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College Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture
Today's college students are in the midst of a seismic shift. They are balancing dramatic changes in their own lives while dealing with uncertainties in a world around them. In a culture that is no longer predominantly Christian, college ministry workers can no longer assume the students on their campuses have a basic understanding of Christ or his Church.In College Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture, Stephen Lutz translates missional theology to the practice of college ministry-ministry as a proactive movement that is constantly adapting to its ever-changing environment. This resource will equip college ministry staff, pastors, churches, and student leaders to minister effectively to today's college students with both depth and practical insight.Lutz walks you through the approaches needed to establish, grow and maintain a missional college ministry.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 18, 2012
There are few books on campus ministry. Youth ministry? Preaching ministry? Children's Ministry? Hundreds. Campus ministry? Very, very few.
Thankfully Stephen Lutz, campus minister at Penn State University, has written a fantastic book that goes a long way to filling this void. Lutz argues that ministry to college students is the most vital ministry in our culture today. Part of me wants to say, "of course he's going to say that...we all want to think our thing is the most important." But I think he is right (full disclosure: I am a campus minister, lol). University campuses shape the future leaders and entrepreneurs in our country. Further, university campuses in America have a worldwide influence as many students who will lead other countries attend university here.
That said, campus ministry is no new thing. There have been ministries on campus for a long time. But Lutz identifies a problem - most campus ministries are stuck in a "Christendom" way of thinking (as are most churches, probably). In Christendom you could assume most people in your community were at the very least "Christianized". If they did not attend church they still had a basic understanding of the things of faith. Getting them into church required as little as asking them to come, having a revival (think Billy Graham crusade).
The world has changed. Christendom is dead. Most people are not "Christianized". Most college students lack a basic understanding and will not simply show up if we have a Bible study. Part of the problem, Lutz identifies, is that campus ministries are fighting over a shrinking portion of the college campus population: those Christian students who will show up with little effort. Lutz urges us to recognize the post-Christendom era we live in and take steps to reach out to that large population, the majority on campus, who are not Christian.
The rest of the book offers all kinds of ideas and thoughts on how to do this. He lists various shifts that come along with becoming "missional": rather than creating a large group, focus on reaching a large campus; rather than inward focused Bible studies that meet the needs of the group, create outward focused communities that bless the whole campus. Later chapters expand on these shifts, urging campus ministers to work to not just see the whole campus as "non-Christian" and then talk at them, but to take time to listen to them, realizing there are many different types of people who may not take part in Christian community from hardcore atheists to disillusioned church kids to those who just don't care.
Overall, this is a must read for adults who work with college students. It is a good read for Christians in college too. Thanks Steve for a great book.
Thankfully Stephen Lutz, campus minister at Penn State University, has written a fantastic book that goes a long way to filling this void. Lutz argues that ministry to college students is the most vital ministry in our culture today. Part of me wants to say, "of course he's going to say that...we all want to think our thing is the most important." But I think he is right (full disclosure: I am a campus minister, lol). University campuses shape the future leaders and entrepreneurs in our country. Further, university campuses in America have a worldwide influence as many students who will lead other countries attend university here.
That said, campus ministry is no new thing. There have been ministries on campus for a long time. But Lutz identifies a problem - most campus ministries are stuck in a "Christendom" way of thinking (as are most churches, probably). In Christendom you could assume most people in your community were at the very least "Christianized". If they did not attend church they still had a basic understanding of the things of faith. Getting them into church required as little as asking them to come, having a revival (think Billy Graham crusade).
The world has changed. Christendom is dead. Most people are not "Christianized". Most college students lack a basic understanding and will not simply show up if we have a Bible study. Part of the problem, Lutz identifies, is that campus ministries are fighting over a shrinking portion of the college campus population: those Christian students who will show up with little effort. Lutz urges us to recognize the post-Christendom era we live in and take steps to reach out to that large population, the majority on campus, who are not Christian.
