As midterm season approaches, it's hard to believe that half of another semester is over. As a freshman, I remember being so worried at this point of my college career. Everyone else seemed to be finding his or her "group," and I was still searching for a small group of people to call friends. It felt like I would never find the right people that would be at the center of all my college stories for years to come.
Now, as a sophomore, with the wealth of knowledge I have obtained (haha), I can see things a little differently.
So, it's not the first week of school and there won't be activities fairs or sign ups for clubs every single day, but it isn't too late to get involved. It is never too late to get involved on campus. One of the most influential parts of my college experience this far has been my involvement in a campus ministry. I didn't get involved right away, though. It took me an entire semester to find this group, and finding them has not only impacted my college life, but also my life outside of campus. Here are a few reasons why I believe it is absolutely vital for young Christians to get involved in a campus ministry.
1. You Cannot Do It Alone
It is so important to have a community of believers around you when given this new found independence. College is an amazing time of new things and without a steady group of people to hold you accountable, it is so easy to lose focus. Those involved in a campus ministry will be your supporters. They will be the ones praying for you and with you. It is incredibly difficult to keep a steady relationship with Christ without a group of people supporting your choices.
2. Get in the Routine of Worship
College is so busy. From classes to homework to part time jobs to managing a social calendar, it is easy for God to slip to the bottom of your schedule. Being a part of a campus ministry means that you have a set time each week to focus solely on the Lord and how He is working in your life. This might be worship with music, small group bible study, or one-on-one discipleship with someone you look up to. It doesn't matter how you are specifically spending your time with the Lord as long as you have a routine of keeping your relationship with God at the forefront. 
3. Leadership Opportunities
Maybe you have a great way with words and you are super passionate about the ways in which God is using you and you just haven't found a way to share your story, campus ministry is for you! Getting involved with a campus ministry opens up so many doors to create a leadership role for yourself. Whether it's leading a bible study, delivering the message, or simply supporting fellow believers, a campus ministry is the perfect place to put your leadership skills to work.
4. Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
Like I said, it is important to have a community of believers supporting you and your faith. Campus ministries will introduce you to people that will grow into great friendships. As a young person, most of us are very malleable and need positive influences in our lives. Thankfully, the people that I have met through my campus ministry have molded the decisions that I have made.
5. Leaving your Home Church is Hard
I was very uninterested in finding a new, traditional church setting when I left for college. My home church is the place where I have worshiped for years, and I was very apprehensive about trying a different one. The campus ministry that I am apart of provides an outlet so that I still receive that fulfillment but can maintain my membership and loyalty with my home church. Maybe that's you and you are nervous about going to a large church alone or with only a few friends. The good news is that traditional church is not the only way to worship anymore.
Colleges all across the country, whether they are affiliated with a religion or not, offer religious outlets for students. From Baptist Student Unions to Wesley Foundation Ministries, there are countless organizations for college students like us! If you are at a small school, perhaps there are not as many opportunities for you, but why couldn't you be the one to begin a ministry for other students seeking religious fulfillment on a college campus? If any of these reasons are calling you to join a campus ministry, then don't hesitate. There is no time like the present to get involved and start creating change on your campus!
