Every college town in North America is gearing up for the most exciting time of the year. It’s time for the fall semester--it’s game time! Students are on their way back to their campuses by the thousands. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, there were 21.8 million college students who attended colleges and universities in the Fall of 2013. From all indications, that number will continue to grow as the Millennials and Generation Z find their way to campus. Colleges and universities are reporting record numbers … [Read more...]
3 Essentials for Connecting With Young Adults
He was your server at your favorite restaurant after church on Sunday. She was sitting next to you on your bus commute this morning. They get together as a group at your local coffee shop. They fill your local college campus from August until May every year. Who are they? They are young adults (a.k.a…Millennials or 20-somethings or college kids or young professionals or the list goes on). In our communities from the rural towns of Alabama to the major metropolitan cities of Seattle and Nashville, young adults are all … [Read more...]
3 Ways Churches Can Better Connect with Millennials
Every church looks different when it gathers to worship. I’m not talking about whether a church uses pews or folding chairs; whether the lead instrument is an organ or a bass guitar ; or whether it’s casual dress or suit and tie. I’m talking about the vast difference in the ages represented in church congregations. Over the past few weeks, I've been interacting with the question of where are the college students and young adults in modern-day churches? Recent reports have indicated a steady decline in Millennials being present in … [Read more...]
Why Your Ministry Should Be a Model
Are the ways I minister on a daily basis establishing an appropriate model for my college students? This is a question I've been pondering a lot recently. College ministry is both a wonderful privilege and a deeply heavy responsibility. We're doing our students a disservice when we model something that runs contrary to the gospel. What you do and don’t do, the way you carry yourself, and the time you spend says just as much as your words. The ways in which we minister to our students are a model for their life. Everything we do … [Read more...]
Why Social Responsibility Matters to Young Adults
Fact: There are places around our world that have no access to clean water, therefore thousands of children die every week because of disease caused by unclean drinking water. Fact: There are more slaves today than at any point in human history. Fact: Sex trafficking has become a multi-billion dollar industry around the world and endangers the lives of countless young women, young men, and children. Those are the facts. No doubt, some troubling issues are at hand in our world. Millennials are asking, "What are we going to do … [Read more...]
Why Young Adults Desire Spiritual Depth
The conversation about the absence of Millennials in churches has been front and center recently. The largest generation to ever be alive in our country is not connecting to our churches the way previous generations have. The question remains…why not? In a previous post, I started the conversation concerning four markers that are important to young adults and college students (read that post HERE). For young adult ministry leaders, these are components we must consider if we genuinely desire to connect with the young adults in our … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Foster Community with Young Adults
I've had countless conversations recently about what it looks like to do collegiate and young adult ministry in churches. Wouldn't it be nice if there was some amazing formula we could put into place and – PRESTO – young adults are showing up and involved ministry? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. There have been a number of studies pointing toward the decline of Millennials being involved in churches. There are questions about who they are, what motivates them, and how they interact with the church. My own recent conversations … [Read more...]
3 Lies College Ministry Leaders Must Silence
If you're attempting to make disciples among college students, you have an enemy who wants to discourage and distract you from the mission God has called you to. If he can get you crippled with doubts, fears, and excuses, the ministry will be hindered. Remember, this is a battle for the souls of students. We can’t afford to waste time with the mind games of the enemy. Here are just three of the many lies that I have fought regularly, along with some encouragement the Lord has given me related to each one. 1. “We don’t have … [Read more...]
3 Ways Churches Can Reverse the Absence of Millennials
There’s been much buzz on the Internet recently about the absence of young adults in churches. Numerous blogs, research statistics, and denominational reports point toward this significant decline. There have been countless comments and conversations about the reasons Millennials are not connecting to church. But I’m not quite ready to say "the sky is falling" just yet. Why? Because I believe the Lord is going to use this generation significantly to proclaim the kingdom of God in a world that’s seeking for hope in something. There … [Read more...]
Why You Must Lead Yourself Before Leading Others
I don't like to fly. I believe that if God had really wanted humans to fly a lot, he would have given us a couple of wings on our back. Occasionally, though, something calls on the other side of the country or that's just too far away to drive. When forced, I will fly. I fly probably 5-6 times a year. I'm not a pro flyer, but I'm no rookie either. I've flown my share, even though I don't have medallion status. Everytime I get on a plane, I dread having to sit and wait for everyone else to board (I'm impatient, so I try to be one … [Read more...]
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