If we suppose, for the sake of argument, that an average person's life span is 77 years, and if we were to look for the most pivotal points in that person's life, what would they be?
Some would argue that those critical first years of life when so many things are set in motion are the most pivotal. In terms of the initial direction of one's life, who could argue?
I would add, however, that the young adult years when we begin to identify our life's passions and to determine what contribution we will make to humanity are also pivotal. These years of young adulthood, often freed from parental restraints, allow us to develop a sense of selfhood and to discover what values will shape our lives. Ideally, in these years true character is chosen by values within rather than imposed by others from without. In reality, collage-aged young adults are influenced by peers and by cultural forces of all kinds. Some are positive. Many are not.
These are the years in which we traditionally find our vocational footing in life. They are years filled with potentially life-altering decisions about marriage and faith identification or re-identification. By the term re-identification, I mean the time when we evaluate whether the faith we have grown up with is truly ours or whether it is merely the faith of our parents or others. If the faith is ours, it will affect our decision from the inside out. This faith becomes part of our core value system. If the faith is not really ours, however, it's influence will be from the outside in and may not be part of our core values. Thinking young adults will grapple with understanding their faith and making it a part of our lives in reality.
Numerous studies have been conducted about the decision-making processes of students as they enter and exit the college experience. One such study, called the Annuity Factor, was funded by numerous secular companies in order to understand the buying habits and cultural preferences of this age group. They discovered that an overwhelming number of college students change their buying habits and brand loyalties during their college years.
From a commercial point of view, this awareness indicates a great window of opportunity to influence the buying habits of this large segment of the population. They also found that the loyalties developed and commitments made at this age were most likely to continue with them for the rest of their lives.
What does this say about those of us who work with college students in ministry? It seems to suggest that we have a greater opportunity to influence young people during these years than at any other time in their lives. It also suggests that whatever decisions these young people make in terms of loyalties and habits will continue with them the duration of their live — including habits of churchmanship, personal devotion and living out of the gospel in the world.
Those of us who minister to college students know that the first two weeks of school are the most critical. During these few days they are forming friendships and identifying themselves with groups. If we do not reach these students in these first critical two weeks, the likelihood of reaching them afterward is very slim. That means that there is a critical two-week window in a person's 77 year lifespan that are almost indescribably important.
Where do you fit into this dialogue? If you are ministering to youth-age students who are graduating from high school and going to college this fall semester; or, if you are simply aware of some young people who are coming to our schools, we need to know! It is critically important for you to let us know who those students are so we can make initial contact and make sure that we as Virginia Baptists have the opportunity to be on the front end of helping our young people make biblical decisions about the direction of their lives.
Please contact Greg Alexander at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and help us to follow up with our young people on college campuses.
You may contact Greg Alexander by telephone at (800) 255-2428. Even better, email him at [email protected] or send a letter to him at P.O. Box 8568 Richmond VA, 23226-0568.