Page 11 - Providence Christian College - Fall 2018

PluGGed into the local chuRch
by Geoff shaw
Studies indicate that as many as two-thirds
of all incoming college students abandon their parents’ faith during their first year of college. Clearly, college is a time when young Christians either choose to adopt their parents’ faith as their own and grow in it, or they fall away from the Church altogether.
Of course, the Lord is gracious to preserve many wandering souls and bring them back to His Bride, but, knowing what is at stake—and believing that the Church is the dispensary for the ordinary means of grace–Providence takes a very intentional approach to connecting its students with local congregations.
This fall, representatives from six local bodies, Chino United Reformed Church, Pasadena United Reformed Church, Grace Pasadena, Prism Church, Pasadena Orthodox Presbyterian, and Los Angeles Reformed Presbyterian Church, joined Providence during chapel for a church fair, where they fielded questions of interest and encouraged our students to join them for worship.
Each of these congregations already include some Providence faculty, staff, and students who are able to extend invitations to other students. Many of these pastors are also
given the opportunity to speak in chapel at other times throughout the year. Providence
is intent on strengthening a partnership with these churches as they minister to the spiritual needs of our students.
A recent Providence survey revealed that
the largest single spiritual influence for students is by far their parents, at a ratio
of 5:1 over the local church. However, the Church will become more instrumental in the spiritual formation of students as they exit college, precisely because they are leaving their homes and their “alma mater”. Indeed, their true alma mater is the Church. In the words of Augustine: “He cannot have God for his Father who will not have the Church for his mother.”
Deeper Learning for Greater Wisdom
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