Campus minister’s survey says BCM students remain active in church

By Ken Walker Highland Heights—While many in Southern Baptist circles express concern over the high rate that young adults are dropping out of church, a recent study by a Kentucky Baptist campus minister counteracts some of that gloom. The November 2010 study conducted via e-mail and Facebook shows that 94 percent of recent graduates of Kentucky colleges who were involved in Baptist Campus Ministries now attend church at least weekly. In addition, 67 percent of graduates from 2000 to 2010 hold leadership positions, according to Brian Combs, the Baptist campus minister at Northern Kentucky University. That reflects the large number who participated in prayer, missions, evangelism training and leadership opportunities during school. “They go into churches with an understanding of what it means to relate to each other and what it means to work with ministries,” Combs said. “That is healthy and leads people to Christ. They’re going to connect better with young adults.” The average Kentucky Baptist church should pay more attention to recent college graduates and invite these “Millennials” to take active roles, the campus minister suggested.

Brian Combs, Baptist campus minister at Northern Kentucky University

He noted, however, that many congregations want young adults to jump through certain hoops first. Eager to serve rather than follow tradition, they tend to gravitate to non-Baptist churches with fewer barriers to participation, Combs said.

“They do serve and are engaging different things, like the social justice movement,” he said. “They are doing the work of the church, sometimes outside the church. When they try to engage the church, they often hit brick walls.”

The complaints about church aired by young adults in Combs’ survey revolved around three primary concerns within congregations:

• Paying too much attention to denominational politics.

• A disconnect between the church’s preaching and members’ actions.

• A lack of authenticity.

One way congregations can address young adults’ changing outlook is focusing on small groups and building relationships, Combs said.

“Pastors and staff need to get involved in building more relationships and not just preaching at people,” he said. “We’re seeing the hierarchy of authority in the church flattening out.

“Students and young adults are tired of checklists. They want to know, ‘What’s going to make a difference in my life?’ Sometimes, pastors don’t understand they have to teach deacons and leaders how to build relationships.”

Like other Kentucky Baptist leaders, Combs said he sees a budding desire among Millennials to serve.

In 2010, NKU and other campuses sent students across the state to help churches distribute evangelistic materials door to door as part of the “Find It Here” emphasis.

Last spring, Combs’ group assisted various ministries at First Baptist Church of Shelbyville and in St. Louis before wrapping up in the London area.

Churches need to tap into this missions-oriented nature by providing tangible opportunities for young people to make a difference, Combs urged.

“Church often doesn’t matter to them,” the campus minister said. “Students need to be told and see how they can plug into the system. We’re often not able to help them with concrete ways, explaining how they can incorporate faith into their life.”

For example, many churches emphasize sexual abstinence before marriage. However, unless there is a strong connection to those proclaiming that message, they will rebel against it, he pointed out.

When adults take time to help young people understand why sexual purity is good and will strengthen their spiritual walks, they are more likely to listen, Combs said.

Another reason for strengthening relationships with young adults is their need for guidance. Despite his optimism about their outward-looking nature, Combs said he thinks some students pursue service for the wrong reasons.

Students who have grown up being told what to do enjoy the praise that comes with obedience. Many are so used to praise they seek it out, sometimes to their disadvantage, Combs noted. “They find fulfillment in (service) because of the praise they get.

“One thing I focus on is finding out who they are,” Combs explained. “I tell them, ‘Let’s have you be OK with that, find your God-given mission, and plug into that.’” (KBC)

Western Recorder issue date: January 24, 2012.

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