Programming campus ministry events that appeal to students is a challenge.
A few years ago, leaders of several campus ministries at Kansas University got together to come up with a curriculum to study institutional racism.
They met regularly to brainstorm, advertised the program in the college newspaper and spread the word to local congregations.
One person signed up.
"Three days later, there was a spontaneous rally on campus. Someone had put up a sign in the Kansas Union, saying 'anyone wanting to talk about racism, come to the union,'" recalled the Rev. Joe Alford, Episcopal chaplain at KU.
"And they had 75 or 80 people show up."
The moral of the story:
"If the students don't come up with the idea for a (campus ministry-related) project or event, it's probably not going to fly. They have to want to do it.
"Gone are the days when you say you're going to have a Bible study or a discussion of an ethical issue and you automatically get 30 students," Alford said.
Such is the challenge -- and often the frustration -- of being a campus minister.
They have to compete for the attention of overscheduled young people, who enjoy a feast of choices when deciding how to spend their time.
It can be tough to draw a crowd to a worship service or discussion group when students could be hanging out at a coffeehouse, partying with friends -- or cramming for an exam.
It takes creativity, persistence -- and often luck -- to succeed.
'Flop or success'
There seems to be no sure way to predict which events KU students will find relevant, and which ones they'll ignore.
"We've planned lots of things that didn't fly," said the Rev. Rick Clock, campus minister of the University Christian Fellowship.
"Several years ago we brought in a Christian rock group and had it in the ballroom of the student union. We put out hundreds of mailings and flyers.
"It turned out to be the band and about 10 of us. I would call that less than successful."
What happened?
"You try to come up with some explanations. But who can really put their finger on why something's a flop or a success? We're always looking for ways to meet people where they are," Clock said.
Alford said he knows the feeling.
In August 1998, the Episcopal-Lutheran Campus Ministry threw a pig roast at Canterbury House, 1116 La., as a kickoff event for the whole year.
The roast featured two rock bands and a keg of beer for students over 21 with identification.
"We had between 200 and 300 people come. The whole street was like a block party," Alford said.
A pig roast held Aug. 20 this year was not as successful. It drew fewer than 100 students, he estimated.
"A lot of it has to do with what's going on during that time. The year before (in 1998), there was a pep rally down at the stadium, so there were a lot more people on the street.
"This year, sorority rush night didn't end until 11 p.m. As we were cleaning up, the street came alive with people," Alford said.
'Faith in Film'
The Rev. Heather Hensarling, the new United Methodist campus minister, described the struggle her colleagues at KU face.
"One of the big challenges is now we have at least a generation of folk who've not been raised in the church. Many have practiced their faith in nominal ways.
"They (students) say, 'Why should I come to a campus ministry event?'
"This is the generation that cut its teeth on TV. They grew up with computers. The electronic culture is a reality now," Hensarling said.
"I could go back to my good old hymnal and recite liturgy every week. But I also have to focus on the concrete, lived experience of being a 19-year-old in Lawrence."
Several students and Hensarling are preparing to give a "Faith in Film" series, meeting one Friday night each month to discuss spiritual issues as they're portrayed in movies.
"The best resource for creating new approaches and events is the students themselves," Hensarling said.
"I can create programming, but if it's done at my initiative, I may be missing the mark."
The Rev. Thad Holcombe, director of Ecumenical Christian Ministries, pointed to a noncredit course on human sexuality -- co-sponsored by ECM and three other campus ministries -- as an example of successful programming for students.
The 10-week seminar, led by Dennis Dailey, a professor of social welfare at KU, is in its fifth year. It averages about 90 students each time it's offered.
"We need, as a ministry, to be aware of students, what the questions are in their lives, what they want their lives to say. We have to take into consideration where the students are," Holcombe said.
"To me, that's essential."
-- Jim Baker's phone message number is 832-7173. His e-mail address is jbaker@ljworld.com.
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