Christian Colleges

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Does your church do anything to encourage your teens to consider a Christian college? Every year it seems our high school grads head off in a number of directions for college -- some close to home, some really far, some public, some private, even some really highly ranked places. However, very few of the kids end up going to a Christian college or university. I'm not sure why that is, but I also notice that our youth program doesn't do anything to encourage this either.

Any ideas out there??

 

[annsni]

We really don't. Most of the kids go to public school and while some choose to go to Christian college, others are not able to afford it or do not desire to go for different reasons. Both of my own two daughters don't wish to go to Christian colleges because, honestly, many of them are no better than secular colleges. My oldest went to her school because she wants to major in art education and she'd most likely not get a great education for that in Christian college. My second is going to another secular school because of it's location (close to home) and it's education. She's going for elementary education. We know friends who graduated from Christian college and couldn't get jobs in teaching but others who went to secular schools could. So it all adds up to her going to secular college.

As I said, many Christian colleges are not all that "Christian" anymore, unfortunately.

 

[Steven2006]

Unless advice is sought by the family, I could see where it could be resented or taken the wrong way if a church or pastor was seen to be pushing a child to attend a certain college.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

We really don't. Most of the kids go to public school and while some choose to go to Christian college, others are not able to afford it or do not desire to go for different reasons. Both of my own two daughters don't wish to go to Christian colleges because, honestly, many of them are no better than secular colleges. My oldest went to her school because she wants to major in art education and she'd most likely not get a great education for that in Christian college. My second is going to another secular school because of it's location (close to home) and it's education. She's going for elementary education. We know friends who graduated from Christian college and couldn't get jobs in teaching but others who went to secular schools could. So it all adds up to her going to secular college.

As I said, many Christian colleges are not all that "Christian" anymore, unfortunately.

Sad isn't it? Somtimes "Christian Education" is really neither.

What our youth pastor did do was to let each student know what Christian organizations were on the campus they were attending. I know some got involved, others I'm sure didn't.

Our daughter attends a public university (elementary education also). She almost attended a Lutheran college, but changed her mind at the last minute. (While not overtly Christian as others, it is still a far cry from the public universities.) Thankfully, there is a very good church close by (almost like a campus church) and she's involved in a small group there.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Unless advice is sought by the family, I could see where it could be resented or taken the wrong way if a church or pastor was seen to be pushing a child to attend a certain college.

I agree (and I've seen that happen). However, I would think that we should at least expose our students to the possibilities of attending Christian universities.

 

[Steven2006]

I agree (and I've seen that happen). However, I would think that we should at least expose our students to the possibilities of attending Christian universities.

I agree they should be both exposed, and if considering going to a Christian school encouraged. Many times if they are considering a Christian school they will only hear negative things from people about that option.

A few things that I have seen over the years that exposes both the youth and the family's to Christian colleges are these.

The church invites school singing groups to come visit some times. I think most people both enjoy it and find it a blessing. They usually also have one person give a testimony.

If any of the youth group do leave and go to a Christian school have them give a testimony to the church about their experience when they are home visiting for a break.

Again if anyone that had been part of the youth group does go to a Christian college ask them to be involved with the youth group when they are home for summer vacation. Teens usually look up to the college age and they could ask them questions and hear first hand the positive benefits.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

I agree they should be both exposed, and if considering going to a Christian school encouraged. Many times if they are considering a Christian school they will only hear negative things from people about that option.

A few things that I have seen over the years that exposes both the youth and the family's to Christian colleges are these.

The church invites school singing groups to come visit some times. I think most people both enjoy it and find it a blessing. They usually also have one person give a testimony. QUOTE]

We used to have this as a kid. It was always interesting as a high schooler to meet these "college kids." In restrospect, it pretty much had zero influence on any of us.

I was thinking more like a summer college tour for sophomores and juniors for the colleges that are relatively close. Also, for colleges that are a bit further away, it could easily be a weekend trip.

 

[SaggyWoman]

What was impactful for me when I was in high school considering (Christian and other) colleges was for my church to take youth to college day at the (Christian) universities and colleges. That helped me to become more familiar/comfortable with the concept. I ended up attending a Christian (Baptist) university as a result and loved it.

It isn't for everybody but you'll gain a few.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Having said all that and having gone to a "Christian" college, not everyone who goes to a Christian College is a Christian, and even those who state they are "Christian" don't live like it at college.

But some do.

