REACHING OUT TO PARENTS

As part of my job as Leadership Contract Worker, I do a Collegiate Ministry Blog (www.arlissdickerson.blogspot.com) and recently I was stunned to see what the most read blog was and still is.  “10 Things the Parent of a College Freshmen Should Know” is by almost double the most read of all my blogs.  This would be likely caused by the State BCM Office in Louisiana referencing it in a letter they sent to the parents of incoming Baptist freshmen.  But, what I think it means is that parents are hungry for and looking for help in being a part of the spiritual directions of their sons and daughters.  We need to partner with parents for their benefit and ours.  Parents can be outspoken in their church and state conventions for the support of college ministry.  How can we connect with and help parents?  A couple of years ago, I experimented with doing, “Being the Parent of a College Freshman” seminars in some of my area churches.  I simply wrote the pastor a letter and I said I would be glad to do such a seminar usually in July or August, but at their scheduling and no cost to them.  Here are some topics you might cover at such a 60 to 90 minute seminar:

-Myths About College (everyone knows what they want to be, etc)

-Common Mistakes Freshmen Make

-Pros and Cons of Joining a Greek Organization (Fraternities/Sororities)

-What does a ministry like the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Offer

-How parents can encourage and help their student who is away at school.

You could even take an upperclassman or two to do a testimony or form a panel, etc.  I believe we can and should do more in connecting with parents for a variety of reasons.  I believe that one of the reasons that college ministry funding is often one of the first cut is because it can be cut with the fewest complaints....parents can change that, if they are aware!  Just contact me, if you need more ideas about doing such a workshop. 

By the way, the other two most read blogs were #2 “7 Top Reasons Students Attended a Ministry for the First Time”, and #3 “20 Principles and Wise Sayings of Collegiate Ministry.”

Arliss Dickerson

Leadership Contract Worker

www.arlissdickerson@gmail.com