The UNFORGIVABLE SIN in College Ministry??

Some years ago speaking to a group of College Ministers, I said off the top of my head that the unforgivable sin in college ministry is not getting a students name and contact information.  Others would say it is not sharing the Gospel, etc.  And, I certainly would not disagree with any of those assertions.

Here is my point with not getting a student's name and contact info being unforgivable.  If we do not know their name and how to connect with them, we may never see them again and there is nothing we can do about it....unless they choose to show up or connect with us again.  Students are more reluctant these days to share contact info and I am keenly aware of that.  However, we must give them the opportunity to give us that information AND we must be conscious of our knowing their name and or teaching our student leaders to connect with new students and get their name...their FULL name.

How many times have you asked one of your core students, "Who was that new student you were visiting with?"  And, they say, "His name was Sam.....Great, what was his last name?"  And, they do not know.  To me that is almost more frustrating than knowing nothing.  I have spent lots of time trying to figure out who Sam was and trying to find him...to no avail.

One way some ministries get names is through their Welcome Tables.  As students come into the event, core students at the Welcome Tables do a name tag for everyone (mailing labels work as well and are CHEAPER.) and if they do not know them, ask them if they would be willing to fill out an Info Card.  Most will.  Picking the right personalities for a Welcome Table is key too.

Yet, another part of this name business is knowing who has been and has not been in awhile.  About the third  or fourth week of school is the time to be aware of who has not been since the first week or so.  Weekly large group worship events usually have lots of visitors during those first couple of weeks.  Some freshmen are at everything.  THEN, they have that first series of tests and it scares them and they disappear.  If no one misses them and let's them know that, why should they come back?

Some use Sign-In Sheets at the entrance or at the Welcome Tables.  Obviously, there are some more tech savvy approaches.  Some are utilizing IPads where a student simply can go in and check their attendance when they arrive.  Others use different aps that allow a student to text a certain number and that records their presence and they ask everyone to do it at some point during the event.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK:
1.  Are you working at in some way or other getting students' names and contact info when they come for the first time?  Are you teaching your core students to do it?

2.  Are you able to some way or other track if a student has been or not been to any of your events in two or three weeks?  You can look at Sign-In lists.  You can check your Tech sheet, etc.

 There is a fine line between badgering someone about their involvement and demonstrating that you care and that they matter.  The problem is that fine line is different with different students.  HOWEVER,  I decided a long time ago I would rather a student feel I was badgering them than for them to think I did not care.

The SWEETEST SOUND ON EARTH is someone calling your name when you feel alone or that it has been a long, hard, bad six test week.  A text during big test weeks, flu season when folks are missing can be an encouragement. It can be as simple as, "Missed your face lately, hope tests or the flu hasn't gotten you down.  Yell, if I can help."

Arliss Dickerson is a part time consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook format for 99 cents each at amazon.com.  FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY is also in paperback.