Why Do Students Drop Out of a College Ministry?

Anyone that has been in college ministry long has experienced the frustration of seeing students disappear from our ministry that we thought were there for the long term....some who had even been in leadership roles.  Others are freshmen that we thought would be future leaders.  

Freshmen Sometimes Disappear After the First Couple of Weeks.

There are three common reasons that freshmen often disappear.

1.  Their Survival Needs were met.  They came to make friends and not feel alone.  After making some connections in the dorm or in classes, they don't feel the need to maintain the connection to the ministry.  The

2.  Reality Week Panic.  Reality Week is that  time about the third week when some pop tests begin to happen and they don't do well.  They panic and decide to drop much of what they have been doing outside of class in order to better prep for classes.  When they realize they can do more than one thing, they are embarrassed about coming back.

3.  Some begin to work part time.  Many freshmen who need to work often do not find that job or get started until the second or third week of school.  Then, time really becomes a squeeze. 

Why Do Upperclassmen Disappear?

1.  Some feel that they have done all the ministry has to offer.  When every year is much of the same and there are not levels of opportunity, some simply walk away.

2.  A break-up of a dating couple or a friend group can cause ripples through several students.  When a couple breaks up, one or both may stop being involved to avoid being around the other.  And, there can even be fallout of friends taking sides in the break-up. Sometimes, there can be a spat between friends that will cause issues in the ministry.  This can particularly be devastating to a smaller ministry.

3.  A Moral Failure.  A student may become involved in some behavior contrary to who they have been in the past.  Their feelings of failure or guilt may drive them away from the ministry.

4.  Internships, Hospital Rotations, Practicums and Student Teaching are realities for upperclassmen.  This is just part of the education experience for many students.  I believe it is important that we express understanding to them and keep our personal relationship to them warm and on-going.

5.  Church and Campus Ministry Overload.  One of the difficult things for campus based ministers is encouraging students in connecting to a church, but then seeing them drop the campus ministry.  Part of this is the reality of time students have and part of it reflects the necessity of church and campus based College Ministers communicating and working together on schedules, opportunities, etc.

Try to Remember:

1.  Don't take it personally when a student disappears....even one you have invested a great deal in personally.  They may just be struggling to survive.

2.  If they have benefitted from your ministry, then you have been a gift of the Lord in their life and that is what your original intent was.

3.   It is possible they will circle back in the next semester or so and that is part of your keeping the relationship open and going.

One College Minister friend tells of a lady who became one of his best financial supporters who dropped out after her freshman year and never came back.  She said later in life she realized all that he and the ministry had done for her.  

We never know all the ways God will use our investment in students....even when they disappear from the ministry.  Continue to believe and operate on the principle that God is always doing more than you realize!

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

The Conundrum of a Smaller College Ministry

 Every ministry has a strength and that strength should be recognized and promoted.  Usually, somebody pushes back and says, "But our ministry is small."  My pushback to that is....."Small can be a plus."

I genuinely mean that too.  Some students do not want to be part of a large ministry.  They feel lost and unknown in the crowd.  For two years I led a church college ministry that was much smaller than the campus based ministry that I had led.  I found that we were able to connect some students who were not comfortable with the large church ministry in town.  They felt no one knew them or were just plain uncomfortable.  As our ministry became more known, we were able to connect them to our smaller ministry.  That was a plus for them and us.

A conundrum is defined as being "a question or problem having a conjectural answer" or "an intricate or difficult problem."

Here is the Conundrum:  Many of them were not comfortable inviting others or bringing friends.  Some even did not want the ministry to grow as they enjoyed the smaller dynamic.  I really realized this after we had done a special event on campus and connected with one of the fraternities through it.  The following week, one of the fraternity members came to our regular worship event.  A few spoke to him, but did not relate well individually.  The next week he came and brought his girlfriend.  Again, there was not much personal interaction between our regulars and he and his girlfriend.  The next week he came with his girlfriend and her roommate.  Again, not much connection from our regulars.  He never came back and did not respond to my attempts to connect with him on campus.  I get it.  He just did not feel welcome.  He had given it three tries.

4 Things:

1.  We must be genuinely understanding and sensitive to the fact that inviting, bringing others, and visiting with strangers is painful for some.

2.  We must identify any of our students that might be outgoing and spend some special time with them making them aware of the situation and even "training" them in being great minglers, etc.  Their knowing the situation and being aware of how they can really make a difference can be a plus.

3.  Speak some about the vision for the ministry....not just fussing at them for not being more friendly or inviting others.  Promote vision.

4.  Music playing prior to an event starting can help fill "uncomfortable quiet".  I am also good with not all of it being Christian music.  Obviously, clean is important.  Some College Ministers are great at developing such play lists and sharing them, if that is not your strength.  I think "non-Christian" popular music helps "non-churchy" students feel comfortable.

Leading a smaller ministry has its pluses and minuses.  Hang in there and keep working with it.  

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

  

6 Secrets of Successful College Ministers

 I have been blessed to be around a lot of great College Ministers.  When I served as a part time consultant for the college ministry office at Lifeway, I traveled to lots of different campuses and saw them in action.  Here is the first thing I learned, most of those who asked for help were already doing a terrific job. They were always evaluating and thinking. Through a period of years I have gotten to be around some of whom many would say are some of the best.