The rest of the book offers all kinds of ideas and thoughts on how to do this. He lists various shifts that come along with becoming "missional": rather than creating a large group, focus on reaching a large campus; rather than inward focused Bible studies that meet the needs of the group, create outward focused communities that bless the whole campus. Later chapters expand on these shifts, urging campus ministers to work to not just see the whole campus as "non-Christian" and then talk at them, but to take time to listen to them, realizing there are many different types of people who may not take part in Christian community from hardcore atheists to disillusioned church kids to those who just don't care.
Overall, this is a must read for adults who work with college students. It is a good read for Christians in college too. Thanks Steve for a great book.
July 31, 2023
“Revolutions have always started with the young.”
December 31, 2015
After several years in college ministry I have learned a great deal about what works, what doesn't, and what our mission is as campus missionaries. I have been reading this book with our student interns and have found that nearly all of my conclusions on the nature and future of college ministry are confirmed in this book. Rarely do I find myself in such agreement with a book, but Lutz provides a balanced, well-reasoned, and most importantly, biblically-sound approach. This is a must-read for all college ministers, and I would highly recommend it to all church leaders in close proximity to a college or university campus.
August 14, 2019
Great resource for those in college ministry. Campus Ministries have often reduced themselves to throwing fun events, programs, or parties and inviting people. Lutz calls people to live missionally in lost spheres of influence. His section on 10 necessary shifts for campus ministries is great! He questions if we are really equipping college students as mature disciples in Christ who can live on mission. Or are we merely gathering them for a service? Hoping all campus and church college ministries will turn their ministry from a "come and see" model to a "go and tell" model.
September 28, 2019
I was unimpressed by this book. His thoughts seemed rather elementary and his writing style was not engaging. While I agreed with 90% of what he wrote, I disagree with his view of the relationship between church and parachurch. It seems like he has a low view of church and overemphasizes the separation between the two. Biblically, the parachurch ministry should be a ministry under the authority of the local church, not separate from it.
July 27, 2013
Great content, writing style was unpolished and often convoluted
January 25, 2023
I’ve been in ministry for more than 10 years now with (admittedly) one year of specifically college ministry under my belt. I found this book a little obvious, but that may just be my background. I didn’t really learn anything and felt it hyper-critical of current campus ministries as well as fairly obviously complementarian (totally fine for some, just not my taste).
If you’re new to ministry in general, this may be a very helpful resource. I’m just not sure I’m the demographic Stephen Lutz was looking for.
If you’re new to ministry in general, this may be a very helpful resource. I’m just not sure I’m the demographic Stephen Lutz was looking for.
August 12, 2019
Insightful, practical, and gospel-focused. Not just hypothetical, but written from obvious on-the-ground experience. Addresses modern challenges in college ministry while staying centered on God’s global purposes to redeem & reconcile the world to Himself.
June 2, 2021
Great book for thinking through discipleship and mission on campus! Author seems very faithful, but at times feels a bit soft for my blood by emphasizing contextualization.
But 4.5 stars if that was an option
But 4.5 stars if that was an option
December 29, 2017
One of the better books on college ministry that I have read. I appreciate Lutz giving a picture of healthy missional college ministry.
January 30, 2018
One of the best books on collegiate ministry in a post-Christian culture.
August 12, 2019
The best book on college ministry that I have read. We read it as a college ministry staff. I highly recommend it.
May 26, 2023
This book provides good thoughts on the current state of College Ministry. I found it to be helpful, but not exhaustive on the topic. A good introduction, but not a final authority.
May 22, 2024
Really enjoyed the book! Found lots of great insight - would love to see a revised copy as this was published in 2011.
September 22, 2022
As stated in a previous review, I am very weary of reading about post-modern and post-Christian topics due to how much I have had to deal with them during my time doing collegiate ministry. However, just because I am tired of it does not make it any less important, and as well it does not mean that I am right in my flippant attitude. I was glad to see that this book was not written in such a way as just talking around the concepts the author was trying to convey but that he gave good anecdotal evidence of them and made the writing palatable.
