Monthly Archives: May 2011
Help College-Bound Students Find Christian Community on Campus
One of my favorite questions to ask college students is this: what was the best advice you were given before going to college? Here’s a response I received a few weeks ago at a picnic: “My youth pastor told me to be intentional about finding Christian community. He was so emphatic about it that I remember frantically walking around campus asking everyone I met if they knew about any Christian groups. One of the first people I talked to was a Christian and she’s one of my best friends today. Together we were able to find a group and get connected to a church.” This story reminds us of two things we all need to know about students transitioning to college.
First, the first two weeks of college are critical. Nationally, 25 percent of students do not return to the same school for their sophomore year. Many colleges and universities have discovered that they can significantly reduce this number by helping students find good, supportive community quickly.
Second, the opening story reminds us that Christians need to intentionally seek out Christian community on campus. During the first few weeks of college, students are bombarded with different activities to fill their schedules. Everything is new: people, buildings, classes, meal times. Many students are navigating these daily activities on their own for the first time. It’s easy to drop worship and “Bible study” from an already hectic schedule.
Youth workers can play a vital role in helping students get connected to Christian community before they head off to college. Consider using a youth group night to talk to college bound youth about the value and importance of community and church. Take time to visit college websites to find what Christian groups are available on campus. Encourage students to track down the college leaders and make contact with them before they reach campus. Helping students find a place to belong can make all the difference in the world as they transition to college.
Check out www.CPYU.org/CollegeGroups to learn more about national college ministries and to discover the college campuses where they are located.
Christian Celebrities: Are we more excited to hear man than God?
After returning from a recent Christian conference, a friend of mine, taken aback by what felt like the celebration of messengers more than the message, made this reactionary suggestion to me on how we should promote who is speaking at Challenge in 2012. He said the promotion should simply read:
“The Challenge 2012 speaker will be God. God is speaking. Several people you may know and may not know will be opening God’s Word for us, but God is the one who will be speaking. It’s going to be great. If you are not excited about this then you are probably heading to the wrong conference.”
Seven Questions Every Graduate Needs to Ask
My friend, Derek Melleby, has just recently written a helpful little book that is a great tool to put in the hands of your seniors. Derek is the director for the College Transition Initiative for the Center of Parent and Youth Understanding (CPYU), he attends Hershey EFC, and will be one of our regular contributors on this blog.
The reason I appreciate this book is that Derek takes the approach of a rabbi and asks profound questions rather than piling on more advice. He treats his readers like adults who can actually think on their own. The issues addressed are life shaping so much so that I think a better title for the book would be: “Make LIFE Count”. The significant questions Derek asks, if reflected upon, will be a place of divine encounter that significantly help to set the trajectory of a young person’s life course.
The Middle Deserves Tops
Jr. High/Middle school students deserve the best a church can offer. The Jr. High ministry ought to be treated like they are the current varsity team. Without the best possible investment in middle school students, it is less likely they will be around to be part of the church when they become adults.
Imagine what it would be like if a middle school student knew they were highly valued by the church, treated like a young adult, given the best possible leaders, deep level teaching and thought of as part of the church right now!
What I want to recommend is, whatever your involvement with middle school, make those students feel like they are the varsity team. If a Jr. High student knows they are the top priority of leaders and are a needed part of the church, they will respond. They deserve the best, most educated and talented pastors and leaders. What you do as a church and what you offer Jr. High students ought to make them feel like a million bucks with their name in lights.
Put yourself in the shoes of a middle school student today. Would you want to go back to that? It’s tough. The constant frustration of not being quite old enough and struggling through independence, yet knowing you are totally dependent is frustrating.
How can this be done?
Evangephobia Webinar with Greg Steir
This year I’ve had several opportunties to interact with Greg Steir and the more I get to know this guy the more appreciate his humility, passion, love of teens and clarion call to equip students to spread the seed of the gospel. Greg is the real deal.
On May 17th Greg will be hosting a FREE webinar entitled “EVANGEPHOBIA”. He’ll be focusing the time on why in today’s culture so many of us are fearful of evangelism and why and how to overcome those fears. It’s going to be a high energy, insightful, biblical and if I know Greg, flat out fun time.
If you are familiar with Dare2Share conference then this won’t be anything new. But, if you are not, then this (like any time with Greg) will be a well spent hour.
I encourage you to go to the Evangephobia website, get the details and register for this free webinar today!
