During the college years, opportunities abound. Between campus activities, classes, and social events, it’s easy to fill up your days with stuff to do. However, one of the best things you can do during your college years is to serve in a ministry. It looks different for everyone, but no matter what type of ministry you decide to do, you won’t regret it. Here are five reasons why you should consider serving in ministry in college:
Make your faith your own
Serving in a church or ministry during your college years can help solidify your faith. Many students use their college years to explore different ideas. After living under your parent’s roof for eighteen years, it’s time for you to think for yourself. Discover what you believe and why. Serving can help you discover things about yourself that you never knew.
Establish community
Serving will also give you the opportunity to meet other people. It’s important to have Christian community while you are at college, and a ministry can be a great place to find it. Even if you already have community back at home, many times the community you experience while serving in college will be different.
An advantage of serving within the larger community is that you will be in a multi-generational setting. This type of setting fosters growth that you can’t get when you are only around people your own age.
Find a mentor
College is a time of transition. It can be amazing, difficult, and stressful all at the same time. It’s a good idea to find someone older than you that can offer wisdom and insight into your life. A mentor can help you navigate the uncertain waters.
A great place to find a mentor is at a church or within a ministry. Serving will help you find people who aren’t the same age as you. Use their wisdom to your advantage! Having someone to go to when life gets hard or even just to bounce ideas off of is always helpful.
Get off campus
College campuses are exciting places. There is always something going on and someone to hang out with. However, remember that there is a world outside of your college campus. Getting off campus and engaging in different communities can be good for you. Being a part of the larger community where your college is located will help you develop new perspectives. It can also be refreshing to change up your on-campus routine.
Grow in your faith
Serving is an incredible way to share your faith, but also grow in your faith. Serving enables us to put our faith into action. Through serving, you will be able to show Christ’s love to others. This is what God wants from us. He set this example for us to follow:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, ESV)
As you prepare to go to college, think about what types of ministry you would like to serve in. If you already serve in a ministry, ask yourself if you want to continue to pursue that type of ministry or try something new during your college years. If you have never served before, talk to people who have to learn about what’s out there. Just be sure to make it a priority to start serving and continue to do so throughout your college years.
