EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final story in a three-part series on the spiritual challenges college students face their freshmen year of college. See other stories in series here.
As college students across the country graduated this spring, there is another worthy milestone crossed among others who completed their first year of college. For campus ministry, it can be a pivotal year.
It’s no secret these days that many college students abandon their faith during the college years. That’s why getting connected to campus ministry and a local church is so important, said Morris Baker, Baptist Student Union director at the University of Mississippi.
“On the outset, I think it’s really important for students to get plugged into (campus ministry),” noted Baker, who has been involved in student ministry at the university for more than 20 years.
According to Lifeway Research numbers, 66% of church-attending teens drop out for at least one year as an adult. Of those who stop going, the study shows only 31% return and begin attending church regularly again. This means 7 in 10 who used to frequently attend but dropped out for a time, don’t return. Those first few weeks in the fall are vital, Baker said.
“Students form their habits for college during their first 6 to 8 weeks in being enrolled as freshmen,” said Baker, citing past research he’s done on the issue. “And those habits and attitudes and actions stick with them for a long time.” He added, “If we can get them plugged in early on, then there is a greater chance that they can be retained throughout their undergraduate career.”
In their own words
Marin, a freshman at the university, appears to be off to a good start.
Originally from Memphis, she was active in her student ministry at Bellevue Baptist Church. Arriving on campus, she had her sights set on plugging into campus ministry groups and connecting with an area church — and she did both.
“Since I have been at Ole Miss these past nine months, my faith has grown exponentially,” shared the freshmen psychology major.
Regarding one of her groups that met weekly on campus, Marin noted, “The Christian community there is wonderful, and Jesus speaks to me through (the speaker’s) message every time.”
While Marin alluded to some challenges her freshmen year, she shared how finding a Christian community and attending her church in the area helped strengthen her faith.
“Overall, I have grown so much closer to the Lord this year than any other year,” she said.
“There have been hard times these last two semesters for sure, but through the sweet Christian community on campus and the Word poured into me by the campus ministers, I understand more now who God is
— a perfect, kind father who is on our side and loves us to the point where He sacrificed His only son,
Jesus, for us.”
Meanwhile at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, Jessica also reflected on a year of spiritual growth. Both Jessica and Marin were in the same small group at Bellevue and share the same major.
A week before finals, Jessica mentioned her excitement about an upcoming ministry trip with Union University Singers to Greece, and she will be working this summer at Bellevue’s coffee shop. She also shared how she found a church near campus that she attended when in town on Sundays and Wednesdays.
One lesson she noted was learning to appreciate “how important relationships are, especially in college.”
“It’s really easy just to stay in one bubble, just be around people in your major or people in your sorority and make that your whole group,” she said. “I have tried really hard to branch out and be involved in several groups, and I think that was really helpful because I got to see lots of diversity.”
Stronger faith
Overall, she noted, it strengthened her faith more while also allowing her to appreciate other perspectives.
“I would definitely say for 100% my faith is stronger this year,” she said. “There are a lot of people here from different Christian backgrounds. … Yes, it is a private (Baptist) school, but it is interesting to see all of the different ways of thinking about everyone’s personal walk with God. And that has strengthened mine because I’ve had the freedom to really explore that.”
Deciding for themselves
Baker noted every student needs community and has to decide for themselves if they are going to live out their faith or not. Parents can’t do it for them.
And it is important, he noted, for students to find a faith community outside their typical college circles.
“Our message to students is you need intergenerational fellowship,” he said. “You don’t need to just be around college students 24/7. That’s fun, but you also need some accountability in your walk. You need some growth from older believers.”
The key for parents is to make the most of the opportunities they have while their students are living under their roof, he said. Baker noted that parents will sometimes call him and ask him to reach out to their student to help get them involved.
“And it really doesn’t work,” he said. “The student has to choose, not so much the parent. It has to be the student’s choice. Because if they make the choice, they’re going to stick with it.
“I think for the 17 to 18 years that student is home, (parents need to) work on training that student to think biblically,” he said. “I think the first responsibility is work as a parent to help lead that student to have a biblical mindset. And then when they go to college, continue to pray for them.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This is the final story in a three-part Freshmen & Faith series. To read the full story and others in series, go to tbponline.org/freshmen-and-faith.
