Dumb Mistake #1 "Not Using Volunteers"

Through the years, people have often said to me, "If I can do something to help you, let me know."

My usual response was to try to be gracious and thank them--but never call them. This may have been my biggest mistake in college ministry. As budgets get tighter, students' needs and college ministry gets harder, perhaps we have to re-think our use of volunteers or "very part-time" people.

A while back thru a series of events, we hired a "part-time worker" that we paid $200 a month to do a couple of specific things. It lit up her life and she became as effective as many full-time staffers. She was a mom and didn't want to work full time and did not have to financially. Is there someone out there like that whom you should think about how to use?

In my capacity as a committee member for a national college ministers conference, I invited Mike Gaffney, who at that time was college minister at a Seattle Church, to be part of our conference. He had a weeknight college worship service that averaged 1200---in Seattle--not even close to the Bible Belt. Partly joking, I said, "Mike, we want you to lead a seminar and tell us your secret." He responded immediately, "My secret is volunteers. I have 185 adult volunteers." I quickly divided 185 into 1200 and even with my poor math came out with a ratio of about seven students per volunteer. Wow! When you break it down, asking a volunteer to enlist and relate to seven students reduces an elephant into bite-size pieces. And, as Mike quickly pointed out, "You don't have to have 185 volunteers to start."

A busy architect said to me at church one day, "How can I help you?" It seemed crazy to me, but I said, "Well, we need help serving lunch Wednesday." He arranged his schedule to drive in from a meeting 30 miles away to pitch in with our lunch program.

When we were raising $800,000 to build a new campus ministry center, the ladies who had been volunteers serving during our lunch programs were the strongest advocates for their church to give to the project.

I think I and YOU need to think better about using volunteers. Yesterday we had a meeting of college ministry people to talk about how to better minister to the growing population of International students on our campus. A couple of hours later and older lady walked in and said, "I am looking for a place to volunteer." In talking with her, she said she was interested in International students. I have an appointment to meet with her Monday.

Are you using volunteers? Or, are you just blowing them off?

Dumb Mistake #2 "Not Writing Thank You Notes"

I know I sound like your mother at graduation time. "Have you written your aunt to thank her for that check?"

You like me may have had the experience of giving to a ministry and never hearing back from them. When I don't get any response, I wonder if they got it; was it lost in the mail? Finally, when the check clears I wonder what it was used for or if the gift really mattered.

A long time ago I went to a fund raising seminar and the leader said something I have never forgotten. "The people most likely to give you money are the ones who have already given you money." It is a simple and easy to understand principle. People are more likely to give again and might even give a larger gift, if they know their gift was appreciated and what is was used for.

The good and bad news about people's giving to religious causes today is they no longer give blindly. They want to know how their money is used and they enjoy seeing and knowing that it is making a difference. When you write to say thank you, they know you got it and that you appreciated it.

But, you can even go a step further and tell them what you used it for. Or, you can tell them about an event coming up or that you just had and thank them for helping to make events like that possible. I wrote thank you notes yesterday and in each of them I told them that school started this coming Monday and that we were having a chili supper for all the students interested in being in and signing up for one of our Bible study groups and thanked them for helping to make events like that possible. Much of the money for the program personnel for our Back-2-School Retreat comes out of the money given by individuals. Many give around that time and when I write them a thank you, I tell them something about the retreat.

Some checks from individuals and churches to campus ministries are received monthly. You can still write them a personal note once or twice a year. December and May are great times to do that. Are you thanking people for what they have done and, and are you creating the likelihood that they will give again by letting them know their gift was appreciated?

Dumb Mistake #3 "Not Learning From Those with Whom You Disagree"

One of my glaring weaknesses is that I tend to think I am right---all the time. In doing college ministry, it is easy to fall into this trap. Obviously, each of us do things the way we think is best. But, do we really have al the good ideas? All the best methods? The obvious answer is NO!

Do you disagree with the theology or methodology of a growing ministry on your campus or in your area? What should you learn from them? What do they do best? How do they do it? Don't steal and copy something unique about them, but what is there you can learn from them?

Thinking inside the same boxes results in the same thoughts. Alright, what college ministry drives you crazy--now, what should you learn from them???? Should you attend one of their meetings (on another campus perhaps)? Should you visit with one of their staff members?