College Ministry and working with Alumni

I am a big advocate of College Ministers staying connected with alums for 3 reasons:  

1.  They are the best advocates for college ministry.  

2,  Many will serve in church leadership roles and you can be a good source and sounding board for them in dealing with different situations.

3.  Many ministries now find alums are their number one source of funding.

Some feel that working with alums is only for campus based ministries, but I think numbers 1 and 2 point to the need for it by all in college ministry.  I am aware that some church college ministries do make contact with parents and alums for additional funding outside of their budgeted money through the church.

So, what are some alumni connection options.

-I continue to be an advocate of Alumni Newsletters whether printed/mailed or done by email or other social media.  My one comment to this is often your largest donors are older alums who do best with printed newsletters.

Homecoming is the obvious option for most.  So, what can you do for Homecoming?

-One campus ministry has the tradition of alums meeting at a certain place to watch the parade and then returning to the campus center for a box lunch.

Drop-Ins are probably the most utilized where snacks are served and alums can see the campus center and maybe even become aware of some specific needs.  Some years ago, I attended an Alumni event at a Junior College I had attended.  There was not a single person there I knew or had gone to school with.  I have not been back to that Homecoming.

I realized that the number one treat is seeing people you know.  After that, I began inviting alums to be hosts for our Homecoming Drop-In.  I invited someone from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90''s, etc.  In the mail-out abut the event, we listed who would be the hosts.  Before coming, they could see there would be someone there they knew and wanted to see.

What would be some other Homecoming events more than "just a Drop-In?'

-Focus on a different decade at each.  Everyone is invited, but this decade group will be the feature.

-Present an "Alumni of the Year" Award.  Solicit nominations in advance and then recognize that person or persons at the event.  The recipient could be announced in advance or perhaps a list of those nominated.  All could be recognized at the event.  The Drop-In could be 2 to 4 with the presentation to be at 3:00.

-In addition to alums, invite parents of current students.  Tell your students to bring their parents by.  It does two events in one rather than having to do another event for Parents' Weekend.  Plus, if not many alums show up, it bolsters the crowd and makes it feel worth attending.  Going to a part nobody came to is a drag for everybody.

-Have a Tailgate Party on the lawn at the campus center and grill hamburgers and hot dogs or just hot dogs, which are cheaper.

Darrell Cook at Virginia Tech has the most unique alumni event.  Obviously, a whole lot of engineers and such handy people graduate from there.  Darrell hosts an "Alumni Work Weekend" and they literally work on the BCM Center.  His saintly wife, Laura, does some of her cooking magic for Friday night and Saturday meals.  But, obviously, that could be done differently.

An ALWAYS GOOD Draw is having a former staff member at the event who many alums would want to see.  Of course, making that announcement in advance is a must. At Arkansas State, we learned that Linda Halfacre Weir was always a big draw.

One thought specifically for college ministry churches:  Recognize them at your Sunday worship service.  Lots will stay over for Sunday and attend church before heading home.  You could host a Drop-In and Visit either before or after the service.  This could be during the SS hour or between services to catch those who might attend either.  I know I have experienced being in my church on Homecoming Sunday and seeing lots of alums and not a word being said about them.  The very least we can do is say something.....even have an alum give a testimony of what the college ministry meant to him or her during college days.  It never hurts for the church to see some results from what they are providing.

And ALWAYS, ALWAYS post some pictures on social media after that help people see what happened and make them decide they will attend next year.

So, what have YOU done or what is an idea we should consider??

Looking for College Life Resources?  Go to Amazon books for options like "162 Tips & Hacks for College Freshmen" at Amazon.com/dp/B0H466D8Z9 or "Almost Everything About College Ministry" Amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX and lots more.

 

The 5 Building Blocks of College Ministry

1.  Who YOU are personally. Nothing shapes the ministry more than your personality, gifts, strengths and priorities.  The longer you lead a ministry the more it will look like you.

2.  Have a strategy that is intentional and fits you and your campus.  A strategy means having a plan and working that plan.  Every campus is different and the strategy must fit that campus.  Each campus is unique in its students, traffic patterns, what other ministries are there or offer, and the type of student that is there.

