What is the difference between a church based and a college based ministry to college students?  Both have the goal of evangelism and discipleship.  Both want the very best for the students.  Both realize the importance of students having a church family.  Both do not want the BCM to be a substitute for a church.

The hard cold fact is that 70% of college students drop out of church during their college years.  It is also true that only 50% of those who drop out of church will return after college.  This is a problem that alarms all of us.

I believe that church and campus ministries need to work together to reach and make the crucial college years productive for the kingdom..  Some church based ministries have opted to look like campus based ministries and some campus ministries have chosen to look more like church.  This is being tried across the nation and it doesn’t seem to be working.  Why?

Most church based ministries who look like campus when asked what key weekly event they want college students to attend, name some other event besides the Sunday morning worship.  These ministries are defeating their purpose by providing a substitute for church.  Many campus based ministries fail to direct students toward churches for worship and fellowship.  This isn’t working and we need to find a solution to work together toward the goal and not against it.  The solution may be a dramatic departure for collegiate ministry both campus and church based.

Campus based ministries need to give church ministry leaders more exposure.  Campus  based ministries need to zero in on discipleship and evangelism and include churchmanship as a key part of discipleship.  Churches need to have more church ministry.  What do I mean by that?  It doesn’t mean all events have to be at church but there should certainly be many events to introduce students to church ministry, people, and yes, buildings (where they meet).  In the long run it doesn’t matter if a student says, “I don’t go to church I go to the church Bible study on campus.” Or “I don’t go to church I go to the BCM Bible study on campus.”  Neither is being reached for the church.

I believe churches need to stop trying to not look like the church and start making the church look relevant and loving.  Campus ministries need to realize that unless we tie students to a church, we have lost them.  We can not afford to loose this generation from the church.  We please God when we do what is best for the kingdom regardless of what it does to our local ministry.  In stead of making large numbers the goal let’s make lasting numbers the goal.