In my role these past two years as a Church College Minister, I post on Facebook on my account and the University Ministry account every week. And, I think you should as well. I post what will be happening that week and then later that night or the next day I usually post a picture or two or three from the event. The current wisdom is that college students don't use Facebook anymore. Some of our college students don't read all the trends articles and do not know they are not supposed to look at Facebook. Of course they use other media, but they still look at Facebook.
BUT, I would post about our events on Facebook even if I knew no student would see it. First of all, in my situation I serve at a church that has a long history of college ministry both at church and in support of the BCM ministry. But, in recent years due to a variety of things, our church has lost some of its vision and passion for college ministry. I post what will happen and what has happened to remind our folks of this vision and to help re-kindle their love of it AND their support of it.
SECOND, It is pretty surprising how many parents of our students who are from another location in our state follow me on Facebook and look at what we are doing. One mother even sent me a message....on Facebook.....last week asking how she could make a donation to our ministry. We do not ask that or promote that in any way. It simply came out of her awareness and gratitude. Parents being on your side helps in a ton of ways.
Parents of our local students who are not involved see what we are doing and even if they do not influence or do not have any influence on their student to attend. They see and know the quality of what we are doing. That matters in more ways than one.
Ever since I grew up as the son of a photographer, I know how much pictures matter and that they can tell a story it would take pages to write. It can show the size of the crowd. A picture of a group of students shows some of who is there....and is particularly popular with those parents who are looking and clicking "Like" when they see their son or daughter.
_________reasons to post on Facebook:
1. It shows those you work for what you are doing.
2. It spreads the word to Youth Ministers and Pastors who may encourage future students to be part of your ministry.
3. It helps parents be aware of what their son or daughter is doing and draws their support.
4. It helps parents whose son or daughter is not involved what some opportunities are. Sometimes they have been told, "There is just nothing happening.".
5. It broadens the support among your stakeholders. One friend of mine who is a BCM Director always posts his thank you's to the church who provided the meal for his outreach Lunch Program that day. There are lots of good reasons to do that.
Arliss Dickerson is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each at amazon.com. His paperback, FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY, is currently priced at $3.99 on Amazon.
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