June 2009 Campus Ministry Update

The Ivy Jungle Network

Campus Ministry Update

June 2009

Trends in Campus Ministry, Culture and Higher Education:

Maybe College is the Problem: A study by the Washington University School of Medicine demonstrates that the higher drinking age of 21 has led to a decline in binge drinking among all groups – except college students. The results, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, looked at data from 1979-2006 (the mandatory drinking age of 21 went into effect in 1984). The findings show that drinking rates among males decreased by 50% among the 15-17 year old group and by 20% in the 18-20 group; and 10% in the 21-23 group. Statistics for women remained virtually unchanged – except in the 21-23 group where binge drinking increased by 40%! On the whole, binge drinking declined significantly among men – unless they were in college, where they increased slightly. Among women, overall binge drinking was up slightly, but up significantly among women attending college. In light of the Amethyst proposal, the authors of the study conclude that the higher drinking age is in fact good for public health. (Science Daily June 23, 2009)

Alcohol Injuries Increase on Campus: Despite efforts to curb binge drinking on campus, the number of alcohol related deaths increased from 1440 to 1825 between 1998 and 2005. This 26% increase coincides with an increase in enrollment as well. The report has fueled the debate over the national drinking age as some point to the results, published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as some say it demonstrates the failure of the 21 year old drinking age. However, others point out that binge drinking rates are "significantly higher among 21-24 year olds than 18-20 year olds. (Inside Higher Ed June 16, 2009)

Liberty University College Democrats: After more than a month of public discourse around the "de-recognition" of the College Democrats club at Liberty University, the two sides have reached a solution. The debate arose when the University denied the club its official status due to the support of candidates whose policies on issues such as abortion and gay rights ran contrary to the policies of the university. The groups have reached a compromise in which neither the College Democrats nor the College Republicans will receive official recognition as clubs on campus or received any funding. However, both will be allowed to meet on campus and use Liberty's name as long as they "make it clear they are not being endorsed by the university." (CNN.com June 23, 2009)

Seeking New Ways to Experience God: A recent Barna report shows that many Americans are looking for new ways to connect with God. The report shows that most Americans (88%) believe that "my religious faith is important to my life." 75% say that "God is motivating people to stay connected with Him, but in different ways and through different types of experiences than in the past." Nearly two-thirds (64%) say they are "completely open to carrying out a pursuing your faith in an environment or structure that differs from that of a typical church." Affirming the self-focused approach to religion, 71% say they are "more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that particular church teaches." (Barna.org June 8, 2009)

Most People Change Religions by Early Adulthood: The study, "Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the US" is a follow up to the 2008 Pew study which showed that 44% of US adults had switched their religious affiliation during their lives. The Pew study found 16% of adults "unaffiliated religiously." Among those expressing no faith, most say they find religious people "hypocritical, judgmental, or insincere." Most who leave their childhood faith do so by the age of 24, with many changing religions or denominations more than once. The Catholic Church has reported that 68% of those raised Catholic remain in the faith as adults. Among Protestants, while 80% of those raised so have remained Protestants, but more than a quarter have switched denominations between childhood and adulthood. The reasons to shift denominations appear tied to life circumstances rather than doctrine. Among common answers: moving to a new community, marrying someone from a different religious background, and dissatisfaction with worship services, etc. (LA Times April 27, 2009)

Unsure What Spiritual Maturity Looks Like: A study by the Barna Group and Living on the Edge indicates most churchgoers and clergy are unsure of what they mean by spiritual maturity, let alone how to pursue it. Among the challenges identified by the report:

Most Christians equate spiritual maturity with following the rules
Most church goers are unclear of what their church expects in terms of spiritual maturity
Most Christians offer one dimensional views of spiritual maturity – often with a highly personal focus
Most Christians struggle with feeling the relevance of expressing objectives for spirituality. They favor activities over attitudes in what they should do as mature Christians
Pastors are surprisingly vague about the biblical references they use to ground their ideas of spiritual maturity.

The study also identified 5 opportunities for helping address these challenges:

Both churchgoers and pastors have identified barriers to spiritual growth
While many are complacent about their spiritual growth, millions say they do want to grow spiritually
Compared to their older counterparts, Christians under 40 are less satisfied with their spirituality and much less "rule oriented"
Most pastors are looking for help; nearly 80% are moderately dissatisfied with their ability to assess and measure the spiritual health of their congregation
Pastors are doing a better job than they think – they are much harder on themselves than their congregations are who do see them helping people grow.

