Today's generation of college students love their digital technology.  Whether it's watching the newest video sensation on youtube or social networking with their friends on Facebook and/or Twitter or downloading the newest app for their smart phone, today's generation loves their technology.  As Brian Barela recently noted in a blog he wrote for Faith on Campus titled The Digital Future of Your College Ministry, people are shifting away from computers (namely desktops) and speculates that 70% of all internet usage will be through mobile devices within the next five years (currently 50%). 

So what does this all mean for the college minister and his ministry?  Well, Barela provides 5 suggestions that ministers can implement into their ministry to engage the digitally focused college student.  The suggestions are as follows:

     1.  Start Building up Your Video Presence on YouTube

     Barela suggests starting your own YouTube channel and try to create a video a week for the channel.  He
     advises that the length of the video should be limited to no more than 5 minutes.

     2.  Train Your Staff and Students to Capture and Share Pictures on Your Ministry's Facebook page

     Here we are reminded to not just put pictures up on your individual profile page, but upload engaging
     pictures on your ministry's facebook page so that everyone can participate in viewing the pictures.

     3.  Make Sure Your Website is Optimized for Mobile

     He suggests using Wordpress or using Google search to find another option to use.  Basically you want
     your site to be accessible on your college students phone.

     4.  Let Your Students Create Most of Your Content, But Upload it to a Central Location

     In other words let your students decide the best way to share content with other students.  Seeing how
     they are the ones accessing the information it only makes sense that they determine the preferred
     platform to use.

     5.  Share as Much Rich Media as Possible on Facebook

     Barela claims that pictures draw more attention so you should focus your text and information as picture
     descriptions and comments to pictures.

I think these are some good suggestions to get you started with engaging the digital culture of college students, but I would encourage you to not get so involved in the digital world that you forget about the real/physical world (couldn't think of a better word).  Students today crave meaningful relationships so seek them out!  Do not fall into the trap of ministry through only digital means but focus on face-to-face relationships and let the digital media keep students connected between your face-to-face encounters.