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So you've decided to start looking for a church home for your time at Baylor, eh? Well, then let me make a little guess here. Statistically speaking:
Whatever your reason, you want to visit several churches with the intent of settling down with a group of friends at a place where you can feel comfortable, stimulated, connected, peaceful, or spiritually-filled.
Good luck.
Some of you are already locked-in with a great place, and others of you are just starting this journey. I won't talk about it in this post, but I want you all to know that I struggled with this - I visited 22 churches before realizing what my priorities should've been in selecting one. For all of you preparing to walk out your own faith in college, I have something that might make your search a little easier. To help avoid the most common pitfalls students experience in finding their home, here are...
- 40% of you are going to church because you used to back home and consider churchgoing a "good habit" for a good life.
- 30% of you feel like you're "tagging along" with a group, but mostly to enjoy the social experience.
- 20% of you are looking for opportunities to serve and and give back to your community.
- 10% of you came for those free tacos they give out every other Sunday.
Whatever your reason, you want to visit several churches with the intent of settling down with a group of friends at a place where you can feel comfortable, stimulated, connected, peaceful, or spiritually-filled.
Good luck.
Some of you are already locked-in with a great place, and others of you are just starting this journey. I won't talk about it in this post, but I want you all to know that I struggled with this - I visited 22 churches before realizing what my priorities should've been in selecting one. For all of you preparing to walk out your own faith in college, I have something that might make your search a little easier. To help avoid the most common pitfalls students experience in finding their home, here are...
The 3 Questions You Shouldn't Ask When Finding A Church Home
1. "Did I Enjoy The Music?"
Don't get me wrong - I love a great jam session with a shredding guitar and a wicked drum solo. However, students will hinge their first impression of a church (which can be a BIG deal in the long-run) on whether or not the music "vibed with them."
Some churches you visit may sing more hymns than you're used to. Maybe they don't use instruments, or maybe they play exclusively from the Hillsong Collection. You can choose to discover God in NEW ways when the opportunity is presented - and this church may be the one to help you make that step. Even with the excessive organ.
Some churches you visit may sing more hymns than you're used to. Maybe they don't use instruments, or maybe they play exclusively from the Hillsong Collection. You can choose to discover God in NEW ways when the opportunity is presented - and this church may be the one to help you make that step. Even with the excessive organ.
2. "Does The Pastor Agree With Everything That I Do?"
You'll know when it happens - some of you will actually be waiting for it. Halfway through the sermon presented by your pastor, you'll catch a statement tossed aside by him or her as fact.
You disagree with this statement. This is bad. You need to get out of here. Quickly.
Take a deep breath. Once you have appropriately thought of all the core beliefs that make up your relationship with God and His plan, then you need to calm down and recognize one simple fact:
You disagree with this statement. This is bad. You need to get out of here. Quickly.
Take a deep breath. Once you have appropriately thought of all the core beliefs that make up your relationship with God and His plan, then you need to calm down and recognize one simple fact:
There is only one church that believes in everything that you do:
The church of You.
And that's a really bad place to be.
It's incredibly important to know what you believe as you enter college, but it's even more important to recognize that you have so much more to learn and grow in. Running away from conflicting ideas will only hurt your ability to see the beauty of God's truth. So listen with an open heart, and consider sticking around that church to learn a bit more. Even if you still disagree, you might discover much bigger reasons to stay (see below).
3. "Are All Of My Friends Going To Be There?"
Having peers walk alongside you in your faith is incredibly powerful. I can name you five of my friends that have helped transform and renew my faith since I came to Baylor.
However, in searching for a church, find the place where you can discover God and then share it with your friends, not the other way around.
Every student should create a divide between Baylor and Church, to help them focus on their relationship with God when they worship. Although I'd go so far as to say that this would be a great mindset to have all the time, it certainly doesn't help a college student focus on their personal walk when they treat going to church (and the subsequent trip to a brunch restaurant) as a social outing rather than a time for renewal.
However, in searching for a church, find the place where you can discover God and then share it with your friends, not the other way around.
Every student should create a divide between Baylor and Church, to help them focus on their relationship with God when they worship. Although I'd go so far as to say that this would be a great mindset to have all the time, it certainly doesn't help a college student focus on their personal walk when they treat going to church (and the subsequent trip to a brunch restaurant) as a social outing rather than a time for renewal.
Well great, Nathan, perfect - what SHOULD I look for in selecting a church home?
Well, hypothetical inquirer, I present to you...
Well, hypothetical inquirer, I present to you...
The 2 Questions You Should Ask When Finding A Church Home
1. What Does God Actually Say?
"I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants-- but let them not turn to folly."
- Psalm 85:8
Listening to God's plan for your life (only part of which includes selecting a church for four years) involves setting aside your wants and actively praying for guidance.
It will never be easy, and will rarely play out how you expected. But the results will always be beyond compare.
- Psalm 85:8
Listening to God's plan for your life (only part of which includes selecting a church for four years) involves setting aside your wants and actively praying for guidance.
It will never be easy, and will rarely play out how you expected. But the results will always be beyond compare.
2. Will I Find A Family Here That Will Help Me Discover God?
"There is one body. But it has many parts. Even though it has many parts, they make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body."
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Above is a picture of the newest part of my church family - four students, one graduate, and one college pastor who walked through life together as they helped transform the image of their new home in an incredible story of God's planning and grace.
Find an older member to pour into you. Find a younger member and show him or her the mysteries of God's love. Be a part of a family that will help you be accountable to a life of service and worship.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Above is a picture of the newest part of my church family - four students, one graduate, and one college pastor who walked through life together as they helped transform the image of their new home in an incredible story of God's planning and grace.
Find an older member to pour into you. Find a younger member and show him or her the mysteries of God's love. Be a part of a family that will help you be accountable to a life of service and worship.
You will find a church family in Waco. After all, the church is not a building, a sermon, a musical performance, or a set of rituals.
It's a body of people. So find yours.
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Nathan Elequin is a 2016 graduate from the Baylor Business Fellows, Interdisciplinary Core (BIC), and Honors Program. During his four years at Baylor, he sought to encourage and inspire students to take the leap of faith, discovering new friends and adventures during their life-changing experience at Baylor University. Now he is studying Instructional Design and Development at Syracuse University (MS '18) with the hopes of developing software for classroom learning.
I hope this brings you encouragement and prepares you for some of the best years of your life. Whether you are a student at Baylor or anywhere else, I would encourage you to share this poem with them to give them some fire as they begin their journeys.
I am excited for all of you. Sic 'em.
I hope this brings you encouragement and prepares you for some of the best years of your life. Whether you are a student at Baylor or anywhere else, I would encourage you to share this poem with them to give them some fire as they begin their journeys.
I am excited for all of you. Sic 'em.
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