As teenagers become college freshmen, they’re introduced to an entirely new world. Their fellow classmates share different priorities and different worldviews and faith; some have no faith at all. A seemingly growing trend among college students, particularly Christian ones, is the loss of their Christian faith. The big question, then, is how can one not lose their faith when they go to college?
Living out your faith at college instead of saving it for Sunday is no easy task. Christian freshmen are thrust into a zone of temptation just by stepping on campus. Most Christians don’t expect to lose their faith when they go to college, but the weight of the world distorts us from our faith in God. Exams, sports, and friends are just a few things that can cause our Christian faith to take the back burner. Here are a few ways college Christians can boost their faith and bring it back to the center of their life.
Find your ministry. God calls us to fellowship. After all, that’s one of the main points of going to church! Whatever denomination of the faith you come from, getting together with a group of like-minded believers is a great way to keep your faith alive. As our relationship with other believers grows, our relationship with God grows too!
Be a leader. If you’re head over heels for your faith, consider taking up a leadership role on campus. Help lead a Bible study group, get on the worship team at the campus church, or become the pillar of faith for your sorority/fraternity. Being in a leadership role can allow us to more easily shine as an example of the Christian faith and help plant seeds of faith in our community when they see us lead, speak, and act like Jesus.
Join a project. These usually occur over breaks, but joining a project sponsored by campus ministry can help you grow your faith in God and your community. Community outreach, mission trips, and more can help foster a community of faith, leaders of faith, and enhanced faith in God.
Make faith a priority. This is the hardest part of being a new Christian at college. Remember, just going to church and reading a Bible doesn’t make you a Christian. Christianity is a daily walk you must take with the Lord. Ensuring that we do our best to speak, listen, and love, as Christ did, is what it means to be a Christian. When we make our faith the priority in our daily life, we’re sure to bolster our resolve in a fallen world.
College can be intimidating for Christian teens. NuWell offers a safe space for Christian teens to come and receive spiritual guidance on navigating the issues of college life. Our Christian counselors are ready to help college students maintain a healthy mental and spiritual well-being using Scripture-based counseling methods.
