The kids are coming back from college starting this week--not just my own but those from our congregation.
College is a vulnerable time for these young adults. Many go through a rebellious stage, questioning that Sunday School faith they once had. Could come from those seeds of doubt cast by their Philosophy professor or simply interacting with a diverse student body. Regardless of where this questioning flows from, we can all do our part to welcome them back home.
This welcoming is more than just a pleasant show of hospitality. When you reach out, pay attention, ask about their college experience, you are reconnecting them to the body of Christ. I say this with modesty, but Christ Lutheran is a very special and unique place. If this is their only experience with church, they are going to be disappointed and discouraged with what they find out there, if they are looking at all. Those services will seem boring, the people unfriendly, the church boring. When you engage with them during this short time back home at CLC, you are engaging them with the community of believers.
And if you find that some college kid close to you is really going through some tough, deep time of doubt and discernment, I would love to invite them out for a cup of coffee, talk about their experience, let them vent openly and help them remain connected during these college years. (And if not me, ask Neil or Chris or Troy or Mark!)
You are the body of Christ and these students are a part of us. Welcome home, college kids!
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So - I love this blog. It keeps me connected to CLC. For all of you who might have the chance to welcome back a college student, please know that CLC is the most phenomenal worship experience that I - and our family - has ever had. But, it is so much more than that! We have been searching for a church home for 7 weeks now and after visiting 5 churches we have not experienced anything remotely close! Obviously for me, the music is a huge point of comparison, but how welcoming the staff and congregation are is also big. The sermon - well - that will always be tough to top! Sunday school - wow, there is a great topic! Everytime we leave a different church Anthony and Ronnie immediately tick of 5 reasons why it doesn't compare with CLC. What a credit to all that is happening there! Please make the kids who come back a art of your lives - I know that when we come back one day we want to feel as if we never left and I am sure that deep down all of those college students do as well!
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