(Barna.org May 18, 2009)

Sexual Activity on the Decline: A report in the Journal of Adolescent Health shows a "dramatic" drop in the percentage of US teens having sex between 1992 and 2002. The research examined data from the National Survey of Family Growth. The results showed a decrease in sexual activity (defined as "having sex") among girls ages 15-19 from 56% in 1992 to 47% in 2002. Among boys the drop was from 61% to 46%. The survey also showed an increase in the use of contraception among teens. However, teen birth rates have recently taken a slight upturn, with some blaming media coverage of celebrity teen births and shows like MTV's "16 and Pregnant" for glorifying teen pregnancy (Reuters May 29, 2009).

Sex Ed Via Text: North Carolina has one of several programs that allow teenagers to seek help with questions about sex via text message. The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina staffs a text line with one on one counseling for adolescents – all via text message. The program has become popular among students, but has also garnered criticism from family values advocates who see it at odds with the state's abstinence only sex ed curriculum. Critics fear that cell phone technology keeps parents out of the loop, while advocates maintain that students are more likely to use the helpline because the technology reduces shame and embarrassment. (New York Times May 18, 2009)

Admissions Offices and Social Media: A growing number of admissions offices utilize one or more online social media in their recruitment and interaction with students. Below are a summary of prevalence:

Blogging 33%
Social Networking 29%
Message/bulletin boards 27%
Video blogging 19%
Podcasting 14%
Wikis 3%
Don't use social media 39%

(Inside Higher Ed)

Major Lemmings? Among college students, peer pressure generally refers to decisions regarding sex, drugs, and drinking. However, a group of international researchers have concluded that one's friends can have a significant impact on the choice of a major as well. Their article, "Be as Careful of the Company You keep as of the Books Your Read: Peer Effects in Education and on the Labor Market," finds clear evidence that students will follow friends into majors, even when their performance indicates the field is not well suited for them. Their study also found that peer-driven students earned less money, expressed less job satisfaction, and encountered more problems after graduation. (Inside Higher Ed May 14, 2009)

Ten Years After Napster: A report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project examines the state of music ten years after Napster hit the scene. Among their finds are five selling points digital music consumers are looking for: Cost (preferably free); Portability to any music device (phone, ipod, computer, mp3 player, etc.); Mobility – the ability to access music wirelessly; Choice – unlimited music catalogs; and Remixabilty – the freedom and ability to remix and mashup music. (www.pewinternet.org)

Hazing and College Bands: A recent incident among band members at Southern University highlights the fact that hazing is not limited to sports teams and fraternities. Beatings among band members are becoming a concern among some of the nations' historically black colleges where marching band positions hold high esteem. Last year, the University of Wisconsin-Madison band was briefly suspended over allocations of forced underage drinking. Schools have become even more concerned as victims bring lawsuits against the institutions and some are enacting anti-hazing pledges for all groups on campus. (AP May 16, 2009)

Jesus Film Turns 30: 2009 marks the 30^th anniversary of the Jesus Film. Now translated into more than 1050 languages, the film has been viewed by billions around the world. Campus Crusade reports more than 225 million men, women and children who have come to Christ through the movie. (Inspiremagazine.com May 18, 2009)

Adding Valet Parking: Florida Atlantic may follow in the steps of USC, Florida International, and others, as it considers a proposal to add valet parking on campus. The move, originally meant for visitors looking for elusive parking spots on campus, has gained popularity with students and faculty as well. In some cases, the valet options are not much different than day parking in on campus garages. Despite the recession, the programs have remained successful. (Inside Higher Ed June 24, 2009)

Resources:

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Convincing people of the relevance of Christ is not about having more "smart people" on God's side than against him. However, it can help students to know that God is not just some sort of opiate for the dull masses, but bright people can and do follow Christ. Check out this link for a list of quotes related to God, faith, and Jesus Christ: "50 NOBEL LAUREATES AND OTHER GREAT SCIENTISTS WHO BELIEVE IN GOD" http://nobelists.net/

In April we ran a list of books related to campus ministry. We have added to it this month. Check out some of these titles:

Following Jesus into College and Beyond by Jeff Baxter (Zondervan). Jeff wrote this book to help students make the transition from high school to college. Written for students, the book explores the way in which identity, choices, and belonging converge in following Christ. For the campus minister, it provides a great reminder that when students arrive on campus, they are not yet college students. They are high school graduates who will spend the next months and years navigating the transition. This is a helpful guide to not only make the jump from one level to the next, but also for a lifetime of growth in Jesus Christ.

Crossroads: Navigating Your Calling and Career by Colin Creel (Crossway). Designed for recent and impending college grads, this book looks at how God speaks into those life change moments that come as we leave college and move through the first years of "adult" life. Creel offers practical and biblical advice, combined with wisdom from many godly women and men, sharing lessons from their own lives when they two walked through these strategic years.

