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.