Every spring, thousands of high school graduates close one chapter of their lives and begin looking to a new one. The largest percentage of today's high school graduates begin their next chapter by pursuing a college degree. The transition from high school to college is one of life's most significant. Students who have grown up attending church will determine whether or not they will continue to be involved in church and to what degree they will invest themselves in the service of the Lord. Unfortunately, recent research indicates that as much as 70% of students involved in church while in middle school will not be involved in church after high school.
What can churches do to help students make a better transition to college and to encourage them to stay involved with their faith during the college years?
Prepare students for the transition. Some churches are beginning to offer discipleship courses for high school seniors, which are specifically designed to help students deal with the questions and concerns they will face in college. Some churches replace their regular Sunday school curriculum for high school seniors with Essentials Gear, a thirteen week study produced by LifeWay Christian Resources to assist with topics related to life after high school.
Promote graduating seniors. Regardless of when promotion for other age groups occurs, churches should consider moving graduating seniors into college-aged Bible study immediately after graduation. Doing so will help students identify with the college/young singles church leaders and members before going to college. And it will help those that go away to college to feel more a part of the group when they come home during breaks and at the end of school semesters. Plan a special luncheon after the graduate recognition service in your church. Invite the college age Sunday School leaders to speak to the graduates and to invite them to their new group the next Sunday.
Plan an On-to-College Day emphasis. On the second Sunday of August, churches have the opportunity to recognize students going to college and to pray especially for them. Some churches are even commissioning their college bound members as missionaries to the respective colleges they attend. Having a special emphasis in worship for these students not only challenges students to recognize the need to take their faith to college, but it also reminds church members to pray for these students and to stay connected with them during the school year.
Encourage involvement in BCM and church. Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) groups are positioned on 30 campuses around South Caorlina and are present on more campuses around the country than any other collegiate Christian organization. BCM groups are ministry extensions of Baptist churches on college campuses. They offer ways for students to stay active in their faith, to grow in their relationship with Christ and to serve Him in missions and evangelism. Students getting involved in BCM are also connected with area churches that have a desire to minister to college students. Information about BCM groups in South Carolina can be found on the Internet at www.scbcm.org. As students go away to college, ministers and other church leaders need to inquire about where they are attending church and if they have become involved with a Christian organization on campus. Otherwise, it is all too easy for collegiate church members to spend four or more years outside of the church's influence.
Send in their contact information and College Choice. Each year in late April the South Carolina Baptist Convention's Collegiate Ministry Group requests from our churches the names and contact information of high school graduates who are going away to college. Collegiate ministers then send information to incoming students about upcoming events and ministries on campus. Without this information, collegiate ministers and churches often have no way of knowing the Baptist students who are coming to their campus, which again provides a way for a student to fall the cracks of ministry impact.
Maintain contact information and communicate regularly. Many students change addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses often during college. Churches need to update this information at least once a year and send regular communication to these students. Church newsletters, exam care packages, personal notes and mass e-mail messages are great ways to stay connected to college students. Some churches even place college student addresses in their newsletters or bulletins so that members can write students throughout the year.
Pray. Because college-aged adults are making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives, they need churches that are committed to praying for them. For more information on developing good transition ministries in your church or for assistance with getting students connected with Baptist Collegiate Ministry, contact the Collegiate Ministry Group at (800)723-7242, ext. 4400.
