If we just assume everything will be perfectly normal this fall on campus, I think we make a big mistake. Hopefully and prayerfully it will be. But, doing a little "what if" thinking now will be beneficial, if all is not back to normal.
SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
1. Will there be on campus Summer Orientations for in-coming freshmen? Many campuses have already announced that summer school will be on line. This will not be significantly different many places as on-line classes have become a popular way to do summer classes But, if the campus is shut down, that is a whole other issue. Will there be on campus "New Student Orientations"?
2. If your ministry has used the summer as prime time for connecting with new students and those vehicles are not there this summer, how can that vacuum be filled? Perhaps, now is the time to begin to contact churches in the area to get senior names. One BCM Campus Minister shared with me that he was making contact with different freshmen whose names he already had and was asking them to invite their friends to do a Zoom meeting with him. Is this an option for you?
3. Could upperclassmen who live in different towns and cities invite friends from their church or previous high school to do a Zoom meet up with you?
4. Could the Youth Minister at a church set up a Zoom meeting with you and a group of students going to college this fall? You could give them some good first couple of weeks advice, ask for names of other friends, etc. Is now the time to begin to contact churches for a senior list and college plans?
5. Could there be a large group "rally" later in the summer of all these students with some upperclassmen doing testimonies in a Zoom meet up or, a series of such "meetings".
6. If offerings are down at churches due to unemployment, will that affect the gifts to your ministry from churches?
7. What can you do to prepare to possibly operate with a leaner budget for the fall?
8. If you raise your salary, will the economic changes affect your partners and their giving to you? While this is not a perfect time to be looking for more support, is there a way to prepare or begin to lay the groundwork for that?
9. If freshmen come to campus this fall carrying the baggage of "no prom", "no graduation"; "no "time to say goodbye to friends", what will that mean in how to reach and work with them?
Keep thinking differently. Let's not be caught off guard, if things do not go back to "old normal" immediately.
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson). "ALMOST Everything About College Ministry" coming this summer.
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