College Transition

Hey guys...I was reading an interesting and sobering article today from some amazing people at the Fuller Youth Institute.

FYI is an organization that transforms research into resources that transform youth and family ministries. And, they deliver! I heard the director speak at a conference not too long ago about the college transition that our students face at the end of their senior years. The article that I was reading today was about the same thing. It relates to a growing epidemic that is affecting the majority of our "churched" kids.



According to FYI research, only 1 every 7 students say their youth ministry prepared them well for college. WOW! This statistic haunts me and, more importantly, drives me every single day. You can read more of the article by clicking this link: College Transition



So, what can we do? We, at High Tide, are working very hard to make sure our students walk away from our ministry knowing what they believe in, having the confidence to say no to temptations, understanding the importance of a daily devotional time, and knowing what to do if they fail (like we all do) spiritually.

This coming Sunday night we're beginning a series called, " Pause". We're going to be looking at issues that face our students once they leave our protective wings and fly off to college. Then, later in the year we will be doing a series called, "Charged" which will focus on how to manage resources in a God-honoring way. After the Christmas season will will again do some "senior" focused topics highlighting life after youth group.

These are just a couple of ways we're facing this problem head-on but there are things that can be done at home as well!

• Talk to your students about the things they're going to experience at college like pressure to drink alcohol, have sex, and stop going to church (if they're outside of our local area).
• Begin, if you haven't already, teaching your students smart money-management tools. When they get to college they will be bombarded with free stuff if they'll only fill out a couple of credit card apps. Before they know it, they're weighed down by hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars in debt!
• Talk with your students about spending daily time with God and making Sunday morning church a priority in your family. These spiritual connections will be major growth points for your students once they leave the "nest".

We are honored to partner with you to see your student reach their full spiritual potential. And, if you need us in any way don't ever hesitate to ask!