Every year students all over the country leave their homes to attend college. Quickly, however, new students often realize that college can be a lonely place. In particular, students that grew up going to church can feel like something is missing from their lives if they arrive at college and suddenly stop attending.
Some of the 22 religious clubs on campus help to fill that void and to engage students. Among them, seven religious groups provide unique opportunities, including pushing the concept of community and simply being there for each other through the huge, potentially awkward growth process that is college.
“Religious groups are a good opportunity, not only to learn more about your own religion, but also a chance to learn to respect the views and outlooks of others,” Garrett Ferris, a junior in sociology, said.
The Student Activities Office classifies seven different organizations as “religious and faith-based.” Even as a small campus, the number of opportunities for involvement do not reflect that size.
Members of the Baptist Student Ministry, one of the seven active religious groups on campus, seek to love God through their worship, service and community.
“The best thing about our organization is our community. We accept everyone and anyone, regardless of belief or denomination. The BSM exists to serve all college students in hopes of sharing the gospel with them. Our goal is to show the campus just how much Jesus Christ cares for them and wants to have an intimate relationship with them,” Caine Dipprey, a junior in accounting, said.
Dipprey also said incoming members can expect a close-knit and welcoming community from the BSM.
“We are a somewhat small organization, so you can pretty easily get to know everyone and plug right in. We are probably the most goofy organization on campus, so if that’s you, you will fit in perfectly. Though we may be Baptist in name, you definitely don’t need to be a Baptist to come hang out with us,” Dipprey said.
For students who aren’t Baptist, there are still other options.
Members of the Catholic Campus Center join as a faith-based community and come together for fellowship, service, prayer and a lot of fun.
The CCC supports, encourages and develops the faith of the students through a variety of spiritual programs that meet individuals at their level of faith. It also encourages them to grow beyond their current perspectives and offers retreats, weekly faith formation, community service opportunities, Sunday mass, weekly prayer activities and small faith sharing groups.
“It is essential for students to both grow personally in their faith as well as in community with their brothers and sisters in Christ while constantly keeping the gospel message primary in their daily lives and God’s love visible in their actions,” Debbie Neely, campus Catholic minister, said.
The CCC, in its 26th year, has been called a home away from home with strong student leadership and an active alumni group offering both vision and support.
“Incoming students can expect to find a group of people who are also on a faith journey whom they can talk with, learn and grow from and share in their joys and struggles. We are a very multicultural group, so they would find a great deal of diversity among their Catholic peers,” Neely said.
For Methodists, the Wesley Foundation, a ministry of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, invites, disciples and empowers students to grow as Christian leaders through the power of love.
“Our doors are open to all students irrespective of who they are,” Wesley Foundation director and campus minister, the Rev. Jimmy Greene, said.
Members of the Wesley Foundation worship, socialize, serve and grow together through various activities both on and off campus.
“At the Wesley, students are invited into ministry leadership that focuses on worship, the underprivileged, social justice, study group, community outreach and mission trips,” Greene said.
Regardless of what students believe, are interested in, or look like, there is a place to be involved, to engage the university community and to combat the newness of college.
“It is encouraging to see the many different types of religious organizations that our school has to offer. The fact that students are actually pushing to find something to believe in isn’t something you can easily find everywhere in the country,” Jared Vann, a senior in kinesiology, said.
For a complete list of MWSU clubs, CLICK HERE.