Ok, I was reading Josh’s blog and I don’t know how he finds these things…he must surf the web ALL day! Nevertheless, we can all benefit (well, maybe).  He found something you might be interested in: free text polls.  There’s a program you can get where you can poll your students via text messages and its free.  Check it out, its called PollEverwhere and they have a 1,000 text polls free, per month.

For most ministries this will be enough to do something every week.  For those of you that have larger ministries, maybe you could do a once a month thing…who knows.  Its worth checking out, I think.

A question we all need to answer is: what’s the purpose of college-age ministry within the local church?

I would say the way in which we answer this will determine whether or not we’ll truly be effective…

A new resource specifically designed for college-age ministry is now available…

Well, I was at a coffee shop with Karis this morning…I just thought that was a great picture.  He read like this for about 1/2 hour.  I don’t even know what he looks like, never saw his face.

I’ve been hearing a lot of criticism about the Scripture’s lately. I know this isn’t abnormal, but I’ve been hearing an usual amount coming from college-age people lately. The critiques certainly aren’t anything new, but they have been coming up more often in conversations I’m having.

Actually, I never really knew how the Scriptures came to be, why we have the books we do vs. others, or really thought through the issue of inspiration until my mid 20′s (actually, in seminary).  I didn’t grow up in the church (I embraced the gospel my first year in college) so it’s not that surprising for me.  But, what about those who grow up in the church?

I know far too many high school graduates who leave thinking they know a lot about Scripture – only to sway from their very foundation in college.

How can this happen?  

Do we really teach them what they need to know, or do we just take out Evidence that Demands a Verdict and regurgitate it?

Maybe the information isn’t what they need.  

The reality is not only do most high school grads not know the origins of the Scriptures, more and more I’m shocked at the amount that don’t have a clue how to read/study Scripture.

I hear people say Scripture is boring.  I think it’s because they’re not living it.  They’re not living it because they don’t know it.  They don’t know it because they don’t really read it.  They don’t read it because they don’t know how to read it.

It’s no wonder why the people in our communities have the wrong picture of the Church…even those who grow up in the church don’t know.

These basic things, aren’t really basic anymore.  Teach your college-age people these things.  If they feel like they know it, rock their world by giving them opposing arguments…then walk them toward a true foundation.

I was talking to a friend today who leads a college-age ministry.  He has a very large and growing ministry, less than two years old.  If you were to attend their service you would think they have everything figured out.  Over a thousand college-age people talking, worshiping, listening to the message, eating and hanging out.  You name it, they got it.

They have it all except for one thing: connection with the rest of the church body.

In my opinion this is the most important thing!

We have to understand that having hundreds, or even thousands, of college-age people come to our gatherings is NOT an appropriate definition of success.

What good is it if we get them to come after high school – only to detach after college?  

Without connection beyond a service, we still lose.  But most importantly (or worse), college-age people end up losing.

Today I took my daughter to the library (I’m actually still here).  I like coming here because college students are here, usually preparing for a test – or researching a paper.  I can always get into conversations with them about something they’re studying.  Of course you need to be careful and not interrupt or bother them, but there are plenty of natural ways to start conversations.  Like for instance, using your daughter!

We got a donut (a blue one!)…and there were college-age people around that love to talk about her.  It’s great because I see the same ones here over time and am able to build our relationship over time (which is the case for almost all college-age people).  But before you know it, they’re talking to me about their life.

Next we went to the computer room – where college-age people are.  They have games for Karis to play, and again, they are drawn to her – opening conversations up.

There are so many ways to start conversations with people in general, but once they’re started with college-age people…something seems to ALWAYS come out of it!  Fun times…

I was in the LA area on Saturday doing a wedding.  Flying home that night (to make it back for Sunday morning) I met a new friend – Wes.  I was working on my message, with my Bible out when a voice from behind me says, “What do you do?”  I explained, and we got to talking.

He was a pastor in the Portland area as well.  Great guy.  We landed on completely different pages on many issues (one which I will mention later), but had a fun and, I think, edifying conversation.

We actually had the same layover and next flight so we hung out at the food court in San Francisco and kept talking about ministry and life.  The interesting part of his story that I’ll mention here was, in his words, he “got kicked out of his church for being gay.”  So, he’s in a new context that “accepts him for who he is” and he can now lead in “more progressive ways.”

This is a great reminder for us.  Here’s the deal: in college-age ministry we MUST give our people freedom to talk about this issue!  This is the time they are dealing with it.  Trust me, if you address this topic and are a safe person – there will be people that “come out” and trust you with the most intimate secret they hold.

I’ve taught on this at least once a year for the last 8 years in our college-age ministry – most of the time it was a 3-4 week series.  Every single time new people revealed their struggle.  We don’t have to condone it to love people through it.  Here are a couple thoughts:

1. Never say “that’s gay.”  This is not funny.
2. Never use “gay jokes.”  There will be someone around and this deems you as untrustworthy, unsafe, and extremely uncaring.
3. Once someone lets you into their struggle, NEVER (NEVER!) drop them!  Consistency with them is the best thing you can have…stay faithful.
4. Remember, you don’t have to condone it to love someone through it.

Open up the topic and you will see college-age people open up as well…