Collegiate Ministry Elements

Are there any very important, crucial elements that are necessary to have a fully-developed collegiate ministry?

At a recent LEAD THEROUNDTABLE college leader training they pointed out that two things happened when Jesus met with crowds.  First, Jesus taught the crowds.  Most of the time he did this through parables that spiritual meaning through common stories.  Second, usually a miraculous event occurred.  People were healed or fed and the crowds were amazed.

I believe that there are two minimums that a collegiate ministry needs to have to effectively reach lost 18-24 year olds.  First, there must be relevant teaching.  Second, there must be Christ-centered worship.  Crowds today typically don’t witness miracles.  However, we can create an environment where they can experience the reality of Jesus through worship.

What are some important elements?

LEAD THEROUNDTABLE

How lions hunt?

Bobby Welch spoke at our church and shared how lions hunt.  Have you noticed on nature shows how it’s the stray or straggler that is the one that gets attacked by the lion.  Those animals that are off by themselves and away from the herd are the easy targets for the lion.  The Bible compares Satan as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  Collegiates that isolate themselves are like the stray or straggler.  They don’t realize the vulnerable position they put themselves in.  Collegiates that decide they need a break from church or don’t want to be a part of a Christian community welcome attacks from Satan.  They are completely unprotected from the spiritual attacks of Satan and his demons.

How can we effectively warn collegiates?

Church Dropouts

In 2007 Lifeway Research conducted a study of students that attended church regularly during high school. They found “70 percent of 23-30 year olds stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between ages 18-22.”  The main reason students dropped out was because they wanted a break from church.    The main reason students stayed was because church was a vital part of their relationship with God.  That’s a big difference in views.

• How does your church measure the high school graduate retention rate?
• What changes should a church make so that 30 percent are dropping out and 70 percent stay?

Finding Collegiates

In order to reach collegiates (anyone 18-24) then you have to know where they come from. Our church is located in Houston County with four high schools. A quick call to the board of education revealed that there are 1,479 students enrolled in in the 12th grade. Who is intentionally reaching these students once they graduate? That’s approximately 11,200 collegiates in Houston County that Jesus says are worth reaching because they are made in his image.

Good Ol’ College and Career

The Bridger Generation (coined by Thom Rainer) or Generation Y are the students that the majority of churches have forgotten about. In the good ol’ days the church’s answer was a “college and career” Sunday school. I propose a collegiate ministry in the local church designed to reach the 18-24 year old. A collegiate ministry is not just for college students but is for all 18-24 years olds. I feel that the word collegiate better captures and communicates the culture of this stage of adolescence.

The Forgotten People Group

Collegiates are the forgotten people group within the local church. Ministries to toddlers, preschoolers, children, middle schoolers and high schoolers are found in the majority of churches. But have you noticed how the level of investment and intentionality drops as you move from one phase of life to the next? There exists a ministry void to collegiates in the local church. Then the church picks back up with ministries to adults. Collegiates are left to wander in the desert of a secular culture to be molded by every other influence during the most crucial time of their life. Dr. Tim Kimmel writes that “90% of evangelical children leave the church after high school – and many never return.”

Any thoughts?

Great Commission

There is no greater institution on planet earth than the church. Jesus loves her and died for her. The church is the back-bone for fulfilling the great commission. Jesus commissioned his followers to do three things.

Make disciples
Baptize them
Teach them

Is the local church intentionally making disciples of all collegiates?
How effectively?

Kevin Torres