“When I first came to college, I assumed I would end up at one of the larger churches nearby,” Eliana Gelsick, a rising junior at Grove City College, shared with me. “They were well-known, had lots of college students, and seemed like the obvious choice. But God had something different in mind, and I ended up in a small rural church.”
Starting college comes with a checklist of challenges, from getting to know a new roommate to navigating a dining hall. Church might not automatically make that list, but I’m here to encourage incoming students – and their parents! – to think about their priorities for a church home right from the start.
Beyond "Church Shopping"
We often end up choosing a church for a multitude of reasons – theology, liturgy, ministries, location. For college students, the deciding factor frequently is the people who attend the church. College is usually the first time a student must seek out a church on their own, and it is easiest to show up to a place where you know you will see other students from your classes and halls.
“I think that, especially in college, it is easy to sort of fall into the church shopping mentality, where you are just an observer wherever you go to church on a Sunday, even if you end up going regularly,” Isaya Miller, another upperclassman at GCC, told me. “It's easy to have church simply be an event without ever getting connected to the church and the people there.”
That was my initial experience in college – oh, all these friends attend the church up the street? What a comfortable option! I’ll get to spend time with people I know and maybe even hit up the dining hall with them after the service.
But suddenly, I realized church had become just another college classroom, and my relationships within the congregation were exclusively with people in the same season of life as myself. Was that truly what God was calling me to do for the four years of school?
Belonging to Something Bigger than Your Campus
Eliana encouraged me with her expansive view of what a church can mean for a college student, if we are willing to step out of our comfort zone.
“Don’t look for a church that feels like an extension of your college experience,” she explained. “Look for a church that reminds you that you belong to something much bigger than your campus…college is only four years. The local church is God’s idea for a lifetime. Learning now how to commit to a body of believers, even when it’s inconvenient or different than what you expected, is preparing you for a lifetime of following Christ.”
But the inconvenience can be hard! Small churches may be more difficult or time-intensive to reach (that’s why CRM has initiated Plowshare!). They may not have college ministries that quickly integrate a student into programs and activities. Perhaps hardest of all, there may not be many other college-aged attendees.
But that shouldn’t be discouraging. After all, church isn’t primarily about what we get out of it, but what God is doing through us within it. Intergenerational relationships in a small church run deep. Connecting a few times a week with Christians at other points in the Christian walk, who can share perspective about life outside our college bubble, can be so refreshing.
Even better if you can step up first and show the congregation that you are willing to serve. Small church leaders are often stretched thin, and the presence of eager college students in the pews can be one of the greatest encouragements for a rural church.
Meaningful connections can take time to grow. But, Eliana says, “keep showing up. Stay after the service. Introduce yourself. Volunteer. Be willing to serve before you’re served. Real community usually isn’t instant.”
Pouring in that time and intentionality will reap rewards. Because the church you attend as a student isn’t some casual four-year pit stop, and it isn’t just another opportunity to socialize. It’s the place where God calls you to serve the kingdom here on earth for the duration of college.
“Don't underestimate what God can do in small gatherings or small places,” Isaya reminded me. Shift your perspective on what God can do in the four years of college. “It's easy to not want to get very connected because you are only going to be there for four years…but that is more than enough time to have meaningful relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ who you may only get the chance to connect with during these four years.”
As Eliana can testify, “One of the greatest gifts of being in a smaller church is that you’re not just another college student passing through for four years. You’re known. People notice when you’re missing. They ask about your exams, pray for you by name, invite you into their homes, celebrate your victories, and grieve your losses.”
What Can Parents Do?
Parents who may have just moved a child onto a college campus for the first time this fall, can be an important sounding board in this process, too. As parents talk their children through the early months on campus, they can have conversations about what the church is all about, and what your student can be considering as they make these decisions.
“Encourage your student to choose a church not because it’s exciting, but because it’s faithful. A church doesn’t have to have the biggest worship band or the largest college ministry to profoundly impact someone’s life. Sometimes the places that seem the smallest are where God grows us the most.”
“I’m incredibly grateful that someone encouraged me to step into a small church,” Eliana concluded. “What I found wasn’t just a place to attend on Sundays; I found a family. And I think that’s exactly what every college student needs, whether they realize it yet or not.”
Anastasia Brown is a senior English Secondary Education major at Grove City College. She also serves as writing fellow for the Center for Rural Ministry.
