a group of college students who need to be well cared for by their churches

How Can the Church Care for College-Aged Sheep?

“The aims of Duke university are to assert a faith in the eternal union of knowledge and religion set forth in the teachings and character of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” -Former Duke University mission statement, 1924

Times have changed, especially for higher education in the United States. The increasing secularization of our colleges and universities means that ministering to college students presents new challenges to churches. Additionally, the post high school experience is the time when many individuals assess the validity of the faith in which they were raised and compare it with other worldviews. In light of these circumstances, effective ministry to college students is more urgent than ever. How can churches be intentional in our care for college-aged sheep?

Know who’s in your care

At the outset churches need to take inventory of who is in this phase of life and their spiritual needs. Traditional college students have left home to pursue studies and are only in town on vacations. Churches without nearby higher educational institutions will only have access to students in those off times. A second category of college students are “in town” college students. They may have grown up in the church and stayed near home for school, or if the church is near a college or university they may have come to town for school. Finally, don’t forget high school graduates who aren’t going to college but have chosen to pursue a trade or are taking a gap year. People in each of these categories face unique challenges and have specific shepherding needs. Step one in caring well for them is knowing what they are facing.

Confront the challenges

To care for these sheep, the church need to face head on the unique challenges they are facing. As a time of natural transition and newfound independence for most, these young adults are making big decisions. For many that leads to bearing a new level of stress and the need for spiritual discernment. Romans 12:1-2 outlines how Christians are equipped to discern the will of God for their lives, and we can help one another as we make decisions. As they consider questions like what school should they attend, what major should they choose, and who should they date they will need faithful saints to engage in conversation with them. This means being ready to listen to their desires and concerns and offer guidance and honest feedback as they forge their new path.

Another major challenge at this phase of life is the temptation to sexual sin. Our culture’s attitude toward sex being the core of our identity is a direct challenge to Christians finding their identity in Christ. Many will be told they should explore their sexuality at this age, and that abstinence and reserving sex for marriage is outdated and harmful. Carl Trueman notes the quandary given the modern assumption that happiness and sex are inseparably linked, “If happiness depends on the fulfillment of personal sexual desires, then to the extent that such desires are curbed and thereby frustrated, to that extent the individual will be unfulfilled and happy” (The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, 219). Churches must be ready to provide clear biblical teaching and loving accountability in this key area, especially presenting a positive vision of God-glorifying self control in singleness and enjoyment of sex in marriage.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of this age is in the idolatry of self. As we minister to young adults in this time of transition we can point them to the solid ground of rooting their identity in Christ rather than in themselves. Promoting good spiritual health in young adults will equip them to navigate the trials and triumphs of their lives. After leaving home and being told by our culture to be true to themselves at all costs, many will struggle with loneliness. This is where the church as a network of encouraging relationships shines. We have the opportunity to help Christians at this age to see the value in cultivating spiritual friendships and making a commitment to their local church. Cross-generational relationships are especially helpful for both the older and younger believer. The very existence of the church says there is more to life than self.

Engage the opportunities

Although these challenges and more await college age believers, this age is also an age of great opportunities. First, this is an age of energy. We should encourage young adults to put their energy to good use by leaning into rather than away from serving in the church. This could look like providing internships, missions trips, or intentional recruitment to specific ministries. The summer my youth pastor hired me as an intern was a watershed year for my spiritual growth. While this takes effort from an organizational perspective, it is well worth it.

Second, it’s an age of relationships. Churches would do well to recognize that their college age students want to be engaged socially: making new friends, developing relationships, doing activities together. Rather than sit on the sideline, we can provide outlets for this relational passion in both formal and informal ways. Consider setting up a regular meeting with a young adult, or starting up a college and career discipleship group. Churches near a college campus should brainstorm how they can be involved in on campus ministry.

Finally, this is an age of critical thinking. The church has an opportunity to invest in college students by providing them with a robust theology. We need to be pro-active in equipping young adults to answer the objections to the faith they will encounter. This holds true for academic objections to the faith (e.g., there is no creator), as well as  moral objections (e.g., hell isn’t fair). By God’s grace the church has ample resources in this area. Consider reading something like Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael Kruger with a group of students.

In 1722 and 1723, at the age of 18, Jonathan Edwards famously developed his set of resolutions—principles to help keep himself on track spiritually. George Marsden notes that “Jonathan directed his ‘Resolutions’ toward plugging every gap that would allow distraction from what he saw as his only worthy activity, to glorify God” (Jonathan Edwards, A Life, 30). Such passion was not merely a product of the time, but it was the fruit of earnest pursuit of the Lord supported by an active church seeking to preach and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace as we invest in college age believers we will be a part of developing strong Christians who impact our world. Maybe some will think like Edwards, whose first resolution was, “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence.”

©2023 Ryan Boys. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

About The Author

Ryan Boys
Ryan Boys

Ryan Boys serves as the lead pastor of Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, NJ. He is the author of the forthcoming How to Preach Apocalyptic with Fontes Press.

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