Bring your pens, because there is blank space galore in the new book, The Kingdom Experiment
. Based on the Beatitudes, the book invites readers to try simple, creative ways to live intentionally. And on the pages within you’re encouraged to scribble and color and journal your way through the experience.To enter for a chance to win one of the five free copies, leave a comment until Tuesday, August 11th with an answer to these questions:
What would you pack if you were attending a Christian college this fall? I attended Samford University, a small Baptist college in Birmingham, Alabama and arrived entirely unprepared for the unique needs of a Christian college. If you attended one, what would you suggest an incoming Freshman bring? If you didn't attend one, what would you imagine an incoming Freshman might need? Stereotypes of Christian school unite, what would you pack if you were attending a Christian college this fall?
I went to a state college and became a Christian there. I would never want to take back my experience there, but if I did and went to a Christian college I would want to pack the book "Unlikely Disciple" by Kevin Roose. This book opened my eyes to what Christian colleges are like and how non-Christians view the Christian culture we have created. I would want to keep this book on my bookshelf to remind me that my actions are constantly being watched by non-believers and that I should live my life to reflect Christ. Also to remind me that so much of what we do as Christians (especially at Christian colleges) and the way we act is not because the Bible has instructed us to do so, but it is because we are following the Christian culture rather than Christ himself.
ReplyDeleteA KJV (original version, not that new crap) in one of those cool canvous zipper cases with an eagle embrodered on the front. With a verse about "rising up like eagles". It would probably be green since God like green (he used alot of it when he created nature). Hopefully there would be a pocket in front where I could stick Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet Gel pens. The canvous should be worn and discolored in places and a few of the threads in the eagle should be tatered-Showing plenty of use. Plus inside there should be a small pad of paper, some tissues, 3 or 4 peppermints, a suduoku book for long chapel services, and a cross fashoned out of last years Palm Sunday Palm leaf.
ReplyDeleteOK, that was wrong. 4 mints is probably too few.
1) Clothes - people are either a) offended or b) disgusted or c) turned on by nude people. 74% of the time, nudity will not make a great first impression. Pack at least 5 days worth of clothes. Wash them every 13 days or so.
ReplyDelete2) Perhaps my bigger suggestion is to "unpack" what you've learned from your previous spiritual journey. I think a lot of freshman students who know a lot of their bible or think they are on a spiritual mountain top (higher than everyone else), are going to be challenged more than ever before. I think you have to go in with your dogma, and that's it. No doctrine. No definition of what a Christian is supposed to look like. No bible-camp stories to impress people with. No expectations. If you think you already know enough and are just looking for an excuse to preach Sunday mornings at a church, don't waste your $40,000
3) Bring a bible.
4) Bring water balloons.
Definitely a computer!
ReplyDeleteIf you're a student choosing to follow the universal will of God; that all should attend a university with a mission statement that specifically includes the words "ministry, kingdom, and servant leadership," you will need to purchase only one book in preparation for your entrance into Christiancollege-dom: "The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations."
ReplyDeleteNo longer will you have to cower in fear of answering your Presbyterian professor about predestination, or whether you should bounce to the beat of "Boom Boom Pow" with your Baptist brother. Peers will be amazed at your master of the art of being "all things to all people." Maybe you truly have your cake and eat it too. Just make sure it's not devil's food cake.
I attended a Christian college and did not have the prerequisite item every female there was supposed to bring.....the hardback wedding planner with pictures and plans already cut out and in the binder.
ReplyDeleteEssentials for a year at Bible college:
ReplyDelete1: Well worn in, and plenty used Bible, accompanied by a brand spanking new one. This not only shows your dedication to the Bible (the used one) but also that you are taking this new experience seriously (the new one).
2: Skittles. To throw from the front when it is your turn to preach in chapel.
