Five Questions College Students Have for Your Church

This article was originally published in SWBTS's ministry magazine, Equip the Called.

During my 25 years in collegiate ministry, I’ve interacted with thousands of students, pointing them to Jesus, discipleship, and the local church. This generation is simultaneously the least church-attending and the most spiritually curious in American history. Whether they are Christian or not, here are five questions college students want to know about your church.

1. Does your church care about me?

When looking for a church, this generation of college students asks, “Will this church care about me on a personal level?” Generation Z (those roughly 15 to 29 years old) are surprisingly ambivalent about whether a church service has high production value, professional-quality musicians, and elaborate lighting and sound. They are, on the other hand, interested in whether people in the church will be personally interested in their life and care about them. Students aren’t looking for an event to attend; they’re looking for a family to belong to. I see small churches make a big impact because families open their lives and homes to college students. Students need intergenerational relationships and mentors who will help them make decisions and navigate life.

A great first step in reaching students is to make sure those who visit your church get an invitation to a meal or to a home. A major issue for students is mental health struggles. Over half of all college students self-report mental health issues like anxiety or depression. And while some students require professional counseling, others benefit by having older, grounded believers reassure them that feeling stressed out or down is normal. By walking with students through these struggles, the church truly proves that it is a family.

2. Is your church focused on Jesus?

There’s a perception, too often based in reality, that churches are most concerned with political and social issues, buildings, budgets, programs, and events. On top of that, this generation has been overmarketed to and manipulated their entire life. Their world is filled with vain social media influencers and divisive political controversy. They’ve become guarded and cynical. As a result, students long for a faith that feels deep and rooted. College students yearn for a church experience that simply exalts and focuses on the person and work of Christ. Does this mean that the church shouldn’t address social issues or offer various ministries? Of course not. But students want to see that loving and following Jesus is your church’s most important value. They want to be shown how to walk with Jesus and grow in a deep, abiding relationship with him. Make sure this is the focus of your preaching and teaching, and students will respond positively.

Students also want to see that their church is rooted in Scripture and historic practices. Whereas previous generations might have been drawn to novelty, Generation Z is drawn to worship that feels serious and even ancient. There’s a small but noticeable trend among young adults toward Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Why? Because these churches claim to be ancient and unchanging. Southern Baptists, on the other hand, can give the impression that church history started with Martin Luther in 1517. This doesn’t mean that your church needs to adopt any particular liturgy. But help students know and feel that your church’s practices are rooted in Scripture and ancient practices.

3. Will you take my questions seriously?

On campus and social media, students are bombarded with ideas and ideologies that are hostile to Christianity. Even committed believers wrestle with how to reconcile faith and science, the problem of evil, and questions about gender and sexuality. Many struggle with questions and doubt. They’re asking, “Can I doubt and still belong in this church?” Many students assume doubt equals disqualification. Your church, however, can normalize honest wrestling. Create space for questions without surrendering orthodoxy. You don’t have to have a ready answer for every question. And certainly don’t speak confidently on issues that you don’t fully understand. But be willing to listen and understand their questions, and point them to a resource or person who can help. Just taking their questions seriously will go a long way.

4. Do you care about the marginalized?

When I was a college student in the 1990s, skeptics asked whether Christianity was true. They would ask, “Is it superstitious to believe in miracles?” “How can you trust the Bible?” “Did Jesus really rise from the dead?” Now, however, skeptical students ask, “Does Christianity oppress women and LGBTQ people?” “What about slavery in church history?” Or, “Does the church really care about the poor and the marginalized?” They’ve moved from asking, “Is Christianity true?” to asking, “Is Christianity good?” Many don’t question Christianity on doctrinal grounds; they question it on moral grounds.

Additionally, Generation Z is the most ethnically diverse generation in history, and almost everyone has a friend who identifies as LGBTQ. Caring about the marginalized is a non-negotiable for most college students. Harsh language about minorities or people on the fringe of society will be one of the quickest turn-offs for college students. Now, this doesn’t mean the church shouldn’t speak with moral clarity on issues. In fact, students appreciate straight talk. But they also want to see that your church takes seriously that every person is made in the image of God and has dignity, worth, and value. How we talk about people, especially those with whom we disagree, matters.

5. Will I have a place to serve?

Churches that do the best job of reaching students inevitably put those students to work within the church. It’s a mistake to offer only events for students to attend without giving them places to serve. If a student is only a consumer of ministry rather than an owner, they will be fickle. How can your church do this? Quickly plug students into service opportunities throughout the church. Plus, imagine how much life it would breathe in your church to have students serving in the youth and children’s ministry, helping lead worship, and serving as door greeters! And this benefits the students, as well. By serving, students move from saying, “I go to that church,” to saying, “I’m part of that church.” As a side note, I make a point to stop calling them “college kids.” They’re not kids; they’re adults. They’re not leaders in the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today!

Another way to empower them to serve is by partnering with the nearest campus ministry. Baptist Collegiate Ministry (or Baptist Student Ministry in Texas) operates on over 1,000 campuses in the United States. BCM is not a parachurch disconnected from local churches. BCMs are Cooperative Program ministries supported by local churches, often by yours. Empower your college students by saying, “When you lead that dorm Bible study for BCM, you’re serving our church’s mission, and we’re proud of you.” Give your blessing to them having an evangelistic ministry on campus. During my 25 years as a campus minister, we watched numerous local churches grow because they encouraged students to serve on campus; then those students reached more students and brought them to church.