Campus Voices: a Student to Student Guide to College Life by Paul Buchanan & Paula Miller (Regal). This book targets new college students with short meditations written by Christian students about navigating the shift from high school to college. For the campus minister it is a little window into the minds of college students and the angst over that move. For students it offers spiritual encouragement and practical advice on topics from making friends to doing laundry.
From Jay-Z to Jesus: Reaching and Teaching Young Adults in the Black Church by Benjamin Stephens III & Ralph C. Watkins (Judson Press). This book specifically addresses young adult ministry in the African American church. Most of the book, however translates to anyone working with young adults, especially college students. The authors offer up Biblical reasons to particularly minister to the young adult generation and trace some of the developmental shifts that take place during this strategic time of life. They also offer helpful insights into teaching this generation including personal stories written by young adults themselves. This is a very useful book, particularly for those working in church base contexts.
The Word on Campus: a Guide to Public College Ministry by Kirk King with Ron Pickell. Drawing on a collective 33 years of experience in a variety of campus ministry settings on the public college campus, Kirk and Ron have created a practical handbook for campus ministry. They offer advice and insight into the biblical basis and content of ministry. They look at students today and the connection between the church and campus in ministry. The also lift up 7 successful ministry models in a variety of contexts including church based, campus based, military focused and conference oriented efforts. Pickell and King are ministers with the Seventh Day Adventist denomination, but this book holds relevance far beyond their denomination.
Reaching the Campus Tribes by Benson Hines. During his college ministry road trip that cris-crossed the nation a few times, Benson visited more than 180 campus ministries in 44 states. Based on hundreds of interviews and hours of listening, Benson has put together much more of an inquiry than a handbook that explores a vision for "what could be" in campus ministry. This compelling electronic book addresses the strategic transitory time of college and calls for a comprehensive plan for the church to take seriously the mission of reaching this particular "tribe" that inhabits the campuses of North America. The book is available for free download at http://reachingthecampustribes.com/

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Resources from ProActive Faith for your campus ministry:

God Moments In Time will challenge your students to live a life in such a way that God can open doors of opportunity in their life that will change the direction of their live or impact eternity. Each chapter has five discussion questions, which makes this book great for small groups. Order 20 copies or more for the bulk price of $5.00 each

CRUNCH Time A five-session evangelism resource written for students on the collegiate campus. This resource is newly packaged on one CD-ROM. You will be able to print as many copies of the booklets as you need for your students and leaders.

Crisis Moments Seminars will train your students how to respond to a crisis (Biblical Response to a Crisis, Death, Hospitalization, Personal Loss, Evangelism through a Crisis). This seminar is great to a retreat setting.

Join our Facebook Group ProActive Faith Group @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30097018073

Visit our website www.proactivefaith.org to discover how these resources will impact the lives of your students and their campus. You can also call our office.

Office: (405) 607-0722
Toll-Free: 1-877-607-0722

Free shipping when you enter ivy jungle in the discount code box. After you place your order you will receive a personal call from our office to confirm your order before any charges are made to your credit card.

Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You can Believe God is Real helps students see the rational behind the Christian faith. Author Will Davis Jr., who also wrote the Pray Big book series, explains why Christians don't have to stop thinking in order to believe. The book uses biblical teaching, story telling, and humor to show students how much it makes sense to believe in God, and how a person literally has to stop thinking to reject God. Why Faith Makes Sense addresses such topics as the mystery of God, the revelation of God through nature, evolution and humanism, the Bible, and the exclusivity of Christ. It's the perfect tool for Bible studies and small groups, skeptics' discussion groups and even apologetics classes. To learn more and to read an excerpt, go to willdavisjr.com. Why Faith Makes Sense is available at Amazon.com, Revell Books, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbooks.com.

From Jay-Z to Jesus: Reaching & Teaching Young Adults in the Black Church offers the insights and expertise of authors Benjamin Stephens III and Ralph C. Watkins (author of The Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation), and also features the words of young adults themselves which serve as testimony to their spiritual longing and critique of the aging church's ministry.

Cheryl L. Walker, Director of African American Ministries for General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church, recommends the resource, noting, "From Jay-Z to Jesus offers a common sense approach with practical applications on how to really engage young adults in ministry." And the Christian Booksellers Association found, "From Jay-Z to Jesus will help the reader build an effective ministry to young adults that will minister to their needs as well as disciple them to be leaders in the church and community. Every leader in the church should read this book."

From Jay-Z to Jesus retails for $15.00. To order, call Judson Press at 800-458-3766 or save 20% when you order online at www.judsonpress.com.

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