Most college freshmen make no spiritual connection at college.
For many it is not that they suddenly dropped church, they had really checked out about the 10th grade. But, for those who were involved in church through high school graduation, what happened? I do not think it is an intentional decision to quit church. There are several factors that are a part of it all.
High school seniors feel like they have graduated from church.
Youth ministries more and more have become separated from the church as a whole. Wednesday night youth service is usually larger than youth Sunday attendance. When they leave the youth group, their church is gone.
College is busier.
College just has more going on and more new things to adapt to and students do not take the intentional steps to make sure it is a priority and their schedule just fills up and church is not part of it. Students go to college looking for two things: fun and friends. The fun and friends they find usually determine the rest of where they go.
Parents okay dropping out.
I always feel guilty when I say that. Here is what I mean. Lots of godly, committed Christian parents were not active in their faith in college and then came back to church and they assume their son or daughter will do the same. But, it is not working that way in recent years. Just as parents talk about studying, keeping scholarships, etc, parents must talk about faith expectations and raise that issue just as they do talk about grades and classes.
Freshmen mess up!
When students go looking for fun, it is easy to find fun that leads to trouble. It is not unusual for students to participate in things they never did in high school. 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.
Freshmen go where their friends go.
It is simple, if none of their new friends go to church, why would they? Going to a new and strange church is hard. Going to a new and strange church by yourself is even harder. Making some Christian friend connections in the beginning is a huge factor!
College churches are often much larger.
The majority of churches are less than one hundred people. Most college churches that reach out to students are much larger. Even when some freshmen go once, they don't return out of a feeling of not belonging or how different it was than their home church.
Freshmen are exposed to a variety of ideas, questions and even to those who are critical of faith.
One of the things that happens at college is students are exposed to different beliefs, religions and skepticism about Christian faith. While some professors will be openly Christians in their expressions, an another may be openly critical of Christian faith. The student sitting next to them may be a Buddhist or a Witch in beliefs. Who knew all those different ideas were out there?
Freshmen often just feel overwhelmed.
It is not unusual for freshmen to say they are just scared. It is not just one thing.....it is the bigness and and change of it all. Consequently, they just pull back and try to simplify their life as much as possible.
A few suggestions:
Help students to understand the importance of being intentional about making faith connections during those first couple of weeks of school. Those friends and connections will bless them for the rest of their college career.
Make sure that the Baptist Collegiate Ministry or another ministry or college church has their name and contact information prior to school starting.
When parents go to visit for Parents Weekend or Homecoming, let them know in advance all of you will be attending church together, wherever they say.
Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen: 124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9 and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.
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