I was recently reading a blog post on Ed Stetzer’s blog about what “Millenials” value most.  He lists this quote from the Christian Post:

“Millennials are committed to family above other priorities, even though many are waiting to start their own families,” said Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. “To minister effectively, the church should tap into this priority among Millennials. Churches with a strong understanding and sense of family will be able to more easily reach Millennials. I expect that ministries that cross generations – such as older adults mentoring young adults – could be highly effective in connecting Millennials to Jesus.”

This, my friends, is just one reason why I’ve spent the last 8+ years trying to get church leaders to embrace inter-generational relationships (i.e. mentorship) as the foundation of college ministry – and why I focus so much on helping them understand the benefits it brings to their students and churches.   And this is precisely why I have spent the last year developing XP3College conversation guides!  This resource is a practical common ground for an older adult and a college age person to walk through together – guiding them through topics pertinent to both older and younger people.  It’s a great middle-ground, providing something for adults to go by, and yet keeping in relational and conversational, which younger people appreciate.  It also trains and equips mentors, so it’s easier on the calendar for ministry leaders!  To get a free sample click here.  Enjoy….

So, despite the biggest snow storm in 20 years, we are having our first regional training this Thursday February 10….in Dallas!  For info, click here.

This day will have about 4 hours of training/discussion through seminars as well as plenty of time to network with others in college ministry in the Dallas area.  The day will be broken up into two seminar slots:

Seminar #1: Dissecting Generational Differences

Seminar #2: Focusing, Measuring and Sustaining Our Ministries

For full seminar descriptions click here.

If you’re in the Dallas area I hope to see you there!

Well, just got the final cover of my forthcoming book called, “Worlds Apart.”  This will be coming out September 1, 2011, but I am beginning to share some of its contents at the CollegeLeader trainings, including next week at the DFW training.  There are some unique aspects to this book, so more details coming soon….

Older believers typically face a few challenges when they think of investing in college-age people. For example many don’t know what they’d do or say when they meet with someone. This can even make them (or you) wonder if they have anything to offer. At the core are feelings of intimidation and insecurity which hinders them from wanting to initiate these relationships. So helping people overcome this obstacle is a vital part of our ministry.

Sometimes when we ask people to come “help in the college ministry” they get overwhelmed because they often think of having to lead something formal. They often feel like they need a book to go through, a curriculum to follow, or to lead some sort of bible study when they meet with a college-age person. This can be very intimidating for some, especially for those that don’t consider themselves teachers or leaders. And although these resources can be useful, it’s important to realize they are not necessary. The most helpful thing I’ve found to build confidence in older believers is by emphasizing the need of their experience. Their role is simple: to allow God to use what He’s already done in their life in the life of another. I ask our adults to be an ear, shoulder, and when their life experience can be of help a mouthpiece.

When older adults realize that it’s their wisdom through life experience that is needed, a two very important things happen. First, they aren’t as intimidated because they have more of this than younger people. Often times the college-age person might know more about scripture, but they don’t have the wisdom of embracing what they know. This is where the older believer does. Secondly, when they realize it’s their experience that’s needed they tend to be more relaxed. They’re not trying to teach a lesson, they’re just being themselves. And this is when a genuine relationship can begin to be built.

Our role is helping leaders catch the simplicity of investing in one person by using what they’ve already learned through life experience. That’s it. Of course over time, if you have a spiritually maturing leader, conversations will include biblical truth. But it’s through conversation and relationship that this occurs. If formality develops naturally over time that’s fine, but it shouldn’t start there. It starts with relational connection.

Having a relational focus not only allows older believers to impart godly wisdom based on life experience (versus just information), but also helps college-age people feel connected to the lives of people—which is exactly what we’re trying to do. Through this connection they begin to feel a part of “the whole” of the church. We don’t need leaders to feel like they need to [...]

Continue Reading “Helping Intimidated Mentors”

Well, if you haven’t been to the Simply Youth Ministry Conference before, you’re missing out.  I can honestly say that I love this conference.  Over the past five or so years I’ve gotten to know many on the team at SYM and Group.  They truly have a passion for student ministry (which college ministry is a huge part of!).  It’s one of the few, possibly the only, student ministry conference that has slotted a significant chunk of time out for our ministry.

This year they prove that by having me teach 8 hours of seminars on college ministry and also have a couple other people that speak to this issue as well, doing other seminars.  That may not seem like a lot for a 4 day event, but make no mistake about it: there is no other student ministry conference (that I know of) that places this high of a value on it.  This year it’s in Chicago.  It was here last year as well and it’s a great, intimate venue (as intimate as 2k-2500 people can get).  I’ll be doing the following 4 hr tracks:

Why College Ministry Matters To Your Student Ministry, And How To Start One

Session 1: (Saturday 10:30am-12:30pm)
Erasing the “Finish Line” of Youth Ministry
Session 2: (Saturday 2:30pm-4:30pm)
Steps to Starting a College Ministry From Scratch

Description: Many youth workers want to do something for college ministry but either don’t have the time to invest or the understanding of what’s truly needed. Is college ministry really about having another church service or having an older, youth-ministry-onsteroids approach? Or is it much, much deeper? Learn about the things churches are embracing that truly engage and connect with the minds and hearts of college-age people.

