When you add college students to a local church, you add great potential for win-win relationships.  As believers in God, we know a lot about win-win connections.

At my home congregation, we have seen many students come who initially felt a little out of place.  Now, however, they love being a part of this body.  What made the difference?

The personal examples I offer below will shed light on that winning difference.  If you’ve ever had a less than enriching experience with a local church, consider the real-life stories below and don’t give up!

One college coed accidentally walked into the wrong classroom and found about twelve church members in prayer.  She decided to stay and was surprised to hear the names of several from the college group lifted up in prayer.  After the prayer was over she found out this was a prayer team that meets several times a week and always prays for the campus ministry group.  She didn’t even think people noticed the college group! This experience helped her to realize that college students are important to this church family.

Another student, Wali, was surprised when on his first visit, the minister came up to him just before the worship service and spent time talking with him.  The minister shared some encouraging words about the student who brought Wali.  Later, Wali told me that at his home church, the minister would seldom talk to him, especially not right before the sermon.  For Wali, knowing that church leaders were willing to get to know students made him see a potential for a win-win relationship.

A Nigerian student was uncomfortable with our Sunday morning worship style because it was very different from her home church. After a few visits, she decided not to return.  About three weeks later she was back. She said she realized that the style of worship was not as important to her as being a part of a church that was preaching the truth, showing a heart for Christ and practicing their love for people. Over the last two years she has grown close with several families of our church, including two Nigerian families.  During semester breaks, she always has a place and a family to stay with.  She has brought dozens of students to meet our church family because she knows someone will reach out to them. That means a lot to her!  As a bonus, the worship style has changed over the years to a more genuine and expressive manner that she enjoys. This happened, in part, because of her input.

More win-win scenarios have resulted from the open invitation we offer to college students for free lunch at the fellowship hall every Sunday.  Students from other congregations are also welcome.  This invitation is announced at the closing of every worship service. Last year, fellowship meals had to be discontinued due to a building construction project. Then, a family and their small group decided to invite the entire campus group to their house for lunch once a month.  There have been as many as forty hungry students at their house, a place where all feel welcome and deeper relationships have developed.

The local church can and should be a prime place for spiritual nourishment. It is easy for students with dorm-food-abused bellies to cast off all care about real nourishment, but it does matter--and more so in the spiritual realm.  A local church can be a primary place of nourishment for you--and not just on potluck Sundays!

Our students have also developed spiritual mentors. They have been helped with job searches, received rides, had financial assistance for mission trips, enjoyed free symphonies or ball games, and so on. The church in turn, has been encouraged by the students.  We are excited to know they are out on the front lines for Christ.

So give church a chance.  It takes time and effort to connect with real people instead of books, but it's worth it.

Don’t get me wrong.  Ours is not the perfect church!  Some students still have a hard time fitting in and finding a sense of belonging.  There are some changes that students would like to see.  A win-win relationship is available though when the church and students both seek genuine, caring, godly relationships.

Students, don’t let your college life go by without developing relationships with the church.  Don’t stop sharing ideas with the leadership.  You might be surprised at who will listen.

Paul understood the win-win value of diversity in the church and wrote; “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, NIV)