Blueprint #1: Keeping it Simple with Discipleship
For those of you who love complex strategies and vision statements, you'll be disappointed with what I'll be sharing. College ministry is the exact opposite of these things. At its very core, college-age ministry thrives on simplicity. That doesn't mean there isn't a lot of hard work or time involved. Actually, I don't think there is another age group that demands so much of your time, but it's "simple" time you are investing. It's all about a relationship.
As a youth pastor, one of the jobs I loathed was getting transportation for an event. I would have to call parents, staff, and anyone I could find to take our group to a place that was just ten minutes from the church. Not so with college people. They come with transportation provided. It's simple. College-age can even plan an event, oversee a ministry, lead studies, and lots more. The one thing they can't do is disciple themselves.
No matter how many college people come to your gatherings or the multitude of ministries you do, if you are not making disciples then you've lost the focus of His Church. I've read books, seen the research, and heard from the best of those who minister to ages 17-25 and they all say the same thing, they need and want a connecting relationship to a community. If the church is not pouring into them, then they'll go where someone will. One of the keys to keeping a younger Christian generation is to help them be like Jesus by surrounding them in a community of "Jesus-like" people. You don't need a cutting edge relevant program. You don't have to paint your church black inside with candles burning (unless you want to). You need to show them what it means to be like Jesus.
Disciple them.
As a youth pastor, one of the jobs I loathed was getting transportation for an event. I would have to call parents, staff, and anyone I could find to take our group to a place that was just ten minutes from the church. Not so with college people. They come with transportation provided. It's simple. College-age can even plan an event, oversee a ministry, lead studies, and lots more. The one thing they can't do is disciple themselves.
No matter how many college people come to your gatherings or the multitude of ministries you do, if you are not making disciples then you've lost the focus of His Church. I've read books, seen the research, and heard from the best of those who minister to ages 17-25 and they all say the same thing, they need and want a connecting relationship to a community. If the church is not pouring into them, then they'll go where someone will. One of the keys to keeping a younger Christian generation is to help them be like Jesus by surrounding them in a community of "Jesus-like" people. You don't need a cutting edge relevant program. You don't have to paint your church black inside with candles burning (unless you want to). You need to show them what it means to be like Jesus.
Disciple them.
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on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 1:08 PM.
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