Every survey or expert I see write on it agree that college students who were active in church while in high school, mostly do not go while they are in college. They only disagreement is on the numbers. Some say nine (9) out of ten (10). Some say it is "only" seven (7) out of (10). Why? I believe it is a combination of things.
1. High school seniors feel like they have graduated from church. Youth ministries have more and more become separated from the church as a whole. Wednesday night youth service is usually more largely attended than Sunday Bible study and worship. Larger churches even have Sunday Worship just for youth. Many churches make a big deal of Senior Sunday and it just has the feel of graduating We must do a better job of having "next steps" and their seeing and doing those next steps.
2. College is busier. I genuinely believe that mosst do not go with the plan to drop church. It just is a fact that college is busier and more demanding than high school with demanding classes, activities, and for many, part time jobs. It is easy for a college freshmn to just assume that church will somehow fall in somewhere, because it has in the past. The first month passes and they have not connected anywhere and that usually is the end of it. What a student does the first 2 to 3 weeks often determines their habits and activities for their whole college career. A Christian student has to be intentional about connecting to a church at the beginning. Intentionality is the key!
3. Parents OK dropping out. I hate saying this because it is an unfair statement in many ways. Here is what I mean. Many parents who are active believers and very involved in their church were not active when they were in college, but they came back. So, they assume that their son or daughter will drop out but will come bask as they did. Somehow, that message is communicated to the freshman. Here is the problem: we don't see new college graduates coming back in a big way these days. But, if they do, they come back with decisions they made and the priorities they developed while away from Christian nurture and influence.
4. Freshmen mess up! Freshmen go to college looking for friends and fun. There is nothing wrong with that. But, often in finding friends and fun, they are exposed to and participate in things they had considered wrong just a month before. Sometimes, they get drunk for the first time or have some sort of sexual experience due to new friends and trying to find a place they fit. This "mess up" on their part leads to guilt feelings and Christian activities are just a reminder of the guilt or sense of failure they are feeling.
5. Freshmen go where their friends go. It is simple. If none of their new friends go to church, they probably will not go. It is hard going by yourself. Making some Christian friend connections in the beginning is a key factor for the future.
6. College churches are often much larger. It is just a fact that the majority of churches are small. Students have often grown up in and attended what I call, "Cousin Churches". They knew everyone in the church and their aunt or next door neighbor was their Sunday School teacher. At college most churches reaching out to students are larger and students who visit often feel uncomfortable and come compare it to their home church. It is different and feels very uncomfortable.
7. Freshmen are exposed to a variety of ideas, questions and even those critical of faith. One of the things that happens at college is students are exposed to different beliefs, religions and skepticism about Christian faith. A professor may openly ridicule Christian ideas and beliefs. We must help students know that doubt and honest questions are not contrary to a healthy faith and that everything a professor says about faith and the Bible is not necessarily accurate. But, it is easy to feel like the person up in front of the class is an expert in all they say.
8. Freshmen feel overwhelmed. It is not unusual for a freshmen to say they are just scared. It is not one thing they are scared about.....it is just the bigness and change of it all. Consequently, students tend to withdraw and isolate themselves because it is just overwhelming their system. Why go one more place where they don't know anybody or what to do.?
Psychologists have said that the two greatest times of change in a person's life are birth to age one and high school graduation to Christmas. We don't leave new born babies on their own and expect them to survive.
Home churches and parents must be intentional in encouraging and helping freshmen connect to a church.
-Youth Ministers must help prepare students for the transition and walk with them through it.
-Churches and/or parents can make sure that the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) or a local church has their son or daughter's contact info....and the earlier the better.
Arliss Dickerson has spoken to hundreds of freshmen at university and Christian sponsored events. His college ministry books are on sale in August at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX.
No comments:
Post a Comment