A Church College Ministry Idea

Getting names of incoming freshmen for college ministries is always a huge priority for many during the summer.  Since what students do the first three weeks of the fall semester often determines their connections for the rest of their college career, early relationships are key.

Yet, many of the proven ways of making connections and getting names are being lost due to the changes in summer New Student Orientations, etc.  One large church has taken a new approach.  The church is a multi-campus ministry.  The College Minister for that church has gone back through the Sunday School/Small Group records for that church to when this group of high school seniors would have been freshmen.  They have found the name and contact information of each ninth grader in 2017, each tenth grader in 2018, each eleventh grader in 2019, and each senior for this year.

In other words, if a young person was involved or attended in one year of their ninth through senior year, they listed them.  They found over 2,100 names!  Did you hear that?  2,100 names! They are now beginning to make contact with them to invite them to be part of their college/young adult ministry.

It is easy to say that's just a mega church and does not relate to us.  My guess is every church of any size would be surprised how many names of what are now high school seniors would be discovered.  I dare you to check it out.

This appeals to me for two reasons.  First, I am all about making contact with students prior to the start of school, if at all possible.  Second, this goes back to the issue of youth disappearing from church involvement over a three or four year period.  As we have quoted the last few years, various studies say 3 out of 4 high school seniors active in church make no spiritual connections in college.  Other experts say it is 7 out of 10.  But, these numbers leave out those who disappeared before senior year.  And, most youth ministers will tell you the number is significant.....and usually larger than the number that stayed.

Today's crazy circumstances are causing many college students and young adults to ask spiritual questions and look for a caring community.  Hoorary for this church being wise enough and caring enough to do this.  What about your church or ministry?

Hey campus based ministries, do you have a list and names of students who were involved as freshmen and sophomores a year or two ago?  How many are missing and what about some sort of contact now?

Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).  His new book, "ALMOST Everything About College Ministry" will be available early summer.