Trends come and go in everything, including college ministry. Here are some things I see as current trends. Of course, trends vary by region as well.
1. Terminology changes - Campus based College Ministers now often refer to their weekly large group event as a Worship Service. Some years ago that was a killer on campus. It was "Encounter" or "The Thing". College Ministers now speak of their "sermon" and "preaching". They used to be called "talks" or "Large Group Bible Studies". Some use the term, "Campus Pastor".
2. Students seem to want to be spoken to more than to lead out in campus worship events. - Formally, students did drama, testimonies, panels, The good of this trend is students get more solid content spoken into their lives. The negative in this is that it lends itself toward developing more of a consumer mindset about faith and church.
3. There are continues to be more cuts in college ministry positions - As church offerings level off or decline, Baptist denominational Execs believe that they must learn to get by on less and so cut back in paid staff. College ministry almost always suffers in these instances.
4. Large church college ministries are seen by many as a model - The good in this is that more churches are being serious about trying to minister to the campus in their town. The negative in this is that they are trying to model what is often being done by mega churches with large college ministry staffs and/or a large number of paid Interns.
5. Campus based college ministry budgets are swinging from church supported to individual donor supported - Formally, campus based college ministries were almost totally supported by monthly gifts from area churches with some alumni giving to special projects. Many of these churches were smaller churches who are seeing their membership age out and cannot continue to give. Or, larger churches that were giving move their money more to their own college ministry. Alumni and other interested individuals are now giving a significant portion of the continuing operating budget. The positive of this is that the ministries are not as affected by "denominational politics". The negative side of this is the College Minister may have to spend more time doing "development work" but still be responsive to the priorities and concerns of the area churches.
6. Fewer young adults called to ministry are open to doing college ministry - There are two factors in this. First, the strong emphasis on church planting overwhelms all other voices and the word is out that there are fewer college ministry positions available, so why even look.
What trends do YOU see where you serve....good, bad, or just different?
Arliss Dickerson's book, Almost Everything About College Ministry, is at Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and Tips for College Freshmen is at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.
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