Reaching out to college students in your area

The key to any outreach effort is to understand the needs of those to be served and the culture you will be entering.

Spiritual Development Needs of College Students [1] :

• For belonging (late teens).
• For questioning, searching, blending of opposing ideas (early 20’s).
• For discerning one’s vocation or purpose (teens and twenties).

Cultural Realities of College Life [2] :

• Live in a 24/7 world; they are nocturnal and Sunday is not sacred.
• Have important need for welcoming, student-friendly convenient space away from dorm for studying, chilling, eating, socializing on a 24/7 schedule.
• Need, want and welcome food.
• Have a natural inclination for volunteerism and will participate in volunteer opportunities.
• Rely on real-time electronic and Internet media to communicate and to keep up with their community – web, text messaging, Facebook, My Space, cell phones.
• Often work part-time and are over-committed to variety of activities/responsibilities.

Suggestions for Reaching Out to College Students [3] :

• Think single in writing sermons, announcements and program development.
• Make room for searching, questioning and differences of opinion.
• Structure activities to encourage interaction with other age groups.
• Educate the congregation about issues and options for welcoming students.
• Welcome the diversity and change that bringing students into the congregation will bring.
• Remember that students live by an academic calendar and have a different rhythm and routine.
• Remember that student involvement is usually short-term and intense.
• Be present – on campus on web (e.g., create a Facebook group).
• Accept that what works now may not work later. Be open to change. Don’t give up!
• Reach out to all students (only a tiny percentage are Episcopalians).
• Avoid language that non-Episcopalians may not understand such as Eucharist, rector, BCP.
• Start small: Build commitment in a small group of students – they will bring their friends!
• Publicize ministries using fliers, ads in campus papers, and any other resources on campus.
• Seek out, support and learn from other organizations/religious groups already operating on campus.
• Contact campusministry@newjersey.anglican.org to get advice and to share your experience.
• Give thanks for every accomplishment, no matter how small!

Keeping Connected With College Students

Launching

We all know that many young people who were active in the church as children end up drifting away during different stages of their adolescence. Sometimes they drift away after confirmation, others drift away when they go to college and others leave drift away sometime in between. Regardless of the stage at which they leave the church, it is important that churches develop a ritual to formally launch them and bless them when they move away from home for the first time. Some suggestions for launching students include:

• Hold a formal Launching Eucharist and reception for all high school seniors.
  • This could include a formal invitation sent to the families of all seniors.
  • It would be good to have student involvement in planning the service and have a college chaplain as the guest preacher.
  • Include a laying on of hands as part of the service.
  • A slide show of earlier days might be shown at a reception.
• Give out “Survival Kits” to all graduates including useful, silly and even some Episcopal paraphernalia.
• Find out where they are going to school and notify the students of what campus ministry program is available and the name of the priest at the closest Episcopal Church. Make initial contact for student.

Maintaining

The first semester in college is a key time for keeping in touch. It is important the students know that there is someone they can communicate with as they transition into this next stage of their life. Some ideas for maintaining relationships include:

• Send personal e-mails to students on a regular basis. Do not limit it to those who were active in the youth group.
• Send them the church newsletter; include a section on college students.
• Send them care packages of cookies made by the youth group, Halloween treats, highlighter pens and silly stuff as well as an appropriate scripture on the card such as Jeremiah 29:11. “For surely I have plans for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
• Engage them in plans for their involvement when they come home on breaks.

Homecoming

Treat returning students as part of the ongoing ministry in the church. Use the homecoming activities as a way to keep local college students and young adults engaged at the church.

• Dedicate a service over the Thanksgiving or Christmas break for college students to participate in as musicians, lectors, acolytes, etc. Follow with reception.
• Arrange college student and young adult activities during breaks such as hikes, movies and discussion, or service activities.
• Hold a forum every year or two where college students talk about the college selection process and/or tips for making the transition.
• Identify someone who will be responsible for coordinating these acitivities.

Remember that not all young adults go away to college and some do not go to college at all. Consider ways to make them continue to feel a part of your parish as well.

[1] Diocese of Tennessee, Observation Team, “Engaging Students in Episcopal Campus Ministries.” Study conducted in 2007
[2] Ibid
[3] Office of Young Adults and Higher Education Ministries (OYAHEM), Campus Ministries Resource Binder, (The Episcopal Church Center) R.T. Gibbons, Students, Churches and Higher Education, (United Ministries in Higher Education, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2/12/96)

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