I have heard similar models talked about before in terms of a scale showing “how Christianized” a person is. Lutz uses this in a very effective way, however, in showing how in many ways, modern para-church ministries are fighting over the small segment of the campus composed of the “m0s and m1s,” those people who have had significant encounters with Christianity and do not need much coaxing (e.g., to join a Bible study.) This segment also appears to be shrinking more as we enter into a more post-Christian culture with little Gospel literacy. One of Lutz’s points is that a good college ministry should not become the “Christian Bubble” on campus. A good college ministry seeks to engage with non-believers frequently.
More than anything, when it comes to this subject, it seems that contextualization is a taboo word. It can conjure good and bad images depending on your experiences in ministry. Predictably Lutz turns to the Mars Hill narrative in the book of Acts to exegete this idea. It was tastefully done and not a copycat of how I have heard it apply to ministries. Lutz is also very candid in admitting that many who read Acts 17 see it as Paul’s worst missionary encounter because of how few converts he makes here.
Nevertheless, Lutz helps the reader see that when we go up on the Mars Hill of our campus and make no disciples, that we are not necessarily failures. These moments are part of the work God is doing. Lutz has seen much of Evangelical college ministry be geared toward instant results and methods rather than putting in earnest uncomfortable work that many times does not seem on the surface to be very fulfilling. I think the example of having the group meet at the “liberal progressive” coffee shop instead of a church building was a great example of trying to contextualize and having the group discuss spiritually probing questions rather than go through the catechism. As well of note is the atheist organization president who asked for prayer, I think as well, is a poignant example of ministers who contextualize.
What is more, is that it is good to see that his philosophy and methods, because they are bare bones and biblically based, are easy to internalize and learn from for people who are working in different ministry contexts. I think this shows that God works through ordinary means and concepts and that the author has a solid understanding of this in that. Overall, a good read, if a bit disjointed at times, that provokes thought on how to reach college students since obviously pizza parties every Friday is not going to work.
I have heard similar models talked about before in terms of a scale showing “how Christianized” a person is. Lutz uses this in a very effective way, however, in showing how in many ways, modern para-church ministries are fighting over the small segment of the campus composed of the “m0s and m1s,” those people who have had significant encounters with Christianity and do not need much coaxing (e.g., to join a Bible study.) This segment also appears to be shrinking more as we enter into a more post-Christian culture with little Gospel literacy. One of Lutz’s points is that a good college ministry should not become the “Christian Bubble” on campus. A good college ministry seeks to engage with non-believers frequently.
More than anything, when it comes to this subject, it seems that contextualization is a taboo word. It can conjure good and bad images depending on your experiences in ministry. Predictably Lutz turns to the Mars Hill narrative in the book of Acts to exegete this idea. It was tastefully done and not a copycat of how I have heard it apply to ministries. Lutz is also very candid in admitting that many who read Acts 17 see it as Paul’s worst missionary encounter because of how few converts he makes here.
Nevertheless, Lutz helps the reader see that when we go up on the Mars Hill of our campus and make no disciples, that we are not necessarily failures. These moments are part of the work God is doing. Lutz has seen much of Evangelical college ministry be geared toward instant results and methods rather than putting in earnest uncomfortable work that many times does not seem on the surface to be very fulfilling. I think the example of having the group meet at the “liberal progressive” coffee shop instead of a church building was a great example of trying to contextualize and having the group discuss spiritually probing questions rather than go through the catechism. As well of note is the atheist organization president who asked for prayer, I think as well, is a poignant example of ministers who contextualize.
What is more, is that it is good to see that his philosophy and methods, because they are bare bones and biblically based, are easy to internalize and learn from for people who are working in different ministry contexts. I think this shows that God works through ordinary means and concepts and that the author has a solid understanding of this in that. Overall, a good read, if a bit disjointed at times, that provokes thought on how to reach college students since obviously pizza parties every Friday is not going to work.
