Tough Crowd

As I was running along yesterday morning I was hit with the realization that something is about to happen that scares me a little.

For a few months now Brittany and I have been planning to start a family group (small group, d-group, call it what you want) for college age people through the C3 Family groups program at CCC (Carterville Christian Church). We met at a group like this at Robin and Jayme Sigar's house a few years ago and were both blessed (more than just relationally) by that fellowship and teaching time each week. So we felt like this was a way we could serve and something we could both get involved in (something we've struggled with for a while).

Last spring we started gearing up by attending the college Sunday School class to meet a few of the students, the plan being to launch our family group this fall. Well, as you know if you read my previous post, fall is about here.

Back to my realization yesterday morning, we're about to launch a family group for college students! Can I just tell you that small groups of people scare me far more than large ones. It is much easier for me to speak to a large crowd than a few (in terms of comfort level). I've composed my top 5 list of reasons why a family group for college students is a tough crowd:

1. College students lives are not terribly consistent from week to week, which makes it difficult for them to commit to an activity each week. That's the "giving them the benefit of the doubt" version. The other way to look at it is that they're non-committal, but I think there's more to it than that. Very often legitimate things come up - like exams and projects - that have to be attended to. The challenge here is trying to build a cohesive group when many of those attending are fairly transient and their attendance may be irregular.

2. College students are smart. You can bluff your way through something you only half-way understand or didn't study very well with some age groups, but not college students. They are at a time in their lives where they've got to be sharply critical of the things they're told/taught so you've got to bring your A-game or they're going to call you on it (perhaps with their feet by just not returning).

3. College culture is a little different than post-college. Everything from schedules to work loads to expectations to lack of funds can be very different for the average under-grad than someone just a couple of years older who is working full-time. Communicating effectively with college students requires some level of understanding of the challenges they face.

4. Every school is a little different. In a town like Stillwater, Oklahoma (which I like to mention as often as possible in my posts) there's really only one school and that school dominates the community. As a result you've got a built-in, shared experience with almost anyone you encounter that is in the age range from 18-25. The Joplin Metro-plex is a little different. Locally we have MSSU, OCC, and Crowder. Nearby we have Pitt State. Down the road is MSU (that would be MO State) and U of A. Students from each of these campuses will have a little different schedule and a little different outlook on the world. Obviously the campus experience for an OCC student is very different than someone across town at MSSU. As a result there is an inherent challenge in finding ways to bridge the experiences and needs of all of those different groups. The good news is that the message of Jesus Christ applies to everyone. This is the specific thing I always felt like Robin was outstanding at doing, he had more people from more different backgrounds than you can imagine and managed to hit them all right where they were at.

5. College students tend to be simultaneously intensely practical and relentlessly inquisitive. The challenge here is balancing discussion of topics that interest them - in this case within the context of Biblical study - with viable, practical applications. College students - some of them - love to sit and talk theory, the how's, why's, and what if's of life. But if that's all you ever get to you'll lose them because they eventually need to know how it applies their life, how it impacts their existence.

Did I mention this scares me just a little? The good news is we've set this thing in motion and we're going to give it our best shot. Plus, my wife is awesome and can probably handle this in her sleep, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

If you're interested the group will meet on Thursday nights, food and fun at 6:00, study from 6:30 - 7:30, hanging out thereafter (until Brittany makes everyone leave) starting on August 23rd (wow, that sounds closer than I thought it was!). Even if you've already left your college years behind you are welcome to join us. We will meet at our house at 408 N. McCoy in Joplin until the group gets too large, then we'll relocate.