Nor Cal / Nev College Ministries

By default, you get more of what you already have. This is as natural as the sun rising in the east. People like being with people like them.

When students walk into a group for the first time, they unconsciously ask themselves two questions:

• Is there anyone in this room I would consider dating?
• Is there anyone in this room I would like to become friends with?

If the answer to both those questions is no, don't count on seeing that student again. As a rule of thumb they're going to drift somewhere else.

What are some implications of this?

1. If your group is composed of socially awkward people, you will draw more socially awkward people. This can become a difficult cycle to break. If your core are all non-mainstream people it's probably not time to launch anything formal! See Reach The Heart Of The Campus.
2. If your group is culturally homogenous (just a bunch of white people, for example), don't expect many people from other cultures to stay. This is especially true of American minority students, but is also true of international students. Until you get a critical mass of Malaysians, for example, you'll have a hard time getting more. Once you get a certain number (say 3-5), you'll quickly jump to the next level (10-15).
3. If your group is composed of a bunch of frat boys, you'll have to disciple them to care for people less cool in the world's eyes than themselves. Otherwise the socially awkward people will show up and the Fabios will make fun of them and run them off. It's a social norm you have to crush with the gospel.

How can you get around this?

• Pray.
• Recruit staff who are radically different from yourself.
• Become all things to all people. To the geeks be like a geek, to the jocks be like a jock.