15 Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman in College

Hello fellow adventurers!

So now that summer is done with, this week is back-to-school here in Manitoba for University and Secondary schools! Now it’s time to get back into my blog rhythm too, which is likely very nice for you, the readers!

So without further adieu, I’d like to start this week off by addressing a very specific group of people, Bible College students. I can’t believe that it was six years ago that I started my 3 year journey at Central Pentecostal College, now known as Horizon College and Seminary.

As a 20-year old fresh-faced freshman, there were so many things I was being told, yet so many things I dismissed in my youthful ignorance. There are so many things I wish I had done, or done better during my college years. There were things that I saw others doing that I wished I had the discipline to do. Over the next couple of days, allow me to share with you my rage and regret as I look back and wish that I had done things differently! And PLEASE… if you are a freshman in Bible College, don’t ignore this like I did… you might look back one day when you’re 26 and wish you did things differently!

Here are a few things I was told, but never paid any attention to:

1. The best way to prepare for ministry during college is to devour God’s word. PERIOD.

If you’re just getting into Bible college mode, you might find it strange to be reading the Bible so much for class, chapel, papers, debates and such. You might just say to yourself, “don’t I have enough Bible in my life? Perhaps I should read some Donald Miller or fiction or something.” FALSE. Devour that thing. Memorize entire chapters, start each day with a quiet time. Beg God to show you His desires for your life. The Bible won’t do you much in Bible college if you just use it as a textbook!

I fell deep into this trap during my first year and basically went the whole year without letting Scripture refresh me and strengthen my relationship with God. I saw it more as a text and could analyze it front and back and talk my way into an A+ on any exam or paper. But guess who else was really good at analyzing text and talking about rules and how they applied? The Pharisees! Don’t be like them. They sucked!

Seriously. When you enter ministry, you will never have as much free time as you do now. Spend time in prayer. Become that weird guy who spends his time in the prayer lounge early every morning.

My senior pastor also went to CPC (though much longer ago than I). He likes to tell me tales of getting close with God, and being that prayer chapel guy, along with a few other faithful friends. It’s now 25 years down the road for him, and guess what? The only people who survived in ministry this long are those who took the time to get a good foundation in the Word and in prayer.

Quit caring what the “cool” homeschooled rebel kids across the caf think. If you’re there to get into ministry, then get serious NOW.

2. Keep a file of ministry ideas for after graduation

Oh how I wish I had done this. I thought my memory would hold onto those great ideas that I had in class. Or that project that I read about in one of my textbooks. Or that campus ministry brainstorming session I had with my friends. We had it all figured out, and nothing written down. What a shame! Don’t think of ministry as something far off in the distance. Start writing down your ideas now and how you would implement them. You have a blessing on your hands, you don’t know who you’re going to end up ministering to, or what they’ll be like, so you can pretend it will go perfectly!

3. There is no later, only now!

I had several opportunities through work to share my faith (and when people ask, “what are you going to school for?”, it’s the perfect opportunity to share the gospel!). I chickened out every time, because I thought I wasn’t ready. What I really didn’t know is that even when you’re supposedly “ready” you are scared out of your wits. It takes time and a few failures and successes before you can feel confident in sharing your faith. Just because there is no “rev” or “pastor” in your title, it doesn’t give you an excuse to slack off in sharing the greatest most life changy-est thing that can happen to anyone!

4. Utilize chapel and service times while you can!

Seriously! When I am getting close to holiday times, one of the things I most look forward to is getting to attend a church service without any responsibilities. Sunday can start to feel like any other work day if you let it, so use those chapel times and worship your heart out! Go to church every Sunday morning and be thankful when you get to participate in communion without having to lead worship, hand out elements or clean up afterwards. You are blessed with a few dozen Sundays before you are locked in for life with responsibilities and pressure to be a good steward of the time people are giving to hear you speak or sing every week!

5. STOP WORRYING

Student loans are stressful
Paper deadlines are stressful
Exams are stressful
Friendships are stressful
Dating is stressful
Employment is stressful
Finding the right internship is stressful
Advisory meetings are stressful

Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a man’s heart,  but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

If you’re at all like me, you spend a lot of that free time I was talking about earlier worrying about things that are completely out of your control. Don’t worry. God is in control! Can I get an amen on that????? Seriously, quit spending that free time worrying about things you can change, and use it to dive in deeper with the One who can change everything!!!!

Come back tomorrow and Thursday for parts 2 and 3!

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