Subscribe to the Network“All My Students Move Away to College”
Isn’t that a phrase we hear (or say ourselves) a lot? And, this reality might be hitting home more now that’s it’s August and those kids you’ve spent 4 or more years of your life with are leaving. Sobering moment.
Well, Appendix C in my book, College Ministry 101 is on this very issue. In that section I describe 10 practical things we can do if this is the case in your context. So, I thought I’d share it with you. Here’s the first 3 ideas from that Appendix. You can see the full 10 by clicking here.
“I know a number of youth pastors who are interested in college-age ministry, but have no college-age people to whom they can minister. They tell me all of their high school students leave town after graduation, leaving these pastors unsure of how to stay connected. Here are 10 strategies I have found to be effective in continuing a ministry to out-of-town students:
1. Go on a campus visit with your high school students. You can go with them on a scouting trip or even when they actually move. Either way, it shows them you’re not dropping them. Instead, you’re excited about their next stage of life, want to be a part of it, and will be there to support them. Trust me, this involvement will keep the door open for a relationship. It could even be worth assigning part of your budget (if you have one) to the cost of traveling. While you’re on campus, meet with some local pastors to find out what kind of support they offer college students. Then let your student know what options are available for church participation.
2. Pick up the phone. If you’re not able to go to the campus, set up phone appointments with the student or with college-ministry pastors at churches in the area. Talk to them about their philosophy of ministry, how they see incoming freshmen fitting into their church, and so on. Building this type of relationship lays the groundwork for your student. After getting to know the pastor and possibly listening to some podcasts, you may be able to recommend a church to your student. Then follow up to see how things are going and whether or not a connection is happening. Having you help and walk alongside them in this process will mean more to them than you realize.
3. Develop a Facebook group strictly for graduates from your church.Make this group invite-only. This way you can post blogs, send messages, and keep up on what’s going on in the lives of your graduates. This social-networking group can also be a way for your students to stay in contact with each other. You can even schedule casual events for the holidays when they’re back in town and use the Facebook group to get everyone involved.”
For practical tips 4-10 from Appendix C of College Ministry 101 click here.
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