This week my
youngest son Taylor headed off to his senior year in college. He choose to go
to a Christian College and I am so grateful that he did. I read recently in
James Emery White’s Church & Culture that according to recent
studies, almost half of all American college students will abandon their
Christian faith during their undergraduate years. Isn’t that alarming? One
Half.
The reason why? It
would seem to be far more than simple rebellion against an upbringing, or
honest intellectual exploration. It would seem the school environment itself is
the culprit.
The Fuller Youth
Institute found that almost a third of college students say their school of
higher learning is not helpful in keeping or growing their faith. Most
universities would say that examining one’s faith in an intellectually
stimulating environment such as a college or university should lead to a deeper
understanding of the theological moorings of a childhood faith. But that’s not what
is happening.
According to the
research of political scientists Robert P. Putnam and David E. Campbell, “Young
Americans are dropping out of religion at an alarming rate of five to six times
the historical rate (30 to 40 percent have no religion today, verses 5 to 10
percent a generation ago).”
Another study
found with each year of education, there is a 15% increase that the student
will believe that there’s “truth in more than one religion” and believe in a
“higher power” rather than a personal God.
This is why we are
so committed to our college age ministry, Encounter. This week alone Dr. Jeff
Burnett and his dedicated group of volunteers helped incoming freshman move in,
are hosting two back to school barbeques, an event at Hays Academy of Hair
Design , a free screening of “God’s Not Dead” after FHSU’s back to school
picnic, and a kick off of HomeCookin’, a free home cooked meal for college kids
that is provided by one of C3’s small groups every Sunday night. THERE IS NO
OTHER COLLEGE MINISTRY I KNOW THAT SERVES AS SELFLESSLY AS ENCOUNTER!
So this week, as
you pack up your son or daughter off to college, give them one last word of
advice. Not about binge drinking or safe sex, money management or proper
nutrition. These are all well and good, to be sure. But give them advise that is most important. Give them a
word about the importance of keeping their grounded faith in the Lord and
Savior of the world Jesus Christ. And tell them to seek out a church like C3
that will care for them like they are their own.
Your pastor and
partner in ministry,
Kyle
(Just some of the
Encounter Leadership team)
We still need a
few volunteers to help with Saturdays’ KidFest.
Prayer Request: Our
thoughts and prayers are with Lavon Weber who lost her 91 year old mother on
Wednesday.
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