College Ministry 201: Meeting The Needs Of A Lost Age

Session 1: (Sunday 10:30pm-12:30pm)
Discipleship Issues With College-Age People
Session 2: (Sunday 2:30pm-4:30pm)
Integrating Our Philosophy Into Our Ministry Context

Description: Want to know more about the (actual) lives of young people? Their values and mindset are worlds apart from previous generations and in this track, you can learn how this all affects you? College-aged people find themselves in-between just about everything. And this impacts just about everything. This seminar paints a picture of insight into their minds and hearts so that you can understand what they need and desire from you, your church, and your ministry.

Well, we have our first Regional Training planned for 2011 – with more to come.  I have planned new seminars for this year and I’m very much looking forward to diving into them.

So, our first regional is scheduled for Thursday February 10….in Dallas!  For info, click here.

This day will have about 4 hours of training/discussion through seminars as well as plenty of time to network with others in college ministry in the Dallas area.  The day will be broken up into two seminar slots:

Seminar #1: Dissecting Generational Differences

Seminar #2: Focusing, Measuring and Sustaining Our Ministries

For full seminar descriptions click here.

If you’re in the Dallas area I hope to see you there!

In a age stage of confusion and intellectual gymnastics I find college students sifting through all kinds of tensions.  And, from my experience, for the most part churches aren’t really helping college age people where they are.  Of course some are. But as a whole, churches aren’t addressing the things they are actually processing through in every day life.  Watch the video below and then ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does our ministry address these tensions?  If so, how?  If not, why?
2. Would a person fighting through these tensions and questions connect at our church?  Why or why not?
3. Does our youth ministry prepare people for these challenges during the college age years?
4. Do I talk about these issues in my times of teaching?  Small group curriculum?

Enjoy getting a glimpse into the complex world of being a Christian in college…where surface answers just don’t cut it anymore:

I’m a Uni Student… from Campus America on Vimeo.

I just looked at the stats for this blog.  I wanted to see what posts had the most reads in 2010.  This is what I found:

Top viewed post in 2010 was: College-age Sunday School.  This surprised me because I wrote this in 2008!  In this post I ask some honest questions about this format.

Second: The Un-Talked about College Students.  This post is about how we deal with apathetic college students that have grown up in the church.

Third: Terms We Use. This one also surprised me a bit, because I also wrote this in 2008.  In this post I discuss the pro’s and con’s of different ways we refer to our ministry.

Fourth: Stats That Might Shock You (and change the way you do ministry).  This post discusses how the “traditional college student” is changing and how it might affect our ministries.

Fifth most was read blog post of 2010 was: Para Confused In The Church.  This post challenges the typical approach to doing ministry in a local church context.

I will have to write more on this later, but for now let me just say that I’m finding expositional/expository preaching becoming (increasingly) more attractive to younger people.  Topical sermons/series’ are great as well.  I teach topically andl have a variety of series’ I teach through.  But I also teach through books of the bible.

What I’ve seen is the latter is more intriguing, at least in some ways, for younger people.  Here are some things I’ve been hearing them say about this approach:

1. They really enjoy seeing the flow of thought of an author and have said that seeing the way the author thinks about a subject has changed the way they view it.  I think this is a GREAT thing.
2. They appreciate the fact that it forces us to deal with the “tough” issues/passages, that topical messages seem to avoid.
3. They’ve learned more about studying the bible through this approach – particularly seeing how context plays into proper  interpretation.
4. Lastly, and this kind of ties into #3, they say they are getting a better grasp on the scriptures as a whole.

I like these things.

One other thought that I’m thinking more about.  Younger generations are repulsed by the “indoctrination” of churches.  As leaders we have even seen the unfortunate downsides of this, especially during the college age years.  Indoctrination refers to us only teaching OUR conclusions – and at times forcing the application of them.  Something to think about is how, if we’re not careful, teaching topically might be perceived as just another way of indoctrinating our people.  Whereas, possibly, teaching through a book of the bible could avoid this perception, and hit the topics as well…?

Just a thought to put out there.  I’m going to continue teaching topically at my church.  I usually do this after teaching through a book of the bible to better help us apply the truths in the book we studied, but I also teach topically if I feel like it’s best for those in our church at that point in time.  However, as I do I want to make sure the four things I’ve been hearing about an expositional approach to teaching are incorporated.

I have a good friend, David Kinnaman, who is President of the Barna Group.  I have a ton or respect for him, his character, leadership, faith, and love for his family.  I also appreciate his work!

The Barna Group did a research project resulting in finding 6 patterns developing in the church in 2010.  If there is any wonder why college age people are not connecting with our churches as a whole….here ya go!  The 6 patterns were:

1. Less theological literacy.  The report shows how even the most basic truths are getting lost.
2. More ingrowth and less outreach-orientation.  (this one is interesting in light of #1, you’d think we would “know” more)
3. Greater interest in practical solutions rather than spiritual principles.
4. Increased interest in community service and social justice for its own sake.  to clarify, the report says this is due to this being “the socially esteemed choice at the moment,” not necessarily out of an authentic expression of a biblical perspective.
5. Increased tolerance.  The report chalks this up to the pattern found in #1 above.  The lack of literacy leads to poor decision making.
6. Little visible impact of Christianity on culture and individual lives.  The report says that Americans have a difficult time identifying any particular value Christianity has added to the country’s culture.  Wow.

Reading this report was both encouraging and disheartening.  Encouraging in that when I think of a lot of people I know in my church, these things don’t apply.  Disheartening because, well, did you read the six things above?