Tips to help find and get settled into a new place to worship.
It's 8:14 a.m. You roll over to hit the snooze button one more time when you realize it's Sunday morning. The voice you heard in your dream was actually your roommate telling you to turn off the alarm. Still exhausted from running around with your new college friends until 2 a.m. the night before, you bury your face in your pillow and ask yourself the same question you've been asking for the past several weeks of your first semester in college: Where am I going to go to church THIS morning? If you're like most new students at Christian colleges, finding a church during your freshman year may be one of the greatest challenges you'll face. After all, you've probably never had to choose a church on your own before. Maybe you've attended the same church with your parents since the week you were born, or maybe you became a Christian in high school and went to church with some friends who invited you. No matter what your church situation was at home, going away to college in a new town means you'll be looking for a new church. Here are some tips to help you in your search.
Make It a Priority
Don't let that first Sunday go by without being in church. It takes about six weeks to establish a habit, good or bad. Every week you don't go, you're creating a habit: to forget about finding a church. This is especially true on a Christian college campus, where you may be tempted to think that chapel, small groups, Bible studies or Bible classes replace your need to get involved in a local church. "Finding a church is a major struggle for college students," said a campus pastor at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. "Many students try to make campus ministries their church, and that's a problem." While campus ministries are great, they can't replace the importance of the local church as your primary place to serve and worship.
Plan Ahead, Find a Fit
One of the best ways to take the stress out of finding a new church is to plan ahead. Don't wait until Sunday morning to decide which church you're going to visit—chances are, you'll end up not going at all. Instead, decide earlier in the week where you want to visit, so you'll have time to find the website or call the church office to get directions and service times. Some churches even have buses or carpool groups that will give you a ride if you call in advance. Plus, if you know where you're going to church, you'll be able to invite your new college friends to join you. They'll probably be glad someone took the initiative to find a church to visit, and you'll be more comfortable in a new church if you have a few friends with you.
Choosing a new church is one of the most important decisions you'll make during your freshman year.
During each visit, think about what you're looking for in a church. For example: Do you want a church where the minister goes through an entire book of the Bible over a series of weeks? Or would you be happier with a "topical sermon," where the pastor explains what the Bible says about a specific topic or issue? As for music, do you prefer guitar-driven praise songs or more traditional hymns accompanied by organ? Are you looking for a denominational or non-denominational church? In the end, what's really important is finding a church where the Bible is considered God's infallible Word and salvation is found only through accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). Most everything else is negotiable and a matter of personal preference or theological leanings.
A Place to Serve
It's tempting to visit churches and subconsciously ask yourself, "Does this church meet all my needs?" While it's important to find a church where you're refreshed and fed, it's equally important to find a church where you can serve. Are you great with kids? Look for a church where you can get involved with the children's ministry. Are you a computer whiz? Maybe you can help the church develop a great new website. A fringe benefit: It's easier to form relationships at church if you're actively involved. So when you ask yourself, "What can I get from this church?" also ask, "What can I give?"
No Church Is Perfect
Chances are, you are not going to find a replica of your home church. Don't be too quick to rule out possibilities just because the style or "personality" is slightly different than what you're used to. You won't find the "perfect" church, but you can likely find a good place to serve, grow, worship and enjoy Christian community. For most people, fitting in doesn't happen overnight. At first, you might feel uncomfortable as the "newcomer." And it will certainly be different than your church youth group experience. Give your new church some time to grow on you.
Make a Commitment
You'll probably want to visit several churches before deciding on one. But don't let a too-critical approach to your church search prevent you from getting plugged in anywhere. If the end of the semester is quickly approaching and you're still jumping from church to church, maybe it's time to pick a church and stick with it. Commit yourself to worshiping there consistently and get involved as soon as possible. Choosing a new church is one of the most important decisions you'll make during your freshman year. Your search will require some patience and a lot of prayer. Expect God to lead you to a church where you can grow and be challenged—God will meet you at the church where he's called you to be.
