2. The Urgency of the First 3 Weeks

Whats the difference between reaching students during the first 3 weeks and other times of the semester?

They are looking for friends.

They are like wet cement.

They are trying to figure out who they are.

They are trying to figure out where they belong.

They are open to trying something new.

They actually have time.

There is a point of diminishing return after the first 3 weeks.

So What?

This is one of the most opportune times they will ever have to be reached for Christ in their entire life.

What happens in the first three weeks of their college career will largly impact the course of the rest of their lives.

This is harvest time!

Proverbs 10:5 ESV

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Paraphrase for the fall launch, “He who reaches new students during the first three weeks of school is a prudent son, but he who gets distracted during the first three weeks is a son who brings shame.”

This is our harvest time:

We clear our schedules to build relationships with other students.

We go out of our comfort zone to invite people.

We embrace inconveniences to reach as many new students as we can as fast as we can.

Objections:

“I need to get ahead on school work.” You can get ahead on school work later; this opportunity will be gone if you don’t take it.

“I want to settle in to the semester first.” By the time you settle in, the new students will be settled in; and you will have missed the opportunity. Settle in later.

“I don’t want to burn out.” Prep yourself like you would for a race. Cut out extra activities. Get enought sleep. Take a sabbath day. Eat well. And remember that this is just a sprint. You should be tired by the end of it. But it is so worth it.

Capitalize on the golden opportunity.

There are a million things you can do that will give you the same return on investment any time of the year:

Job - Salary stays the same.

Working out - Results stay the same.

Homework, studying.

Hobbies

But with reaching new students, your return on investment is exponentially greater. So lets capitalize on the golden harvest time.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 ESV

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

We want to get all hands on deck!

Why is reaching freshmen so strategic?

They have the longest amount of time to grow.

They are the most available.

They have relational margin.

The freshmen we reach this fall will be the ones who lead and influence the graduating class of 2031.

24 Fresh

25 soph

26 Jr.

27 Sr

27 fresh

28 soph

29 Jr.

30 Sr.

God, give us freshmen.