Sunday Morning Sanctuary

For a lot of us growing up, getting up for church every Sunday was non negotiable and certainly not of our own accord. We were shaken awake by our mothers, often in a hurry to clean us up and shove us out the door in just enough time to say hello to the neighborhood families and slip into our familiar pew. We had a structured plan with someone always holding us accountable, and this was how it was.

In college, your mom and dad aren't there to help lay out your church clothes on Saturday night or be your second alarm on Sunday morning. If you are not prepared to continue with your strict regimen as many of us aren't, you may find yourself straying from church and from the Lord. Although we are older and can make our own decisions, we should not use this as a way to have freedom from church, but freedom to choose church.

It can be overwhelming looking for a church home in a college town. There are so many different places, and, trust me, so many different opinions on each place. Finding a place that you love and want to belong to is a process and takes time, but don't let this journey go on forever. Having community is of the utmost importance, and you want to spend little time looking for it and much time living in it.

Just joining a church and attending once a week is usually not a way to fully embrace the community it provides for you. Find a time in your weekly schedule in which you can serve the church. Whether it be in kids ministry, welcome team, media, etc. churches are always open to help from members. Once you are a part of this church community, find ways to invite others in who might not have a church home. This will widen the community and make it deeper and more connected. 

Although waking up on a Sunday morning can often feel like the biggest burden in the world for a college student, the benefits that you will reap from serving and being served by a home church is far greater than that extra few hours of sleep. When your friends see you taking initiative to go and spend time with the Lord in the church, you might spur them on to do the same. As much as your new university is your second home, your church will serve as a home and a safe haven if you let it.