How Parents Can Help a College Freshman with Spiritual Connections

Most surveys show 60-70% of college freshmen who have been active in church make NO spiritual connections in college, go to church, etc.

How can You Encourage Your Student to Continue their Faith in College?

1.  They need to understand how important it is to be intentional about making spiritual connections in the beginning.  Most don't plan to drop out.  They just assume it will automatically happen and it doesn't. Deciding to make early connections is key. Most college ministry churches will have special Sundays and fun welcome events the first week or two of school. Obviously, those are the best and easiest time to go.

2.  Parents need to encourage church and/or campus based ministry involvement just as they encourage good grades.  Obviously, this will not guarantee it, but it can make a difference.  If a family goes to Dorm Move-In Day, stay and go to church with them at a college church on Sunday before leaving and going home.  It is easier to go back somewhere they have already been.  And, they didn't have to try to go somewhere by themselves that first time. In phone conversations over the first week or two, ask about attendance at campus or church Christian events.

3.  Make contact with a Campus Ministry or College Church prior to the start of school.  Parents can send name and contact information or go on websites and check things out.  Most provide a place to enter contact info for incoming students. These ministries will make contact usually prior to school starting and provide information about welcome events happening during those first few days. Some even offer pre-school events. It is not too late to do it.  Many will text them with upcoming events or a personal contact from another student. 

Check out "162 Tips and Hacks for College Freshmen:  Fun, Faith & Good Grades" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9. and "30 Devotionals for College Freshmen"  Amazon.com/dp/B0H8K6L1QX

 

My BIGGEST Mistake in College Ministry??

 Some friends of mine would say if I am going to share my mistakes in college ministry, I had better go with a Top 50.  And, if I am honest, several come to mind.

But, there is one that is automatically my biggest mistake and it easily comes to mind. I share it with hopes that will keep some of you from making it.

One of our Ministry Teams had been doing a particularly poor job....well not so much a poor job, as they were not doing much of anything.  One week the leader of that team announced a special project that he and his team were going to lead out on.  I thought hooray, the sleeping bear has woke up.  It was on a night that we usually did not schedule anything and that was my full night at home.  But, they were getting ready to do something and it was something that needed doing. I needed to be supportive.  This was a turnaround point for this team.

As I thought about it, I realized that one of my daughters was in a grade school program that night.  But, it was no big deal program.  She just had a small part in something.  So, my not being there was not significant.

The night of the special event the team was going to do I was in my office doing a couple of things prior to time for it to start when the leader walked in.  He said, "We weren't going to have that many participate, so I have called it off and let everyone who was to be involved know that it is called off."

It was too late to get to my daughter's program and there was no ministry event that was going to happen.

That night I resolved I would never miss one of my girl's events, if it was anywhere in my power to be there!  When I think about it, I still get that heavy feeling in my chest that I had the night he walked into my office and told me it was off.

My daughter probably does not remember that specific event......but I do!

You don't get do-overs with your kids!  The years are short. As far as it is within your control, be on the front row of everyone of your kids events.  There will be lots more ministry events....and some of them will get called off.  

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children, or they will become discouraged."  Colossians 3:21

It does not honor the Lord to cheat your kids!

You can check out "162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9 or "30 Devotionals for College Freshmen:  Building a Faith that Lasts" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H8K6L1QX

Take a Day to Read, Think & Pray

How does it go from early summer to "Oh my gosh, school is about to start."  But, it happens every year to most College Ministers.

Here is my STRONG SUGGESTION:  Even though you feel like the days are short, right now, schedule one day to do nothing but to read, think and pray about your ministry as a whole and your personal role in the ministry. Get away from your office, the campus or the church.  Take a six pack of Diet Coke or whatever your poison is and go somewhere that people can't find you.

I am going to mention some books as some possibilities, but you can choose any for this day.  One thing I want to encourage you to do is to consider one or two that you think you may be on a bit of a different page of that writer,  and you philosophy wise.  Those cause you to think.  

If you know me, you know, I always go to the "how to" and practical.

NAMB and Paul Worcester put out some FREE ebooks awhile back that I think are really good......especially one by Ryan Scantling and Gary Stidham entitled, A Guide for Campus Based Collegiate Ministry. There is A Guide for Church Based Collegiate Ministry, A Guide for Collegiate Focused Church Planting,  and 5 Leadership Principles for Collegiate Ministry by Paul and Shane Pruitt.  They are short, good, and free. Go to Gensend.org.  

You will notice I am mostly listing ones you could easily read more than one in that day.  I like short books....which you obviously know....if you have read any of mine.

One I read while I was sitting in the Denver airport and especially liked was, Heart of the Campus:  Ministry Principles and Strategy for Focusing on Student Leaders by Steve Shadrach.  One real plus to it is on the last page, he lists about 10-12 books as resources AND the Websites of 10-15 college ministries.  I love looking at other ministries websites. It is amazing what you can pick up from their websites.  I am on a little different page than Steve on some of it, but loved the book, and got a lot from it.  It is only 22 pages....so a quick and easy read.

An obvious listing, if you have not read it is, The Fuel & The Flame by Worcester and Shadrach.....the updated version.  Don't forget Worcester's new book, Thrive.

Another crazy idea I want to throw out:  You don't have to read every word of all of the books.  You can read some chapters that particularly appeal to you, etc. Be sure and take a legal pad or whatever to write down ideas, thoughts and quotes you want to remember.

At the end, I am going to list three of my books as options and links.  

One confession:  When the days got real short, I would mark off one half day to go play golf....which would be the last one for awhile.  You may not play golf, but it could be for you and your spouse to go do one fun thing before the craziness.  Or, it could be to bike ten miles, etc, etc.  Do something that is just for you.

Here are three suggestions of mine and a link (Sorry I can't make them free. there is that detail of me not owning Amazon.):

Reaching MORE College Students Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN

Fixing a Broken College Ministry Amazon.com/dp/B0741DM1CD

 A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV

The 2 Go-To Mistakes in College Ministry

As you finalize plans for the fall, keep in mind the 2 Go-To Mistakes most commonly made.

1.  Copying another ministry - This is a quick and easy one especially for new College Ministers.  It is to simply try to replicate another ministry onto your campus.

    Reasons it usually does not work:

        1. Every campus is different in both type students, atmosphere, needs, and what other ministries         might be doing on campus. Plus, there really are different types of students on different campuses. The most obvious is the difference in a primarily commuter campus and a dorm driven campus. 

        2.  The success of that other ministry is often built on the particular gifts and strengths of the ministry's leader.  Not every College Minister shares the same gifts and strengths.

        3.  The success of that other ministry may be built on years of developing to get to that point.  You have not seen where they started.

        4.  Money and other resources vary campus to campus.  Some things work because of the amount of money put into it.  Before mirroring your ministry off of another one, consider what the budget, etc that is part of that ministry.

        5.  Number of staff is a major factor.  Doing the same type program with one or two staffers that a ministry with 20 or more staffers is doing likely will not see the same response.

2.  Not adjusting to changes on your campus. This is an easy one for long time College Ministers.  We just keep doing the same old, same old......same day, same time, same style.

        1.Sometimes, it is as simple as the University changes when different classes meet or now there are more classes on Monday night where that night used to be wide open. Are you assuming all those night class schedules are the same?

        2. We all know that the students of ten to fifteen years ago are very different than the ones of today.  Beware of doing a ministry that is aimed squarely at 2011.

        3.  BUT and HOWEVER.......Don't make changes just to make changes.  Be wise in your adjustments.  I am all about TWEAK.....NOT SLASH AND BURN!  

Check out "162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9 or "30 Devotionals for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H8K6L1QX