One of the best things about college is getting to meet a lot of new people, and eventually finding a group of people who feel more like a family than your classmates or peers. One of the best decisions I made in my four-year college career was joining a campus ministry called Chi Alpha. Chi Alpha is a student-run ministry and can be found at a wide set of colleges in the U.S. and around the world. The ministry is affiliated with the Assemblies of God church. All of the members have a true passion for Christ and enjoy participating in missionary work. As soon as I walked into the door of a Chi Alpha event, I felt welcomed and like I had a place to belong. Not only did I find healthy, long lasting friendships, but I gained a community full of people to support me throughout my college years.

Here are six reasons why you should join a campus ministry:

6. You do not have to pay any fees to join

Yes, you read the sentence correctly. It does not cost money just to be a part of a campus ministry! All you have to do to join is show up and participate in fun events, bible studies (life group) and worship nights. I know for a fact how my campus ministry handles any offering or donations. We keep the money for student use; any money we raise goes back into the ministry.

5. You get to meet people outside of your classes

At times, it can seem hard to make new friends when your schedule is jam-packed with work, studying and attempting to do laundry at the wee hours of the morning. If you join a campus ministry, you will meet a diverse set of students! Honestly, there are some people I never would have talked to on campus if I had not met them first at one of the worship services. You never know who you will meet when you try something new or join a new organization.

4. You can add any volunteer events to your community service record through your school

Campus ministries tend to do a lot of service work around campus and throughout the community. If you enjoy serving others, you should join a campus ministry. I guarantee there will be some events where you can give back to others. If you need to count up service hours, you can talk to the person over the ministry and get their permission to log your community service hours.

3. You can join a small group and reap the benefits of having a smaller community of people in your age range

Small groups are where the most connections are made in a campus ministry. When you spend an hour or two with a small group of individuals once a week for two semesters, you can form bonds and receive support from people who may go through the same situations as you. When I joined a small group last year, it changed my life. I had women around me who could hold me accountable. Also, by spending time with other women who are growing in spiritual wisdom, it helped me to grow in my faith. As the bible states, "As iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another," (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).

2. You can improve your leadership skills

Campus ministries can help you to develop new skills, such as leadership, especially when the organization is student-led. I received the opportunity to be a student leader in Chi Alpha this year and I have already learned a lot of lessons within the first few weeks of school. Understanding and developing leadership skills will teach you how to deal with people you do not know or even prepare you for a job where you may be in charge of a certain number of people.

1. You can bond with people and join an environment with a family atmosphere

In my experience, I feel like I gained a second family when I joined Chi Alpha. When you get involved with an organization full of people who make you feel safe, loved, and important, you will enjoy spending time with them. Campus ministries are the perfect place to enjoy fellowship with other believers. For example, Chi Alpha always provides great food and snacks. We like to bond and enjoy fellowship with food.

Overall, if you take the time to look into joining a campus ministry, think of all the benefits of joining a community of believers who serve God while taking college courses.