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So on Tuesday, we began thinking ahead and discussing the vital need and importance of transitioning high school seniors to college. We specifically looked at ideas and ways that church-based ministers could assist in this transition. To check out that post, click here.
Today, I want explore ways that youth ministers and campus-based ministers could do their part in this critical transition process.
Youth Ministers:
The chances are, your church does not have a college ministry, or maybe you are doing both youth and college ministry. Even if your church does have some sort of college ministry, transitioning your high school seniors is a critical issue that you must consider. I would even argue that this should be a part of your ministry. So here are some thoughts/ideas:
1. Simply teach/equip them. As Benson Hines pointed out in his comment on the previous post, perhaps the best thing youth (and college) ministers could be doing to assist in the college transition is simply teaching and equipping students on the matter. Get into the Word and explore the biblical concepts of what they will be experiencing, (for example, do a study on what real “Freedom” is). Also, give them some principles that you found to be helpful when you where in their shoes. Perhaps you could bring in some college students or others who have already attended college and have them share their advice!
2. Incorporate practical ways to transition your students. Again, I want to suggest the research and connect idea I posted on idea 3 in Tuesday’s post. I would also recommend that you consider recruiting some of your leadership and/or parents to help you with this. I know it is a resource consuming idea, but I think it is WELL worth it.
3. If possible, invite campus-based college ministers (or even church-based college ministers…why not!?) to visit. One of the things I did while I was a campus missionary with the Baptist Student Ministry was to join our BSM director and a few other students to go lead worship and speak at various youth groups throughout the spring and summer. We would tell the youth all about the BSM and the importance of finding a church home. We would also give them advice and answer any questions the students had about college life.
4. See if your denomination has any system in place for assisting in the transition. A beautiful example of this is what the BSM through the Baptist General Convention of Texas offers to churches at texasfreshmen.com. Here, parents, students, and youth ministers can submit contact information, indicate where they (the students) will be attending college, and then a BSM director, church leader, or student from that university/town will get in touch with them. Perhaps your denomination has something like this in place already. Go and research it and then take full advantage of it!
So I am definitely not a youth minister, but I strongly believe that transitioning youth to college needs to be considered more by youth ministers. There are surely more ways to assist youth in college transition, so if you have any more, just comment below!
Campus-based college minsters:
1. Go visit youth groups. Really I just want to reiterate the idea mentioned above. Take some students and go out and speak/lead at various youth groups. Bring a message on how to prepare for the transition to come. Tell the students about the BSM. Bring some college students and have them give the youth advice on the transition.
2. Get to know youth ministers and church-based college ministers. Seriously, we all should be working together and collaborating more, and honestly, youth and church-based college ministers may feel more comfortable sending students your direction if you know them.
3. Take advantage of your university’s “preview days.” Most universities have some sort of late spring/summer preview days for the next class of entering freshmen. Typically, they will have a student organization fair that allows student organizations to set up a booth and tell the prospective students about their organization. So GO TO THESE! I know this may be old school or typical, but don’t count this out! Oh, and get some of your extroverted college students to work these tables! Gather contact information and hand out some free stuff!
4. Encourage your students to get involved in giving campus tours! Yep, this is a really sweet way for your to get your college students to connect with and help transition next year’s freshmen. Now clearly there will probably be some guidelines they have to follow in order to be tour guide, but still, this position could create opportunities for your students to offer advice about college life to next year’s freshmen. Who knows, maybe they can even plug your ministry!
So again, these are just a few ideas that came to mind. If you have any more, throw ‘em at me!
Well, I guess this concludes our first glance at thinking ahead on next year’s freshmen. Ultimately, it is my prayer that college and youth ministers would consider the college transition process of our youth a much higher priority than what it has been in the past.