College Ministers Should be Fired, if They Don't Work with Alumni!

 "College Ministers should be fired, if they don't work with alumni." is a pretty way out there statement.  But, it is my way of saying how important I think it is.

 First, alums know the value of college ministry and are the best and often influential ones to speak into the questions of funding and the cuts that are being made or considered in some areas.

  Second, alums can pray and send students to our ministries.

  Third, they can give financially.  It does not take big gifts for alums to make a difference.

But, working with alumni is hard and time consuming.  Yes and Yes!  However, it can be done during time when students are gone such as Christmas or summer break and or with a few key events.

Homecoming is often the easiest event to build around. Yet, some have had success with a Summer Picnic or Regional Gatherings at someone's home or at a restaurant.  Have you ever been to an alumni event and there was not a single person there you knew?  I have and it is not the fun thing you had in mind when you went.

Ideas for an Event Alums Want to Attend:

    1. The biggest key is, "Will there be someone there I know and would like to see?"  Some have solved this by announcing that former much loved staff members will be present.

    2.  Enlist alums to be hosts for the event and announce in the advance publicity who the hosts will be.  They can be former leaders in the ministry.  Hosts could be enlisted from each decade.  When the invitation or publicity contains this information, alums know there will be someone there they know....and would like to see.

    3.  A new idea is to honor and recognize an outstanding alum that will be recognized as the "BCM Alum" of the Year".  This person could be picked by the ministry staff or ask for nominations from alums, etc.  Then, this person could be announced in advance or revealed at the Drop-In, Banquet, Luncheon, etc. Encourage those alums that are making a difference in the world!

    4.  Focus on a Decade.  "We will be recognizing the 80's Alums this year".  Yet, everyone is welcome to attend. Obviously, the key Hosts that year would be 80's alums.

    5.  Have a tailgate party with hot dogs and "whatever anyone brings".

    6.  Newsletters are an obvious, but they must contain lots of news about alums and not just be a fund raising piece.  Twice a year is best for maintaining current addresses, but once a year certainly beats none.  Keep a folder and throw tidbits of information in it on different ones you hear throughout the year and at newsletter time, you are not starting from scratch.

    7.  Make your Homecoming Gathering an "Alums and Parents" event.

    8.  When it is over, post pictures on social media that make people want to come next year.

Obviously, this is focused more toward campus based ministries, yet I believe that church college ministries should also connect to alums for the benefit of the alums and college ministry as a whole. Hey, do they come to town for Homecoming, what about coffee and sweet rolls before Sunday Church Homecoming Weekend?  You can spread the word on social media.

Sometimes, those who were active in a college ministry have not continued their growth in the Lord and YOU can be a factor in helping them turn back toward the Lord.  

Also, alums in leadership roles in churches sometimes need and look for wise counsel from ministry leaders.  You can be that wise counsel!

Arliss Dickerson's book, Almost Everything About College Ministry, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and Reaching MORE College Students is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.