Englewood College Ministry hosted their third ‘Freshman Survival Guide’ event Monday morning in the Bowld where Jessica Beal, senior computer science major, and Hayden Phillips, senior chemistry major, shared their personal experiences about finding biblical community in an event open to all Union freshmen.
“Community is a feeling of fellowship with others where you can intentionally pour into someone and they can pour into you,” said Beal.
This is the premise and goal of a new weekly gathering called ‘Freshman Survival Guide’ organized by Englewood Baptist’s College ministry with the mission of providing freshmen with upperclassmen mentors to speak on topics such as identity, calling, community and dating.
“Some of the best community comes when you are investing in other people,” said Shawn Chandler, college pastor at Englewood Baptist Church.
Chandler seeks to foster a community where students are able to feel comfortable and ask difficult questions to upperclassmen who have shared similar struggles and challenges throughout their college journeys.
“As their pastor, I can only say and relate so much, so it is vital to have older students who are living the walk alongside them pour into them,” said Chandler.
For Phillips, the opportunity to speak about true biblical community to freshmen was a blessing and a reflection upon his four years at Union University.
“Sometimes community is found through trial and error,” said Phillips. “If your community never questions or challenges you then it is probably not a community you want to be a part of.”
Through his time spent with Union’s soccer team, Welcome Week, admissions and Lambda Chi Alpha, Phillips has learned the value of displaying authenticity in all communities.
“Don’t try to act like you are perfect,” said Phillips. “Look for ways to fellowship and be present with unbelievers around you as an opportunity to witness to them.”
Chandler believes that whether there is one freshman in attendance or the entire class, these conversations are incredibly valuable and worth having.
His goal is to partner with other local Jackson churches in the coming years to grow this gathering to bring awareness to more than just Englewood students, similar to the One Night worship event hosted on Union’s campus earlier this spring.
Finding true community is a powerful thing and instrumental into the growth and development during a student’s four years at college.
The final topic that will be discussed at the ‘Freshman Survival Guide’ will be dating, led by recent Union alumni Ben Sidwell and Aleah Petty on Sept. 26.
The ‘Freshman Survival Guide’ meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays in Bowld 121.
