{"id":41474,"date":"2024-08-20T01:24:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T07:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/?post_type=blog&p=41474"},"modified":"2024-08-12T10:00:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T16:00:25","slug":"walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking With Jesus at Your Secular College"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was so excited to start my freshman year of college. Pursuing a degree in journalism, I was sure God was calling me to use my skills in photography and writing for a career in Christian ministry. So, it was a little confusing when halfway through my sophomore year, I was debating if I should switch career paths or even leave my school.<\/p>\n

The truth is, I loved my college experience, but I was dismayed by everything going on around me on campus. My public university was far from Christian, and it didn\u2019t take long for me to feel the effects of that.<\/p>\n

I sat in countless classes and student newspaper meetings where my peers blamed Christians for the hate happening in our country. I watched as my friends published stories dishonoring God, and it felt like every day I walked past a public gathering supporting some form of sin.<\/p>\n

I wish I could say all the brokenness moved me to compassion, but honestly, it discouraged me. I didn\u2019t want to hear another peer disrespect my Creator, and I questioned if I could be in a career field marked by so much darkness.<\/p>\n

Light in the darkness<\/h4>\n

I started looking into other degree options and prayed for God to help me, but His answer wasn\u2019t what I expected. Instead of finding a new dream career or switching schools, I was pulled back to journalism \u2014 on my (still) secular campus.<\/p>\n

I realized I was trying to run, but by running I was hiding God\u2019s goodness from my classmates and friends who so desperately needed it. God was calling me to stand firm where He placed me and be a light \u2014 not only on my campus but also in my career.<\/p>\n

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:15-16<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To my surprise, with every hateful comment I heard, I started to feel encouraged that I was right where I needed to be. If you are attending a secular college or are getting ready to attend one soon, you have an incredible opportunity to be a light for God. Here are some tips to help you stay encouraged and be a witness for Jesus during this season.<\/p>\n

Join a Christian club or organization.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as you step foot on your campus, seek out a Christian club or organization. Search for them at club fairs or go online and look up organizations at or around your university. In my opinion, this is the best way to get connected with fellow believers and build godly community right on your campus. Some of the strongest faiths I\u2019ve seen have been in the Christian organizations on my secular campus.<\/p>\n

Find a church family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may be tempting to spend your college years church-hopping, streaming your church at home, or not connecting with a church at all. But it\u2019s important to find an in-person church community<\/a> during this season of your life. While clubs helped me connect with people my age, I found my church at college to be a valuable place of mentorship and servantship. Through my church, I gained a second set of parents who encouraged me through some of my hardest times. I also had the opportunity to pour into younger generations in kids ministry.<\/p>\n

Stand firm in your beliefs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It only took two weeks into college for me to reach a crossroads with my faith. Soon into the first semester, my friend group began going to fraternity parties every weekend where they would often black out from drinking and stay up all night before classes. I loved these friends, but I couldn\u2019t take part in that with them, so I declined to go.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before they stopped inviting me to all the activities they did. I was deeply saddened, and I considered giving in to maintain our friendship. Ultimately, though, I remained firm in my conviction to not party. The decision hurt, but through it God blessed me with more time to cultivate fruitful, Christ-like friendships.<\/p>\n

I can guarantee there will be countless things and people trying to influence you every day at college. Whether it\u2019s a friend inviting you to a frat party or a professor assigning reading on gender identities, stay rooted in God\u2019s Word and be prepared to stand for what you believe. Remember that God is bigger than any friend, professor or \u201ccollege experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share your faith.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be awkward or even scary to share your faith<\/a> in a place that seems so anti-Christian, but it\u2019s such a wonderful opportunity to be a light for Jesus. I\u2019m not saying you have to become a street preacher outside your student union, but don\u2019t shy away from sharing Jesus even in the little moments.<\/p>\n

Voice that you\u2019re a believer, talk about going to church over the weekend, read your Bible in the union, and offer to pray for your friend who had a rough week. Personally, I had to learn to be bold in saying that I want to become a journalist for a Christian humanitarian organization \u2014 in other words, a missionary. Sure, I got some weird looks, but I also got the chance to share the love of my beautiful Savior.<\/p>\n

Never alone<\/h4>\n

As you settle into campus life, remember that you are not alone in your college journey. Ask your friends and family back home to regularly pray for you, and keep your focus on Jesus. He has promised to walk with you every day and through every circumstance. He has called you where you are for a reason \u2014 follow Him and discover why.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2024 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was ready to give up my school, my major \u2014 or both. But I discovered I was right where I needed to be, and God would help me find purpose and peace in it all. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":41476,"menu_order":0,"template":"","categories":[4,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41474","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","category-sharing-your-faith"],"yoast_head":"\nWalking With Jesus at Your Secular College - Boundless<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are attending a secular college, here are some tips to help you stay encouraged and be a witness for Jesus during this season.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Walking With Jesus at Your Secular College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you are attending a secular college, here are some tips to help you stay encouraged and be a witness for Jesus during this season.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Boundless\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/boundless.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college-66ba31657d6d7-1.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/\",\"name\":\"Walking With Jesus at Your Secular College - Boundless\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college-66ba31657d6d7-1.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-20T07:24:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you are attending a secular college, here are some tips to help you stay encouraged and be a witness for Jesus during this season.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college-66ba31657d6d7-1.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college-66ba31657d6d7-1.webp\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"a woman holding books on a college campus\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/walking-with-jesus-at-your-secular-college\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog Posts\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Walking With Jesus at Your Secular College\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/\",\"name\":\"Boundless\",\"description\":\"Find your place. 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