August 17, 2013
I have been involved in college ministry for well over a decade, and I found Lutz's book to be both insightful and inspiring. He makes the claim that college campuses are the most important mission field in the world. At the same time, he is honest about the wonderful opportunities, drawbacks, limitations and frustrations that are part of college ministry.
I found his chapters on the roles of a college minister and the future of colleges to be very insightful. I also greatly appreciated his take on church vs. para church ministry to college students and how these two can form a third way.
I would highly recommend this book to campus ministers, college pastors, and those who work with college students. I believe that it will be a very important book to which I return and one that could be radically formative in e ministry of those who are early in their college ministry experience.
I found his chapters on the roles of a college minister and the future of colleges to be very insightful. I also greatly appreciated his take on church vs. para church ministry to college students and how these two can form a third way.
I would highly recommend this book to campus ministers, college pastors, and those who work with college students. I believe that it will be a very important book to which I return and one that could be radically formative in e ministry of those who are early in their college ministry experience.
July 20, 2013
This is the best book on campus ministry in terms of its current and future challenges (and opportunities) that I've ever read. A friend who worked with Stephen Lutz in his ministry gave me the highest recommendation on the book, and the book exceeded the recommendation.
I am in a church planting context where I do ministry with college students. So, I valued the book for its help in terms of college ministry, but the principles also apply to church planting. Church planters, college town pastors, campus ministers, and missional pioneers would all benefit from this book.
Thanks Stephen for contributing to this important conversation in the North American missional frontier.
I am in a church planting context where I do ministry with college students. So, I valued the book for its help in terms of college ministry, but the principles also apply to church planting. Church planters, college town pastors, campus ministers, and missional pioneers would all benefit from this book.
Thanks Stephen for contributing to this important conversation in the North American missional frontier.
February 23, 2017
A solid evaluation of the current challenges facing college ministry today. As for his solution to these challenges, I found myself agreeing to his analysis most of the time, but was left without a very clear idea about how to implement his idea of creating a missional ministry. Overall, a good challenge and worth a read, but additional work will be needed for anyone to answer the challenges Lutz has so clearly identified.
April 29, 2014
Good book. Recommend to anyone involved in young adult/college age ministry, as well as youth ministry. The insights to how we have arrived and now moved past the post-modern and now post-christian culture is eye opening and good for thinking through our approach to gospel communication to this and the next generations.
July 2, 2015
He did a great job with this book. Addressed College ministry very well. He presented his argument well and he did his research well. Only thing I wish there would have been more of is practicality, but at the same time I think he wrote it in a way to leave that stuff out intentionally.
Anyone in college ministry should read this book.
Anyone in college ministry should read this book.
March 12, 2020
I am a student serving in a college ministry and this is a great book that encourages you to go out in new practical ways. Lutz wants us to be very intentional and all-out with our ministry, doing whatever it takes to capture the heart of our campus with the gospel and see transformation. I like how its both practical and theological. Amazing read!
January 27, 2012
Solid book examining the "missional" impulse toward college ministry. Nothing that hasn't been covered before, however the focus being primarily on college ministry makes it unique. I'll probably have college students I know read this for encouragement and to brainstorm new ideas.
July 6, 2017
A fantastic look at the current issues facing college ministry. Lutz breaks down the problems that ministers face and he provides ideas for applying the Bible to those problems. It is simple and elegant.
July 16, 2014
Really, really good read for anyone in college ministry. Very well written. Helpful in making me think about strategically reaching the campus. A little confusing on how the church and para church should relate, however.
May 29, 2012
Well written. I recommend this book for anyone in ministry, especially those who do campus ministry.
March 15, 2013
There aren't many books dealing w/ministry specifically to college students, but this is the best one there is. I got so many ideas from this book.
January 29, 2014
I wish Lutz shared more stories. I found the theory a little shallow in light of more serious missional books.
The book just didn't do that much for me.
The book just didn't do that much for me.
January 12, 2014
A thought-provoking book about campus ministry from one who knows the territory and has reflected on his call with biblical, theological, and practical depth.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews