One Way a College Ministry Grows is by RETAINING Students

 Every college ministry no matter how good it is has students stop coming or don't come back after attending a few times.  Could you be MORE intentional on retaining students?

8 Thoughts on retaining students:

1. Know who attended and when.  Many use an electronic check in system.  But, it can be done the old fashioned way with sign in sheets.  Some use Comment cards each week or during the first month to help keep track of who is there and who is not.  Develop and maintain a list of everyone who has attended this semester as you go along.

2.  When a student misses 2 weeks in a row, they get a contact.  Consecutive misses are a good metric for when someone should be checked on.

3.  Beware of "shaming" contacts. Students do not like to feel like they are being fussed at for not being there.  Maybe it could be a message that says, "Hey missed your face..... just wanted to let you know what is coming up next week.  Hope classes are not getting you down."

4.  Do evaluation sheets at the middle of the semester......NOT at the end.  Some years ago we were going through evaluation sheets after our last Freshmen Nite of the semester.  They all said how great it was.  Yet, we knew we had lost a significant number.  Then, it dawned on me.  Of course, those that loved it were still there.  Do an evaluation sheet after a month or at mid-semester that would help you know if you have some issues that need to be corrected in your big event.....BEFORE they have quit coming.

5.  Invite 5 or 6 students for pizza and talk.  3 or 4 weeks into the semester invite some different freshmen for a talk back session.  Ask questions and listen.  Don't justify or explain.  Ask and listen.  Students think and talk better with free pizza in their mouth.

6.  Contact sick students.  Yes; when you hear someone is sick, make a contact and see if they need anything.  When a student is sick, they can feel very alone and uncared about.  As a student, I was sick in my room with strep throat when my BSU Director knocked on the door with cup of warm soup.  It felt like a life saver and love.

7. At your leader meeting, take a few minutes to talk about who is missing or hasn't been seen in a while.  Besides alerting you to them, you can divide up contacts and just help your leaders being conscious of continuing caring and noticing who is missing.

8.  After the first 2 weeks of your regular weekly meeting, compare your list against last year's list.  Who was active last spring that has not been this fall.

This article was adapted from "Reaching MORE College Students" Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN

You can check out "30 Devotionals for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H8K6L1QX

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