The Secret Sauce for Commuter College Ministry?

I know the secret sauce to commuter college ministry.....and I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you.  A friend recently posted on a college ministry page that he would like to know what others had found to be effective in reaching commuters.  Immediately, he got two responses.  They were just what I would expect.  They said, "When you find out, let us know.".  I have been asked at different times who has it figured out in commuter college ministry.

Here is what I and others do know:

1.  Students on Commuter campuses think differently.
It is not just that some students live on campus and some live at home.  Many commuter campus students do not think like college students.  They think like young working adults who are taking some classes.  They are NOT PRIMARILY COLLEGE STUDENTS.  This often holds true of commuters who attend residential campuses but have never left home.  Many students attend commuter campuses because they are reluctant to leave home.  They are not as assertive and outgoing as many students.  Or, they are only on a commuter campus until they can transfer to a "real college" in their mind.  One commuter campus College Minister when asked what he had learned he said, "They leave.".  Your ministry must THINK DIFFERENTLY!

2.  Commuter students time on campus varies radically from one group to another.
Some go only at night.  Others go only two or three days a week.  Many fit their classes around work schedules.  And, that is another complicating factor.  Their free time is often non-existent or is at unusual times.  One commuter campus College Minister has found some success by having his weekly large group event at two times on the same day.  One is at 4:00 p.m. and the other is at 9:00 p.m.  The 4:00 o'clock time is for those students who can come after class and prior to going to work.  The 9:00 o'clock time works for those who have gotten off work by that time.  Who has a large group worship event at 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon?  That is the difference in commuter ministry.

3.  Commuter campus students tend to have little or no pride in their school.
Some years ago I led a Bible study at a large youth camp for college students who were there as counselors/sponsors.  Each time on the first day for a get acquainted time, I would have each tell their name, where they went to school, and one thing they liked about their college.  Students from a large commuter campus in our state would say, "I can't think of anything I like about it."  There is not a sense of loyalty or built in sense of wanting to connect or be a part of anything.

 HOWEVER THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

1.  A ministry that projects a pride in what it is doing and obviously is something done with excellence has an appeal to students that find that lacking overall and are looking for it. A friend who works on a primarily commuter campus promotes a theme, "We love our campus." and has found traction with it both with students AND the administration.

2.  Commuter campus Administrators are often anxious to work with anyone who is providing campus events and promoting a sense of pride in being there and giving students a sense of belonging instead of, "I am just here till I can transfer."  College Ministers working in these situations must make all the administrative connections possible.

3.  Students do not leave town on weekends or for holidays.  Weekends and even holidays may provide more opportunities for connecting with and having students attend events as their time schedule has opened up more.  They may still be working, but they do not have class.  Friday night or Saturday night events with a meal or a ballgame gathering may be a good option.  One church had success with ballgame watch parties with a Bible study at half time.

4.  Many campuses administrations are open to partnering with campus groups who are doing disaster relief trips.  If you are Southern Baptist, no one does a better job of providing disaster relief options and projects.  This also fits with today's students' desire to be socially active and can be weekend or holiday.

Commuter students need a relationship to Jesus Christ just like dorm students do.  And, as college costs grow, this will become more and more the norm for students to at least attend a commuter campus for their first year or two.  Too often we have tried to do the same thing on commuter campuses that we do on residential campuses.  The first step to the "Secret Sauce" is acknowledging that they are two different birds!

Arliss Dickerson's book, "A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula" is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV and "Reaching MORE College Students" is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.