3.  Developing and Utilizing Student leaders.  Strong and committed student leaders multiply the ministry in terms of what can be done and who can be reached.  Plus, it develops leaders for churches for the future.

4.  Making the most of your resources.  Some ministries have a house, Center, or regular room at a church.  Most ministries have some sort of budget.  It is important to be wise and strategical in the use of facilities and budget.  Growing the resources is part of this. Is your facility well maintained and attractive as possible?  Does your budget represent your priorities?

5. Making connections that build the ministry.  This includes knowing the key holders on campus, leaders in area churches, and connecting with friends of the ministry and alums that might support the ministry prayerfully and financially.

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established."  Proverbs 24:3

This is brief adaptation of my book, "A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula" which you can find at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.

The 10 Commandments of Collegiate Ministry

 I first wrote "9 Shaping Principles of an Effective Collegiate Ministry" in 1991.  Since then, it has evolved at different times and ways into some variations of The 10 Commandments of Collegiate Ministry.  Here is today's version.

1.  Don't underestimate the need to communicate a VISION for the ministry and who God is that will shape the ministry and its outreach to the campus.

2.  Be a student of your campus. Every campus is different and continues to evolve.  The ministry must be developed uniquely for that campus.

3.  You must have a plan and strategy to connect to and reach Freshmen during the first 2-3 weeks of school, which is their most available time.

4.  Be intentional in making the campus aware of the ministry and giving the campus an accurate perception of the ministry.

5.  Remember, students are looking for what benefits them. The felt needs of students must be intentionally and obviously met for students to respond and to continue to respond.  Also, it is a key part of their seeing the Bible is relevant to them.

6.  Never forget the role models that students see in a ministry (both staff and students) will greatly shape the style, quality of the ministry, and the response to the ministry.

7. You must help students feel ownership of the ministry which will help determine their degree of commitment, investment, and desire to involve others.

8.  You must help students feel KNOWN and CARED FOR in some personal ways through community, small groups, etc.

9.  The ministry must adapt to changing situations and new student leadership gifts and abilities, as well as develop students to fill necessary on going leadership roles.  This also helps develop and prepare them for local church leadership roles in the days to come

10.  The ministry must connect to a broad base of churches and interested individuals to provide its necessary financial and emotional support base.

Check out "A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity" at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and "A College Ministry Success Formula" at Amazon.com/dp/B0FFTHL6HP.

Significant Recommendations for BCM to be Made at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention

 A motion to appoint a committee to study Baptist Collegiate Ministry and to make recommendations to strengthen it in Arkansas for years to come was approved at the 2025 Arkansas Baptist State Convention in its annual fall meeting.

The study committee announced this week that they will make some big recommendations in regard to facilities and staffing at this fall's annual meeting of the Convention at the First Baptist Church of Rogers October 19-20.

They will recommend a three year statewide BCM Capital Campaign to run from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029 with a goal of raising $15 million to support the construction, acquisition or renovation of BCM facilities at strategically selected university campuses across Arkansas.  This campaign would begin with a $1,000,000 infusion from the Convention.

Obviously, there are no specifics given in terms of BCM facilities.  But, at this point, there are not BCM Centers at Arkansas Tech in Russellville and the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.  Arkansas Tech has an enrollment of 9,500 students and UCA has an enrollment of 9,900. The Center at the University of Arkansas is essentially the same facility that was built in the 1950's despite some updating and renovation of the chapel within the last five years.  The undergraduate enrollment at UA has grown to 29,000 students. 

Another recommendation will be to strengthen staffing, consider how many staff, and look at different funding models.  Some funding for staffing would come through the Dixie Jackson Missions Offering.

Obviously, these recommendations are a big deal and would make a significant impact in the college ministry in Arkansas.  In recent years, some state conventions have trimmed their college ministry staffs and or sold campus centers to developers to build multi-use buildings for apartments, businesses and with space for the BCM Ministry.

Should these recommendations by the committee pass and it is anticipated that they will, the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is positioning itself as a leader and role model in college ministry for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Check out A College Student's Guide to Spiritual Maturity at Amazon.com/dp/B0CXTCTNB1 and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV