This month, my wife and I are moving our youngest child into college. It’s our third time going through this rite of passage, and it is always uneasy. In our culture, this period of development marks the conclusion of adolescence and the (hopeful) beginning of adulthood. Every Christian parent drops their teenager off with prayers and concerns for their spiritual, social, and academic wellbeing. We are excited to see them embark on a new adventure with the hope they continue in the direction we pointed them.
ByFaith is publishing a weeklong series of articles focused on common issues facing Christian students throughout their college experience. College is where young adults form their core ideas about God, the world, and their place in it. Though they are seeking to prepare for vocational pursuits, they are also explorers trying to navigate their initial launch into the world as independent adults, embracing new experiences and companions for their journey.
Every student wrestles with questions about God, themselves, and others. They will question and distance themselves from aspects of their past while experimenting with new beliefs and behaviors they are considering for their future. In this series, we are featuring voices from around the PCA who have had to reckon with these issues through their personal and pastoral experiences.
Next week, you will hear from ministry leaders who work on the front lines of the college campus as they speak to issues common to this season of life.
- Derek Rishmawy, RUF campus minister at the University of California Irvine, offers biblical guidance to students as they search for an identity in their new setting.
- Scott Jones, professor of biblical studies at Covenant College, points out the important difference between learning facts and gaining wisdom.
- Sammy Rhodes, author and RUF campus minister at the University of South Carolina, provides caution and counsel for students as they pursue pleasure.
- Karl Johnson, founder of Chesterton House and executive director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, highlights the pitfalls when it comes to chasing professional success.
- Monse Santiago, RUF campus staff at the University of Michigan, reminds students of the vital necessity of being part of a local church.
Of course, the issues raised here aren’t exclusive to a place or even a particular age group. These issues are relevant to all adults, whether or not they are enrolled in an academic institution. The years following high school tend to be when young adults are deciding what their beliefs and practices will be moving forward.
Our hope is this series will remind all of us, especially college students, what it means to live by faith.
Read the other articles in our Following Christ in College series here:
Why College Students Need The Local Church
Learning From Failure While Pursuing Success
Enjoying College and the Pursuit of Pleasure