Let me share what I think are their "secrets":

1.  They keep looking and learning new things.  They never feel like they have it all figured out.  They are always looking at others ministries and asking questions.  They are willing and open to learn from those who are not as "successful" or experienced as they are.

2.  They don't make sweeping changes every year.  They just tweak it a little here and there.  But, they will make a major change when they are convinced of the need for it.....such as adjustment to schedule, etc.  They continue to be students of their campus and how it is changing and how they may or may not affect their ministry.

3.  They build up their ministry by building up their student leaders (both spiritually and numerically).  They look for and develop leaders.  And, they are not afraid to let them lead....especially in areas where they are not strong.  Yet, they are willing to say no, when necessary.

4.  They look for and allow others to counter-balance their weaknesses.  They are not afraid to promote others or put them in the spotlight.

5.  They understand that a ministry of any size must have significant funding.  So, they are willing to invest the time and energy at key time to raising money to develop and expand their ministry and or staff.

6.  They give time and priority to doing what they do best.  Some are speakers and some are behind the scenes organizers.  They recognize what they do well and they lean hard into it.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

A College Ministry Resource that Keeps Getting Better

If you have not looked at www.sbccalled.com, you need to check it out.  If you are familiar with it, but have not looked at it in a while, you need look again..  New resources continue to be added. It is a great site to point your students to that have either sensed a call to ministry or are trying to discern it.

Some of the sections include job descriptions, education requirements, and information about how the SBC works.  My favorites have been the listings of the MANY different job descriptions within full or part time ministry.  Many students, like me, may have grown up in smaller churches and did not know of anything other than pastor, music ministry, and missionaries.  They will find here a variety of ministry options which may help a student clarify their call.  Also, there is information about education requirements.

Check out the new section titled "Collegiate Student Ministry & Missions Opportunities." You and your students can look at the various ways to serve the Lord in the summer.  These vary from those through State Convention Summer Missions positions to  Gen Send, IMB, Fuge and Student Life.  There is also a listing of State Convention and local Association Camps and Conference Centers.  This is the first time a student can access all of them in one place. So, this site is not just a tool for those called to ministry, but any student willing and interested in investing a summer.  And no, it is not too early to think summer service opportunities, as many students must decide about applying for internships, etc 

Steve Masters, Baptist Campus Minister at LSU has been the driving force in developing sbccalled.com.  If you have thoughts or suggestions, you can contact him at lsubcm@eatel.net.  Check it out and see what is new or check it out for the first time.  But, you don't have to be Baptist to benefit from it.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades,  is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Glitz vs Substance in College Ministry?

 A pastor friend of mine said he wanted his church college ministry to be one of "substance not glitz."  I agree with him.......50%

Substance is all about communicating the truth of the gospel.  It is about facing and talking about the tough issues of the day that students are encountering.  But, here is the thing.....doing it to an empty room is not too helpful!  Some ministries are proud of the fact that they do not have big crowds.....that must mean they are doing nitty gritty substance.  Or, it may mean they are just dull.

Here is the thing.  Everybody needs and wants some celebration.  In the stress and strain of the college world (which seems to get more stressful each year), there needs to be fun and celebration.  College freshmen come to school looking for two things....friends and fun.  I have learned that most college freshmen think like..... wait for it.....here it comes......college freshmen!  Who knew? And, the glitz can come before, after, and during.  Students handle variety well.

Even the most serious who are planning to make straight A's and go to med school or get a PhD in something look for some fun.  Expecting college freshmen to look and think like the later on adults we want them to be is at the least unrealistic.

A healthy college ministry mixes some glitz in with the substance.  Some years ago, there were two churches in one college town that were working hard at doing college ministry.  They each had large group events on Wednesday night.  One opened the fall with a month long series on world hunger.  The other opened the fall with a month long series on love, sex, and dating.  You know I don't have to finish that story.  By the way, the one who opened with the "glitzy" series is one of the most serious Bible teachers I know.

Depth is important.  Substance matters.  It matters more when there is someone there to hear it.  Doing depth with college students also means doing the practical application of what to do with the Bible truth you have just shared.  We cannot just give the Why without the How.

Some of the most "substance driven" college ministries I know have some of the "glitziest events" at the start of school.  Even I flinch at some of them.  But, choosing between substance and glitz is a false choice.  Even serious people have parties.  Why should a non-believing college student want to go to a 14 week study on the book of Revelation at the start of the semester?  One or two will.  If reaching one or two is your goal, ok.  If starting where students are and growing them to another point is your goal, where you start matters.

Here is an even crazier thought:  I think in the midst of doing the glitz.....like talking about love, sex, and dating......we can be taking about biblical stuff like forgiveness, purpose in life, commitment, etc. 

I believe Jesus laughed and had fun.  Notice that tax collectors and sinners wanted to be around Him.  I don't think that meant he had no substance.  I walked across our campus one day and there was a man standing on a ladder preaching the gospel.  I stopped to listen and I agreed with everything he was saying.  But, he was doing it in a mean and angry way......and not one student stopped to listen.  He sure was not glitzy.  He had substance.

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven......a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.