There are so many important things that happen when you are in college -- major milestones in your life. One important thing that is needed is community. A great way to find a community in college is to go and get connected in a church. In addition to getting connected in a church, getting connected to a church with a college group is even more amazing.

At the beginning of my freshman year of college, I knew I wanted to find a church in Phoenix, AZ, but I had no clue where to look. After some searching I came across Bethany Bible Church and it was the best thing I could've found. In addition to being an amazing church, the college group was truly a gift from God. This group of people have become my family at school and I couldn't ask for a better family.

This is just one example of the amazing benefits that can come from getting connected to a church while in college. Yet there are so many more things, that can be benefitted from finding a church community. One major thing that is a benefit is you will have a place where you can work on growing in your faith. Being able to have a place where you can go and know that you will be able to be with God is such a relieving fact. If you are intent on pursuing and growing in your faith during your time at college, you truly need to find a church and get connected.

Another benefit of being connected in a church is being able to find a mentor. Mentors can be a huge help in growing as a person, as well as in your faith. Yes, it is possible to find a mentor other than at a church, but if you are looking for someone who is older and has more experience, it will be easier to find them at a church. Also, there are so many people at a church, that there will be a lot of people to choose from in order to find the best mentor for you.

Getting connected to a church doesn't just mean going to service on Sunday or attending your college group. It also means you have the opportunity to serve. Whether is be as a junior high leader, member of the worship team, or even a Sunday school teacher, serving is just another wonderful part about being connected to a church. It also allows you to be able to get even more connected in the church and get to know more of the people who go there.

I can not express how important it is to find a great college group and get connected in it. Being able to find a college group that treats everyone like family is so important. In addition to having another outlet to grow in your own walk, you are able to grow with a community and have a place where you can support others, as well as get support from people who are in the same boat as you. Having a college group that you can go to for anything can bring you peace of mind because you know that if there are questions you have or things that you need help with there's always someone. Another great part of being connected to a college group is being able to grow and serve together. This in turn creates better relationships and more of a family aspect because you get to see people in multiple lights and get to know them better. I truly can't express how much my college group means to me and I hope that you can find one where you will grow and make amazing relationships.

In the end, finding a church and college group to get connected with is a great thing to do, but it has to be something you truly want to do. It can't be something that just sounds like a good idea or something you do so your parents will leave you alone. No, it has to be something that is on your heart to be a part of. If it isn't something that you want to be doing, you won't be putting all of your effort into it -- in turn, it will not benefit anyone. So just remember, get connected, find a family, grow and enjoy being where you are at.