I was talking with Dominick Caruso who runs the BASIC group at Monroe Community College and he had an idea that I think could be very useful for campus ministry at community colleges. Community colleges can be some of the toughest places to maintain consistent ministry due to the high turnover rate and short time to raise up student leaders.
Ninety-five percent of students who go to community colleges come from the surrounding area and with the state of the economy community colleges have had much higher enrollment in the last couple years. This being said, if you work at a ministry at a community college it would be great to begin making connections with youth pastors in your city and surrounding area. Every youth pastor I have met is aware that the percentage of students who walk away from Christianity in college is very high (over 70% in less than one semester). Youth pastors realize the need for strong college ministry and don’t want to see students fall away after all that they have invested in them.
Once you’ve formed a relationship with a youth pastor ask to speak about BASIC at their youth group in June right before high school graduation. Ask if anyone from the youth group is going to the community college in the fall and try to touch base with them after the meeting to make connections. Working with youth pastors to connect with students from churches all over the city before they graduate would be a great strategy for seeing your group replenish and grow.