Who’s your student ministry for?
I was talking to a student pastor the other day. He said the biggest problem with his student ministry at the moment was that it was all focused on who was already there.
“We need to do stuff for the students who aren’t already in church!” he said.
I think he was right. It can feel like 99% of our time is spent catering to the very small number of students in the city who are already in our churches. The vast majority of students have no faith in Jesus and have barely been to church, if ever. They may have heard bits and pieces of the Christian story in our post-Christendom culture but no one has ever told them the story of Jesus, no one has ever explained to them what it means for them - why it’s good news!
It’s easy to assume that the majority of students have rejected Jesus but the truth is they’ve never really heard about him! 75% of non-Christian students say they would try church if a friend invited them - but how many have been invited?
In Luke 15:7, Jesus says “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” He speaks of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to find the lost 1. Will we follow his example - will we start to go after the students who are not already in the sheepfold?
It can be easier to cater to the students who already come on a Sunday, and who come to our worship nights and student nights. We can meet them for coffees, Bible studies and disciple them. We feel we know what we’re doing, dare I say we feel in control. We don’t know where to start with the students not already there. How do we reach them? How do we get them to listen? How do we begin to invite them? We feel fearful of rejection, of embarrassment, that to try would be a disappointing exercise in futility. Perhaps we don’t acknowledge it, but that can be how we feel.
What if we simply try? What if we surrender our control and trust God in the midst of our fears? What if we simply took the first step? What if we just do something to reach the students outside the church - maybe just one thing?
What first step could your church take?
If you’d like help taking your first steps in reaching out to non-christian students in your city the Fusion Coaching Team are here to help.
