Reaching the College Population

Jessie asked us to write an article to answer this question: “Maybe [you could write] ideas on how to get college aged people involved in the Church. Ways to make Bible studies into something people in their 20s can relate to after growing up in a secular world.”

As we write this, my husband reminds me that we are in a unique position to answer this question because we currently run a weekly Bible study where the majority of members are college students.  My husband works at the college in our city and I attend it, so we are surrounded by college students daily.  We will try to describe a number of ways to get college age people involved, as well as how to keep them in a Bible study and make things interesting.

1) Immerse yourself in college life

2) Make things fun

3) Give them some responsibility

4) Making it something people who grew up in a secular world can relate to

5) Organize events outside of Bible study

6) Provide food if possible

7) Make the study space comfortable

8) Make the study space accessible

9) Advertise

10) Make everyone welcome

1) Immerse yourself in college life

You don’t have to be a student, or staff member of a college to do this, but it does help.  In our case we have many co-workers, classmates, and other friends from the school, both students and other college staff that we know and are able to invite to our Bible study.   Once people decide to come on a regular basis, they begin inviting other people on their own.  To encourage this we purchase prizes such as devotionals and run contests for the prize.  People get points for coming to the study, points for memorizing scriptures, and points for bringing new people.  Whoever has the most points at the end of the allotted time wins the prize.

On the other side of things, there are at least three Christian groups based on our college campus: Campus Crusade For Christ, Christian Fellowship, and Chi Alpha the Campus Church (run by a local church).  CCC is run by students, CF is run by an elderly couple who have immersed themselves in college students lives, and Chi Alpha is run by a pastor who immersed himself in college life.

Even before Chi Alpha was up and running, it’s pastor was in the residence hall playing games with students, he was there in time of crisis for students, and he was there being their friend.  Once it was time to start up their church he had such a strong presence at OIT as a friend and role model that it wasn’t difficult to get people to come to his services.

2) Make Things Fun

When I was a freshman I attended a college group study on Sunday nights at a local church.  Some friends were going and invited me, and though I was not yet saved I went partly because it was fun.  The night always started with snacks and possibly an impromptu basketball or volleyball game at the church, followed by Bible study (which consequently was sometimes lead by our college professors who attended the church), and ended the night worshiping with song, and fellowshipping with each other.  A break down of the night was Snacks, Games (fellowship), Bible study, Singing, Fellowship again.

I never once saw the pastor who lead the college group at the campus, but I would imagine that he started that way.  As the group grew however, people invited their friends on their own because it was fun, and people came back because it was fun.

3) Give them some responsibility

People are likely to stick around if they have some responsibility.  Ask college age members if they’d like to get involved in the church.  Ask them to help with younger groups (high school) or other church activities.  In our Bible study we’ve delegated things like planning group get-togethers outside of study nights to other members, and have asked other members to help with lessons on occasion.

4) Making it something people who grew up in a secular world can relate to

Remember, people in college are still people.  They’re reading textbooks that are sometimes very technical and difficult, so don’t think for a moment that if you do a certain lesson, that they won’t understand it.  Teach the Bible like you would to any other adult.

If you wanted you could do some topical studies that you believe they would find relevant or fun such as we have done on this site (Christian Survival Skills for example), but in general you should also be teaching the gospel, the way to heaven, how to resist temptation, etc.  Teach the Bible as it is and they will come.  Growing up unsaved in an secular world I can tell you from experience that this is the way to go.  When I met my husband I was unsaved, and just by reading through the Bible together I was lead to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

5) Organize events outside of Bible study

Organize board game nights, video-game tournaments, scavenger hunts (around the city), trips to the movies, trips to do things like going caving or hiking, etc.  When people are able to fellowship and bond outside of service as well as inside, they are more likely to feel a connection and desire to keep coming back.

6) Provide food if its possible

It might not be possible to provide snacks at an actual church service, but for Bible studies it can be done fairly cheaply.  Providing things like coffee, soda, cookies, cake, a veggie platter, or the all favorite pizza, you are going to draw students in and keep them coming back.  It is recommended that whoever is running the Bible study provides food and drinks for the first few meetings, and then if people want to bring food they can, but do not make it required.  Not everyone can afford to bring food.  Just remember, Jesus fed the multitudes.

7) Make the study space comfortable

Have plenty of comfortable seating available, and a clean space to study in (no one wants to study where there’s trash on the floor or dirt all over the place).

8) Make the study space accessible

Not everyone has a car to get to the study.  You have two options here: organize and study on campus where everyone can come, or be sure to help organize carpools for those who don’t have a ride.  If necessary, transport people yourself.

9) Advertise

Once you have plenty of regular members, you might want to advertise around the college campus.  Make attractive looking fliers advertising the study or whatever current topic you’re studying on.  Be sure to have date, time, address, an e-mail address, a phone number and something like, “Bring a friend.”  Be sure to get these fliers approved by whatever authority on campus you need to, or they will just rip them down.

You can also advertise via e-mail.  Many colleges have a campus-wide daily or weekly e-mail that you can advertise in for free.

Be sure to advertise if you have snacks.  Saying something on the fliers such as “Free Pizza!” will go a long way.

10) Make everyone welcome

Our final point in answer to this question is to make the study one that welcomes everyone, even the unsaved.  People are not going to come to any group that is prejudiced, or that does not welcome people based on their sin, the way they dress, where they’re from, or previous religious experiences.  While the Bible study that we run is Baptist in doctrine, we have many non-denominational members, and on occasion friends who are Catholic or of another denomination that study with us.

Include many elements into your Bible studies that we have outlined above.  While we’re sure there are other ways to get college age people involved, these are the ones we’ve learned by experience.  Our Bible study lasts 2 hours and is outlined as such: 7-7:30 snacks and fellowship while people arrive, 7:30-8:30 Bible study, 8:30-9 fellowship and snacks while people leave.  Sometimes people stay longer, and they are welcome to.

We hope this answered your question Jessie.

Blessings!

- RJTomlinson and JATomlinson