Why Reach Out To College Students?

Most of you know this—but currently we are meeting on the campus of Anderson University…Clemson is only about a 20 minute ride away…Southern Wesleyan University isn’t far either…and let’s not leave out Erskine.

Yep, there are quite a few colleges right here in the upstate region—GREAT ONES! And with that many colleges and universities it can only mean one thing—the potential to reach hundred and even thousands of college students.

I LOVE college students…I always have! I guess I have always seen the need to make an intentional effort to reach out to them. I know some people have a hard time with this…I actually had a lady ask me once at another church, “Why do we spend so much time and money on college students—they don’t give!” (Yes—that REALLY happened!)

If I had to guess…my love for college students developed out of my time spent in youth ministry. I would see kids go through middle school and high school and hardly ever miss youth group…and THEN they would go off to college…AND DROP OUT OF CHURCH!

Often times people might be tempted to criticize them and say, “they are just not solid,” or, “maybe they were never saved in the first place.” I strongly disagree…I think the reason that many of them drop out of church is—well—they don’t like church! Call them shallow…call them hypocritical…but I can’t blame them…if I don’t like a particular restaurant then I don’t go there, and to them—if they do not like the spiritual food that is being offered then they just won’t go.

I have this conviction…I believe that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world…and because He established His church…I believe He wants to reach people through HIS church—even college students.

(Let me rant right here please…from time to time I will hear in the community, “The only reason that NewSpring is growing is because of ALL THOSE college students!” Uh, yeah…the last time I checked in Scripture—people matter to God—even college students!!!)

You might not understand my passion…but you must understand that one of the key reasons that NewSpring exists today is because of college students. The root of our church can be traced to a Bible study I began in my apartment…with college students. In our first service we had 115 people…about 75% were college students. Trust me—they add so much energy!!!

I LOVE college students…they have so much passion and energy…and most of them haven’t been around “veteran Christians” too much because they actually believe that God can do what He said He would do!

AND I love this about them—many of them are passionate about knowing what they believe and why they believe it. They will listen…and if they do not agree then they will examine Scripture—call the office…whatever—they search out the truth because they want to own their own faith instead of borrowing it from their parents.

As long as I have the privilege to serve as pastor of NewSpring—there will always be a place here for college students. We are currently in the initial stages of developing a ministry that will reach out to them in a creative and unique way. That’s all I can say about it right now…and it will probably take another six months to a year to develop. Shhhh! :-)

So to my college peeps—you are welcome at NewSpring…your friends are welcome at NewSpring…your questions are welcome at NewSpring. Yes, we know MOST of you are broke—and that doesn’t matter!!! (By the way…if you are out of college in our church and are looking for ways to minister to people…find a group of college students this Sunday and take them out to lunch! OR…invite them to your house for a HOME COOKED meal sometime…and while they are there wash their clothes for them. It might be the only time that some of the guys actually wash their clothes for the entire semester!!!)

I am looking forward to having everyone back at church this Sunday! And as I said this past Sunday…I will be doing something this weekend that I haven’t done in five years at our church, I am actually a little nervous about this one! :-)