Staying grounded in your faith in college is hard. There is no good way to sugar coat this. It is extremely difficult at times to stay focused on the Word all by yourself when immersed in the culture that is at times anything but devoted to the Lord. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe we aren’t supposed to be trying to follow Him all by ourselves. Maybe we are supposed to be working together, in community, to build each other up and hold each other accountable, because maybe we aren’t supposed to be going through college alone. Good news is, regardless of where you are in your faith, you don’t have to.
I have no set answer as to why some people decide to stick with Christianity during college, or why some venture off and explore new things, but I do know what keeps most of us rooted in the faith. The resource that encourages a lot of college Christians is participation in a Christian fellowship. Christian fellowships are very prevalent among college campuses and provide a safe place for everyone, regardless of where they are spiritually, to come together with one major thing in common, no matter the differences. Regardless of where you go to school, there are most likely going to be dozens of options in regards to which fellowship to join. Whether it’s Cru, Chi Alpha, Intervarsity, RUF, Catholic Student Ministries, or any one of the smaller fellowships, they are by far a worthwhile choice.
1. They accept anyone
In contrast to many extracurricular activities in school, Christian fellowships are open to anyone. There is no application process, no diagnostic test, no experience necessary; just you. You are accepted regardless of where you are in your walk with God. Whether you have grown up going to church for you entire life or you have don't have a clue what Christianity is, they are more than happy to bring you in and get to know you.
2. There is no set time commitment
Aside from taking on a leadership role, most fellowships require little to nothing from you. You can come once a semester or show up to every event. There is no attendance policy. That’s not to say they won’t try to get you to participate more, because chances are they will, but there is no penalty for your absence.
3. They provide community
Christian fellowships make a point to emphasize the fellowship part of their title. So while they do study the Bible and worship God, they also spend a significant amount of time building friendships with each other. While formal recruitment for sororities and fraternities doesn’t tend to start until second semester, a lot of people are in need of community now. College is hard, and you shouldn’t have to go through it alone, so Christian fellowships are great places to develop a community early on in your college career.
4. Missions opportunities
College is a great time to go out and see the world, especially if you are spreading the Gospel while doing it. Christian fellowships provide hundreds of opportunities to get out and do this, in virtually any capacity that you could think of. Whether it’s a desire to go on a medical mission trip in a foreign country or a quick trip to another state, chances are there is some mission opportunity for this.
5. You can join at any time
While the sign-ups for most clubs are coming to an end, Christian fellowships have no deadline for participation. You are free to join at any point in the year.
6. They are completely free
Yes, you heard me. No dues or initial fees.
7. Easy Accessibility
Most fellowships meet weekly on grounds, so you don’t need to worry if you don’t have access to a car.
8. They want you
Christian fellowships are constantly seeking to help grow the Kingdom and want everyone to be a part of it. But they aren’t about the numbers. They are about the students. They are specifically created for you, and they would be more than happy for you come and be a part of them, because ultimately, we are all seeking a community where we can love and be loved. And what better place to seek love than a group that was founded on love.
Now, I may be a little biased because I have found my home in a Christian fellowship, but I truly believe that there is a place for anyone regardless of who you are. If this appeals to you, I encourage you to go out and try any one of these groups. And if for some reason you don’t like it, try a different one. There is a place for everyone in these fellowships, and we would love to have you.
