The Importance of a "Home" Church During College
I'm not sure what the exact number is, but I am certain I attended at least six different churches during my first two years of college in Doylestown, PA. There was a Mennonite church (really--thanks, Justin!), a charismatic church I was not prepared for, a Vineyard church, a Calvary Chapel, a just starting church that called itself a "center" instead of a "church" (also met in a retirement home's rec room, I believe). I think there were more, but those are the only ones I can recall.
By the time my junior year rolled around, I learned my pastor from back home was moving to Doylestown to pastor a church there. My church experience during my junior and senior year was infinitely better because of this stability. A local pastor knew me and visited me on campus. I got to know a congregation. And my senior year I was a youth leader. This all resulted in discipleship, accountability, and service.
Unfortunately, I do have to admit the greatest growth in faith I experienced during my entire college experience was not in a church, but on campus through my time in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Parachurch ministries play a critical role in developing and maturing the faith in college students. InterVarsity, Disciplemakers, Cru, CCO, and many others have left their imprints all over the blooming faith of young adults.
And yet, the connection to a bible teaching local church is even more important, though sadly overlooked. There's been a decent amount written about why, but I believe the most important reason is this: post-college faithfulness.
Parachurch ministries are invaluable. They come to campus, preach Christ, play spike ball, disciple, and demonstrate a life for Christ. I see it especially useful when a young man or woman leading a college ministry is just married and possibly even has young children. This demonstrates what is commonly the next stage of life after college. But something that needs to be evident in the life of the college minister is active membership in a local church congregation.
When Christian college students graduate and move on to this next stage of life, whether it includes marriage, career, or mission work, they will need to find a bible teaching church. The local church matters. If the value of the local church is not a part of ministering to college students, we are not doing everything we can to prepare the individual for his or her post-college life.
Now, two things before I wrap this up. First, there needs to be a reasonable amount of time for the college student to conduct a church search. Two years, like it took me, is not reasonable. I would say the college student should have settled in somewhere by the end of his or her first semester. When the student returns from Christmas break, he or she should be able to know exactly where to worship Sunday morning.
Second (and this needs to be its own multi-post blog topic), the local church needs to be welcoming of college students. Some local churches are equipped to outreach to the campus and some are not. That's okay. Regardless, they need to be excited to see a young person walk in and is considering making this congregation home for the next several years. It doesn't matter that they don't have much money to tithe. It's an opportunity to influence the next generation of Christians. Welcome them, invite them over for dinner, offer them opportunities to serve, and visit them on campus. After all, campus is their home.
College students need stability while away at college. The local church can be that source, and parachurch campus ministries need to encourage it and ought to help facilitate it.
FURTHER READING
"Why College Ministry Needs the Local Church" - TGC
"Growing the College Ministry in Your Local Church" - Collegiate Collective
"Do I Have to go to Church to be a Christian?" - Core Christianity
By the time my junior year rolled around, I learned my pastor from back home was moving to Doylestown to pastor a church there. My church experience during my junior and senior year was infinitely better because of this stability. A local pastor knew me and visited me on campus. I got to know a congregation. And my senior year I was a youth leader. This all resulted in discipleship, accountability, and service.
Unfortunately, I do have to admit the greatest growth in faith I experienced during my entire college experience was not in a church, but on campus through my time in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Parachurch ministries play a critical role in developing and maturing the faith in college students. InterVarsity, Disciplemakers, Cru, CCO, and many others have left their imprints all over the blooming faith of young adults.
And yet, the connection to a bible teaching local church is even more important, though sadly overlooked. There's been a decent amount written about why, but I believe the most important reason is this: post-college faithfulness.
Parachurch ministries are invaluable. They come to campus, preach Christ, play spike ball, disciple, and demonstrate a life for Christ. I see it especially useful when a young man or woman leading a college ministry is just married and possibly even has young children. This demonstrates what is commonly the next stage of life after college. But something that needs to be evident in the life of the college minister is active membership in a local church congregation.
When Christian college students graduate and move on to this next stage of life, whether it includes marriage, career, or mission work, they will need to find a bible teaching church. The local church matters. If the value of the local church is not a part of ministering to college students, we are not doing everything we can to prepare the individual for his or her post-college life.
Now, two things before I wrap this up. First, there needs to be a reasonable amount of time for the college student to conduct a church search. Two years, like it took me, is not reasonable. I would say the college student should have settled in somewhere by the end of his or her first semester. When the student returns from Christmas break, he or she should be able to know exactly where to worship Sunday morning.
Second (and this needs to be its own multi-post blog topic), the local church needs to be welcoming of college students. Some local churches are equipped to outreach to the campus and some are not. That's okay. Regardless, they need to be excited to see a young person walk in and is considering making this congregation home for the next several years. It doesn't matter that they don't have much money to tithe. It's an opportunity to influence the next generation of Christians. Welcome them, invite them over for dinner, offer them opportunities to serve, and visit them on campus. After all, campus is their home.
College students need stability while away at college. The local church can be that source, and parachurch campus ministries need to encourage it and ought to help facilitate it.
FURTHER READING
"Why College Ministry Needs the Local Church" - TGC
"Growing the College Ministry in Your Local Church" - Collegiate Collective
"Do I Have to go to Church to be a Christian?" - Core Christianity
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