I personally benefitted from my time there; I really still probably would not want to have gone to a state university, but that is me personally.

 

[Zenas]

If you're looking at a Christian college, you should make sure it's still "Christian." Many of them have been infiltrated by secularism to the point they have very few Christian distinctives any more. Here in Kentucky, one of the Baptist colleges wanted to put non Baptists on their board of trustees. I believe the reason was to reward some high dollar supporters and give incentive for other non Baptists to become high dollar supporters. In order to do this, they had to break most of their ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The choice for them wasn't hard. Today Georgetown College is one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the entire region, but there is very little about it that would distinguish it from the other liberal arts schools with no Christian heritage at all.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

What was impactful for me when I was in high school considering (Christian and other) colleges was for my church to take youth to college day at the (Christian) universities and colleges. That helped me to become more familiar/comfortable with the concept. I ended up attending a Christian (Baptist) university as a result and loved it.

It isn't for everybody but you'll gain a few.

I think that's an excellent idea.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

If you're looking at a Christian college, you should make sure it's still "Christian." Many of them have been infiltrated by secularism to the point they have very few Christian distinctives any more. Here in Kentucky, one of the Baptist colleges wanted to put non Baptists on their board of trustees. I believe the reason was to reward some high dollar supporters and give incentive for other non Baptists to become high dollar supporters. In order to do this, they had to break most of their ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The choice for them wasn't hard. Today Georgetown College is one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the entire region, but there is very little about it that would distinguish it from the other liberal arts schools with no Christian heritage at all.

Understand that there are degrees as to how "Christian" the college/university is. If the church youth are going to visit and/or recommend any university, then the church would need to perform their own due diligence. My experience is that this would vary from church to church.

 

[dcorbett]

Our youth group goes to the youth conference at West Coast Baptist College every spring, and Seniors go to college day. This is to encourage
them to look at and pray about full time ministry as a viable option for their lives as they consider their futures.

 

[PreacherTeacher]

I have made available information about Baptist schools in the region, since I have come to discover that many kids in churches don't know that these colleges exist. For those who know of them, but think they are too expensive, I have shown them how many scholarships are available.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Happy to find out that our high school has a bus going to Covenant College in the next month or two. Hope there are a lot of kids going - including one of mine. (Covenant is a Christian liberal arts college located in Lookout Mountain, GA.) Of interest, they have a dual degree engineering program with Georgia Tech, whereby you graduate from both universities -- with a BA/Science from Covenant & a BS/Engineering from GT. Seems like a winning program.

 

[mommyL]

Our daughter is finishing her freshman year at a Christian college. Our church doesn't do anything to help with college choices. It is assumed everyone will go to the local university. One thing to keep in mind is cost. Private will cost more, but we see a lot of value. Smaller classes (15 vs 85 here), Christian teachers with values similar to ours, not all Christian students, but the kids know who believes what, strict living standards, excellent education, mandatory chapel 3 days a week ( mandatory but loved). God is a part of every aspect of their lives, even regular classes.
We did the public shcool route, so our daughter really appreciates where she is now. Her friends here are in overcrowded classes, have made no new friends, aren't able to meet with teachers for help, are just surviving school, have teachers who go off on anti-Christian tangents that have nothing to do with the subject the class is about. This is very rampant here, and it is bothering even the non-Christians.
We get calls and texts daily, do facebook, so even though she is 9 hours away, we are kept in her life.
Kathy

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Our daughter is finishing her freshman year at a Christian college. Our church doesn't do anything to help with college choices. It is assumed everyone will go to the local university. One thing to keep in mind is cost. Private will cost more, but we see a lot of value. Smaller classes (15 vs 85 here), Christian teachers with values similar to ours, not all Christian students, but the kids know who believes what, strict living standards, excellent education, mandatory chapel 3 days a week ( mandatory but loved). God is a part of every aspect of their lives, even regular classes.
We did the public shcool route, so our daughter really appreciates where she is now. Her friends here are in overcrowded classes, have made no new friends, aren't able to meet with teachers for help, are just surviving school, have teachers who go off on anti-Christian tangents that have nothing to do with the subject the class is about. This is very rampant here, and it is bothering even the non-Christians.
We get calls and texts daily, do facebook, so even though she is 9 hours away, we are kept in her life.
Kathy

Glad to hear that you daughter is doing well. Our daughter went the opposite route -- from a Christian high school to a public university. Thankfully, she found a good church really close to campus.