t have a network. I want to challenge you to take the time to find one and invest in it. I’ve connected with a few different networks that exist to encourage and equip church-based college ministers. Each time I spend time with these networks, I leave encouraged and challenged to take a step to improve my ministry. Two great places to check out are College Metro and Texas Roundup. These are annual conferences that work to network local churches engaging college campuses with the Gospel.

Develop a leadership team.

If you don’t have a leadership team, you’re missing one of the biggest encouragements in ministry. My favorite part of college ministry is investing in college students who believe in the mission of engaging campuses with the Gospel. Let them grow into the kind of men and women who can stand next to you and hold up your arms when you grow weary.

When you can’t find community, build it!

My final encouragement is this: if you can’t find a community, start building one! Call ministers at churches or in other ministries in your city, and begin by praying together. Praying together on mission will foster community quicker than any other action you could take. 

If you’re struggling to keep your arms up and have recognized you don’t have community, get out there and build some! You are not called to win the battle alone. I’m praying that God will surround you with meaningful community.

Drew Dabbs is the Minister to College Students at Morrison Heights Baptist Church. Follow the ministry on Instagram @moheightscm.