A Must Read Book for College Ministers

I must admit I have been disappointed in the last couple of books that have been written to help us understand and help this generation of college students.  BUT, that is not the case for me with Tim Elmore's book, Generation IY.  It is great, but scarey.  It is excellent!  Some things he addresses are Why guys are not growing up.  One factor is that students today more and more live in a world of just their peers and they do not have enough adult role models to help them gradually transition into the adult world.  When they get to it, many now are turning around and moving back home.

As I contemplate retiring from the ministry at Arkansas State University, someone the other day was kind of enough to tell me they wanted me to continue and why was I quitting.  I jokingly said, "I don't have enough hair to spike."  As I have read Elmore's book, I am reminded how much, even more now, that students need folks working with them that are not just like them. There needs to be some old guys and gals prodding them to keep growing up and maturing,  I even said to Sue this morning, "maybe, I shouldn't quit."

Tim comments on how more and more activities are aimed at seperating people.  This is where the church collegiate ministries have a huge opportunity that campus based ministries do not have....getting college students with people in different age catgories....student adoption programs that get students into homes and see how families work, sitting by people of all ages in worship, seeing familes doing life together.

This is the best book I have read for college ministers in the last couple of years!  I am suddenly feeling even better about being an old guy in college ministry!
Arliss