The health pandemic and all sorts of campus requirements for student safety have impacted most all college ministries in the country...some more than others, depending on the region and specific campus. One outreach ministry that has been affected are campus wide Outreach Lunch Programs. The BSU at Mississippi State is often credited with "inventing" the idea of having a free or very cheap meal with a Christian speaker at noon. Some of these have reached as many as 400 students at a time.
One ministry that has had a long history of a strong such Lunch Program that often had more than 200 attend on a weekly basis, could not continue this past fall due to the campus requirements. According to the campus formula, they could have a maximum of 50 students (social distanced) at their lunch event. Plus, the churches that brought senior citizens to serve were not an option any more. So, it was forget it, or develop a new plan.
They decided they would have a couple each month where they would invite a specific group and get a response to how many would attend...up to 50. Then, they would serve each a "Box Lunch" with a Chick- fil-A sandwich, a bag of chips and a cookie. Plus, everyone got a bottle of water. They started with a group they had close ties to in the Nursing Department.
Following that one, they had ROTC cadets and then Agri students. For the ROTC cadets, they had a College Minister from another campus who had been an Army Ranger speak. When they were planning the Ag students Lunch they called a pastor who had an extensive agriculture background to speak. He loved the idea so much he said, "Why don't I bring some of my guys to grill steaks." Who knew being an Ag Major was the place to be?
The Campus Minister says they possibly will never go back to the former Lunch Program model. So, why should other campuses consider this model?
-If you have had a Lunch Program done by church volunteers in the past, will they come back?
-If you have not had the resources to do an every week unlimited number Lunch Event, could you do 3 or 4 a semester? They could be done by sponsoring churches or out of your budget.
-Could you connect better if there were a limited number?
-Would you reach more different students over the semester out of different campus groups?
Who could you invite?
-The fraternity and sorority presidents with a major CEO type who would talk about Christian leadership
-The women's Volleyball Team with an outstanding Christian coach or former pro athlete
-The campus ambassadors that do campus tours for visiting high school seniors with a Christian PR Exec
You get the idea. Maybe a Lunch Program has never been an option for your ministry. Maybe a "Targeted Lunch Program" could be. Maybe having a lunch every week is killing your budget or your volunteers. Don't get me wrong; I still love the idea of having 200 or whatever number hearing a Christian message every week. BUT, one thing the pandemic has given us....it is the NECESSITY OR OPPORTUNITY to think new thoughts. DON'T AUTOMATICALLY go back to everything the way it was. Make intentional choices about what your ministry will look like in the future.
AND, you could experiment with one "Targeted/Invitation Only Lunch" this semester and see, if its an option for the future. You always learn something the first time you try something!
Arliss Dickerson's book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com
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