Do I have to be like everyone else to be a part of the Christian Community?
Why you should join a Christian group at uni
When you reach university or college, this is the first thing you should do.
For some Fervr readers, final exams have finished and freedom is here! For others, the end of school may be a few months or even years off, but it’s coming.
After school, many people head off to university or college. This time of life is a wonderful season of learning, meeting new people and expanding your horizons. And, with one simple choice, it can also be a time when you grow immensely in your faith!
How do you make this happen? By joining the Christian group on campus at your university or college. Here are three reasons to make sure you join the Christian group:
Excellent Bible teaching
Most Christian groups run regular meetings in which the Bible is preached by qualified and experienced Bible teachers. In Australia, most of these teachers have studied at Bible college and are really familiar with God’s word, and how to communicate it to young people. So you can be sure that you’re going to receive some really encouraging teaching!
The preaching at a uni Christian group will probably also be a little more sophisticated and in-depth that what you may hear at youth group or even a regular church service. The audience for a Christian group are all university-educated people, and so the preacher can pitch his or her talk to people with that knowledge and education. That’s not to say what you’ll learn at church is unsophisticated! But you may find at uni, things are a little more philosophical, academic and challenging.
The Bible teaching at a uni Christian group will also be different to what you’ve heard at church and that’s a good thing! All preachers and teachers have different strengths and areas of expertise, and by hearing lots of people speak about God’s word you’re going to learn more than you would if you only ever listened to one minister.
Built-in encouragement
Uni and college can be hard and lonely places for Christians. You’re surrounded by people with different beliefs, and Christians often face ridicule for being “conservative” or “close-minded”. Thankfully, if you join the Christian group, you’ll get instant encouragement!
When I was at uni, my Christian friends were a huge help as I processed what I learned, shared my experiences of mild persecution and struggled to reconcile my beliefs with what I saw on campus. At Bible study groups and in social situations, my brothers and sisters in Christ spoke with me, encouraged me to stand firm and prayed for me.
They also encouraged me to be brave, trust God and stand up for the gospel and share my beliefs. It was hard to tell people I was a Christian, and hard to share the reasons for my faith, but I am thankful that I had those people around me to push me, especially as I was one of only two or three Christians in my year in my course.
Training for life
Probably the best thing I got out of being a part of the Christian group at my uni was the training. Throughout my four years of study I was comprehensively trained in Bible study leading, discipleship, evangelism and more, and these are skills I will be able to take into any future ministries I am involved in.
Even now, in the Bible study my husband and I run for young adults in our church, we use the skills we learnt at uni to write Bible studies, follow up and disciple members of our group and help our group apply the Bible to their lives. The training we received was invaluable.
Join the Christian group at uni and seek out every opportunity you can to get trained in ministry. Make your university years about learning not just what you’re studying, but also how to be an effective minister of God’s word.
If you’re keen to join a Christian group at uni, we suggest you visit the IFES website to find a group that faithfully adheres to the gospel message. In Australia you can visit this site to find your uni and get connected to the group on campus! Don’t waste this great opportunity.
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