The first month of school shapes collegiate ministry for the entire year. Sure, God can and does move in October or April, but somehow what does or does not happen the first month of the university year matters in October and in April. Students set their patterns the first three weeks of Fall semester. They often decide quickly where they will park, when they will eat, who they will consider friends, and whether or not they will be involved in church or campus ministry. Bam! Decided. Tuesday/Thursday schedule set. Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule set. Collegiate Ministries have a key window of opportunity to enter into a student’s life during the first month of the year. Consider the following tasks for making the most of the first month:

Task One: Pay attention to Freshmen. Don’t stalk them, but come close. : )

• Meet the practical needs Freshman have for friendship, transportation, etc.
• Recruit key upperclassmen from your ministry to lead your Freshman Ministry. Who leads your Freshman Ministry determines who participates in it. If you intend to impact a wide variety of Freshmen, select a wide variety of upperclassman leaders to lead your Freshmen Ministry.
• Short term commitments are best for Freshmen. Coordinate 4-6 week studies just for them. Yup, you can coordinate another 4-6 week study when that one is finished. Freshman will more likely sign up for two 4-6 week studies than for one 8-12 week study. A great free Freshman study can be found at www.threadsmedia.com/Freshman
• Keep your hand in Freshman Ministry. Sometimes it’s easy to give Freshman Ministry to an intern or Associate. While it may be natural for another to take the lead on such a time-consuming ministry, it’s important for the future of your ministry for YOU to be involved in Freshman Ministry in some way on a weekly basis.
• Shadow a Freshman each year. I learned this from Larry Sparkman who works with Freshmen at the University of Southern Mississippi. Larry picks a Freshman to follow for a day during the first month of school. He attends class, eats in the cafeteria, goes to Wal-Mart, plays video games, and a host of other things with the Freshman student. He learns lots.

Task Two: Emphasize strong weekly programs that develop students spiritually.

• While special events are fun during the first month of school, it’s the consistent on-going programs which make collegiate disciples. Give students the chance to experience your regular things, not just special events during the first month of school.
• Give students an opportunity to respond to the gospel every week. This can be done in lots of creative ways but needs to be done regularly.
• Don’t over program. Keep the students’ full schedule in mind.
• Make sure all weekly programs have relational and experiential elements to them.

Task Three: Study the often changing culture of your campus.

• Read (or at least scan) the campus newspaper and lead your ministry to respond to at least one story each week.
• Serve your campus at least monthly.
• Meet and befriend the student affairs personnel. Ask lots of questions.
• Learn and follow the rules of your campus.

Task Four: Assist students in making life decisions.

• Some say the most change in an adult’s life happens between high school graduation and the following Christmas.
• Significant life decisions made by college students include: faith, vocational choice, moral choices, who and when to marry, development of healthy independence in changing relationships with family, time management and priorities, and stewardship of life, gifts, and possessions.
• Develop relationships the first month with mental health professionals on campus and in the community. Know who you will refer students before the need arises.
• Offer topical Bible studies related to decisions college students face.

[ Blog-a-thon home ]

================================

Linda Halfacre Osborne, former Baptist Collegiate Minister at the Florida State University and Louisiana Tech University, is National Collegiate Ministry Leader for LifeWay. She misses life on semesters.