A foundation of faith for college freshmen
As high school
graduation season comes around in 2003, most students and parents are beginning
to look ahead toward the next tremendous challenge: college. Almost every
student headed to college has a fear or two about their next step. Just the
preparation for it can be daunting.
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Nailing down
living arrangements, completing financial aid forms, choosing coursework,
and walking through orientation are just a few of the steps to be completed
before freshmen hit campus this fall. And even after completing all of this
college groundwork to ensure a successful campus life, students will still
be ill-equipped for their most likely challenge on campus...a decline in their
spiritual life.
While it
is important to prepare for campus life (32.9% of 2001 college freshman dropped
out within their first year), the decay in spiritual life on campus poses
a greater threat to students (over two-thirds of Christians walk away from
their faith in college). In order for Christian freshmen to succeed spiritually
in college, some time must be invested now to build the foundation for their
on-campus faith.
In the upcoming
book Wisdom for the Road Ahead: Walking With God While Walking on Campus,
students from all across the nation share advice about what helped them to
build their faith in college. Before any freshman hits campus this fall, current
students suggest for them to consider taking the following steps this summer
in order to be ready for the spiritual challenges that await them.
1) Learn
about Christian organizations on campus - Almost any school in the nation
will have three or four Christian organizations on campus. Dana, who attends
the University of Minnesota, recommends finding out when and where Christian
groups meet on campus. “I went online and found out which groups met
on which days. Then I called the campus director and he arranged for someone
to meet me at my dorm before the first meeting and take me with them. Getting
connected was easier than I thought.”
2) Find churches
near campus that minister effectively to students - Searching for a “home
church” at college can be difficult. Matt, a senior at the University
of Missouri, recommends using Christian connections on campus to do the homework
for you. “I talked with staff members of the college Christian groups
to find out where most students went to church. I ended up with three tremendous
options, and found a church I really liked.” Just because a place of
worship comes recommended doesn’t mean it will be perfect. However,
a church that hits home for college students on your campus is certainly worth
exploring.
3) Pray and
read the Bible daily - Until college, most Christians coast in their faith
because they are spiritually spoon-fed by their parents, peers, and church
family. At college, growing in the Lord requires personal dedication.
“I
stumbled out of the gates as a freshman because I didn’t teach myself
to get up everyday and start in the Word,” says Mike, a junior at St.
Cloud State. “If I could do it over again, I’d read my Bible everyday
the summer before my freshman year just to get in the routine of spending
time with God everyday. I would also pray for God to bring solid Christians
into my life to help me grow spiritually.”
College life
can be incredibly challenging for Christians because, in addition to the typical
adjustments to campus life, there are significant adjustments in your spiritual
life.
Adam Erwin is the author of Navigating the Road Ahead: Clues, Questions, Secrets, and Certainties About Your College Experience. Adam graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2001, and now speaks to student, parent, and church groups.