EVERYTHING You Could Possibly Want to Know About Reaching College Freshmen!

Doing a specialized and intentional Freshmen Ministry is the single best way to reach, influence and impact more college students for Christ.  Here are the "QuickNotes" for everything you need to know about Freshmen Ministry.

WHY DO FRESHMEN MINISTRY?

1.  Freshmen are more available than any other group of students on your campus.

2.  Many students shipwreck their lives during their freshmen year.

FRESHMEN MINISTRY TRUTHS:

1.  Freshmen are looking for fun and friends..  The go where the potential for friends and fun is.

2.  Freshmen develop their friendships and habits during the first three weeks.  College Ministries must make the most of those first three weeks.

3.  Many Christian Freshmen violate their personal moral code early in the year as they try to make friends and find a place they fit.  Then, their sense of guilt helps push them away from faith and faith connections.

4.  Many Christian Freshmen will have doubts about their faith raised due to exposure to different beliefs, questions asked by new friends and professors who may ridicule faith or raise questions about it.

5.  Freshmen are often overwhelmed managing their life and adjustment.  Your ministry can be a lifeboat for them.

6.  Freshmen must understand that doubt and questions are NOT contrary to a healthy faith.

7.  The top 3 reasons  400 plus students said they attended a Christian campus event the first time were:  #3 Food; #2 An Appealing Event; #1 A personal invitation.  Where possible roll all three of these into one.  Your upperclassmen will be more likely to invite, the more appealing the event is.


FIVE THINGS TO DO:

Plan to spend wisely extravagantly for the start of the fall semester for events that will connect with freshmen.

Individual follow-up is key.  Make it a goal for someone to have an individual connection with a freshman within 24 hours of their attending one of your events.

Train your upper class students to invite, bring, and welcome new students.

Present the Gospel to students who have never heard it.

Speak about forgiveness in your early talks, presentations, and Bible studies (even when that is not the topic or theme).


Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry coach, blogger, and author.  His new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  Type in Arliss Dickerson or the title.