There are so many great churches and great college ministries in Jackson that it can actually be difficult to find one where you feel most at home. Many students (and this includes myself) take the path of “church shopping” when they first get to college. This way they can get a feel for each church and its college ministry before committing to and investing in one particular community. But in a season like the one we currently find ourselves in, should that method change?
Honestly, the current season I find myself in is filled with transition and confusion. In writing this article, I hope that any students at Union who may also be feeling displaced due to COVID-19 and are maybe even looking for a new or first-time church home in Jackson, will find comfort, hope and possibly some direction through the personal experiences from the following students.
So first, I want to look at Englewood Baptist Church through the eyes of Caroline Dunbar, a junior nursing major.
After “church shopping” for the first few weeks of her freshman year, Dunbar finally settled into the Englewood college ministry, known as Sojourn. Wanting to find an intentional community, she quickly got involved in more than just Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.
Dunbar joined a Huddle. These groups of four-to-five students are dedicated to diving into the Word together and sharing weekly struggles and joys with one another. In this smaller group of girls, she was able to truly get to know and share life with people she may not have met otherwise.
By her second semester, Dunbar became a member of the band and sang regularly on Wednesday nights. This offered her a new community to invest in and learn from, as they also had a worship team Huddle.
As she continued to grow through the community at Englewood, Dunbar looked for more places to serve. Her sophomore year, she became a small group leader in the student ministry for sixth grade girls and has deeply loved it ever since.
“It’s so easy to get plugged in at Englewood because they want you to serve. They don’t want you to come and just sit and listen. They want you to come and serve,” said Dunbar.
While COVID-19 may affect how the typical flow, Dunbar is thankful for all that Englewood has done to make it feel like little has changed. While Sojourn has moved to a different room that is spaced out, it has actually increased the intimate feel. Since there is no stage, Dunbar feels that the whole room is more connected during worship.
“There definitely are changes, but I feel like church should be a constant. So the fact that they have done their best to keep it as consistent as possible has been really great,” said Dunbar.
Next, let’s take a look at West Jackson Baptist Church. JV Martinez, a senior business management major, first joined the college ministry because of Ryan Guzouskis, West Jackson’s young adults pastor, and his conviction to never shy away from deep topics.
Martinez also loved how welcoming not only the students were, but also the other adult leaders. On his very first Sunday attending West Jackson, he received a card with information on how to get in touch with each of the adult leaders personally, and they followed through on that promise to the students. This promise is demonstrated through Martinez’s frequent Sunday afternoon coffee visits to one of leader’s homes.
“It feels more like a family than anything,” said Martinez.
While you would think COVID-19 might cause groups to meet less, West Jackson has actually been determined for students to come together more. Last year they met one Wednesday night a month; however, this year they began meeting every week on Wednesday. They also continue to meet every Sunday morning as a college ministry prior to the main church service. So while they may have changed locations to provide for social distancing, the mission and the methods remain steady.
This year, Martinez was asked to join the college leadership team. Through this experience, he has seen how intentional Guzouskis is about helping the students grow in their walk with the Lord. Throughout the week, they have devotionals to go through and Guzouskis is continually encouraging them and remaining in contact with them. Demonstrated through Guzouskis’ leadership, Martinez has seen how ministry is about more than just being in a building.
“Get into a church that is intentional not only about sharing the Word faithfully, but pouring into and growing their church in maturity and their knowledge of the Word and in their readiness to go and do what God is calling them to do. West Jackson has been that place for me,” said Martinez.
Finally, there is Fellowship Bible Church, another large college ministry in Jackson. Elijah Matteson, a sophomore psychology major, joined Fellowship through two friends who later became his small group leaders.
College Fellowship is unique in that on Wednesday night the majority of their time is spent in small group discussion. Following worship and the weekly challenge, the groups separate to discuss the message and apply it to their lives and to the week.
Matteson loves how eager the students are to listen and share during those group times. He can always tell they are ready to get things off of their chest and to lean upon one another.
“I knew I could grow and stay accountable to the people in there. I knew people would actually pray for me in my small group and listen to my prayer requests. And that would help me get through my week or month,” said Matteson.
While the groups meet on Wednesdays, the leaders are intentional about reaching out to their group throughout the week. Whether that looks like coffee, lunch or just checking in, Matteson says they keep him accountable and growing.
“The leaders and the community there are looking for a strong relationship with you and they will be open with you wholeheartedly and ready to serve you,” said Matteson. “Honestly they’ll be ready to serve you automatically right when you walk through those doors.”
While I only spoke to students in three of Jackson’s college ministries, I encourage you to seek out students at every church you are interested in. Ask them about their experience, their growth, the community and especially how they have encountered the Lord there. Maybe even visit a new church one Sunday just to meet more of the body of Christ and see how God is using them to advance His kingdom. Because truly, there is never an end to what we can learn or how we can grow.
