5 Things You Should Know About Bible Colleges
Selecting a college can be a daunting task. There are so many colleges to pick from and even more degrees to decide on. Selecting from the huge list of Bible colleges is also an important task. Many young people believe that they have to know 100% that they have been called into the ministry before attending a Bible college, but that just isn't true. God does not work in a linear fashion and we cannot always know what He is up to. If you are trying to decide whether a Bible college is right for you, then I have five important points that you should consider.
First, the environment will be conducive to allowing God to work in your life.
Many students attend college in the first year without a clear goal as to where they are heading and that is okay. From a practical standpoint, most of the first two years of curriculum at any college is fairly basic. Bible colleges across the country have a very similar course offering for the Freshman and Sophomore year. What should be more important to you is the environment and if is it drawing you closer to Christ or pulling you further away. If this is your first time leaving home, your freshman year can be a great year for personal growth. You begin to form your own beliefs and you are either encouraged in the faith or discouraged based on with whom you associate. Allow God to work in your life as you draw closer to Him.
Second, you can develop friendships that will last for the rest of your life.
Many students coming out of high school think that their best friends will always be those they spent their high school years with. While that can be true for some, for the majority the lifetime friendships are established in college. The fact of the matter is that you share more life together. You live with one another in the dorms, you struggle through the same difficult classes, and you do more activities outside the classroom together. Like it says in Ecclesiastes 27:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." As you graduate and establish your own family, you will look back and relish the friendships that you made in Bible college.
Third, you can find a spouse that has a heart for God.
Now, there are no guarantees that all Bible college students have a heart for God and want to do right. However, you will be in an environment that fosters and encourages people to seek after God. James Dobson calls the ages of 18-28 the "critical decade." All of life's major decisions are made during those years. You will face decisions like where to go to college, whom to marry, where to live, and what to spend your life doing for work. Bible colleges everywhere ultimately have one mission: to turn boys and girls into godly men and women. The probability of you locating a godly husband and spouse is much greater at Bible college than anywhere else.
Fourth, you will have an opportunity to serve others.
Many Bible institutions have established outlets and opportunities for you to serve. If you are studying for the ministry, you will want to be connected to a college that believes strongly in providing you hands-on service opportunities. Effective ministry is so much more than just filling your mind up with knowledge. At its core, ministry is a people business. You will rub shoulders with people and guide them through God's path for their life. Serving and giving to others can do so much for the soul.
Finally, you can discover your unique story.
God has a plan for your life. He has uniquely gifted you and has a role on the team that can only be filled by you. Attending Bible college can be a great way for you to begin to unpack all of God's promises for your life and to discover your unique path that he has for you. This plan can only be revealed in the context of close authentic relationships and spending time in God's Word. As you begin to seek Him and gain insight and guidance for others, you will begin to discover your story. God has invited all of us to play a small part in His story. You will not want to get to the end of your life and wish that you would have done things differently. We hope that you will prayerfully consider Trinity Baptist College as we would love to have the opportunity to guide you down God's path for your life.