3: A journal and a guitar. If you can't play at least 3 chords on a guitar, no matter how poorly, you are probably not a western Christian, thus not ready for Bible college, however, do not fear, learn in the next 5 minutes. Bringing a journal and a guitar shows your sensitive side and will be sure to secure you the girl/boy of your dreams so that you can rush into marriage too quickly.
4: A picture of your church building, to show your unwavering commitment.
5: Exorcism tongs, for those pesky ones that just won't leave.
6: BOYS: The ability to grow a soul patch...to secure a job in youth ministry for after college.
7: 7 different coloured cross necklaces, one for each day of the week. A box of W.W.J.D. bracelets.
I went to a Christian college after attending public high school. I realize that this suggestion falls flat in the age of digital music, but I took my cd collection of Christian music. For the first time in my life, I had people complimenting me on my music! It floored me to realize that I might actually be cool on a Christian campus! I still wasn't, but that's beside the point. Other than that, I'd suggest bringing your favorite bible but be prepared to buy a new one. Lots of Christian campuses will have particular editions that are preferred in class, ones with study notes and appendices and all that.
ReplyDelete1. An open mind and a passion to know God and the Bible.
ReplyDelete2. Snack foods because of those late nighters (every night) and a good alarm clock that will actually get you up for your classes after those late nighters.
3. Playing cards or some sort of simple games to play (Dominoes, Rook, Monopoly, ok maybe not monopoly).
4. Lots of quarters (laundry).
5. Peanut butter for when the cafeteria is not serving Chicken Alfredo with Creme Broulet (sp?).
-My study Bibles (NIV and NRSV) so that when somebody tries to force an idea/opinion on me, I can go look at the source and seek God on my own to find meaning and truth.
ReplyDelete-Dutch Blitz. That way nobody freaks out about having traditional playing cards, but one can still play super-competitive, fast-paced card games that involved lots of hand-slapping (a great way to make hand-to-hand contact with your secret crush).
-An internet-blocker blocker. Because I want to be able to order underwear online. I don't want websites about women's health to be filtered. And I think it's shameful that a scared 19-year-old can't get on to some Web MD-like place and look up "breast lump" without being filtered out.
WV - asmistra: Something that would probably be blocked by the internet filter.
I would pack clothes, bible, toothbrush and lots of pens and paper. Get ready to learn!
ReplyDeletea laminated copy of your personal testimony.... that way when the zealous CO member hits your freshman hall, you can just give it to them to read and avoid having to awkwardly stumble through how you "met Christ" while your new pot-luck roomie suddenly feels inspired to place his "Jesus Laughing" print on the underside of the top bunk.
ReplyDeleteHmm...I went to a state school. But now I'm at seminary and I should have brought books by all the early church fathers. I had no idea who any of them were, but apparently everyone else did. WHooops.
ReplyDeleteI went to a very conservative Bible College in Springfield Mo. The names and faces are changed to protect the guilty.
ReplyDeleteRule 1. No television.... Bring a tv small enough to fit in your clothes hamper. They will never find it.
Rule 2. 11:00 curfew.... Bring a clever disguise, such as those groucho marx glasses. To change your identity as you come in late.
Rule 3. 6 inch rule when sitting next to the opposite sex..... WHat? yea that really happened.. Bring a large Family bible to put it between you, so the other person will have to cross Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John before they can even think about touching you.
Every Christian college man, if he wants to be a true college man, needs an acoustic guitar and four chords. Then, he can play any contemporary worship song or any sappy love song that he wants.
ReplyDeleteBrian (alumni of Dallas Baptist University)
jcbondservant@hotmail.com
Books. Every book ever written about being a pastor's wife.
ReplyDeleteBecause let's be honest, I'm not there to get an education, I'm there to get a man. And not just any man, a Future-Pastor-Man-of-God.
I went to the Canadian Bible College (and no, we do not have only ONE up here... LOL... just happened to be the name of the one I chose!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if you're living in dorms, I suggest some EARPLUGS, for when your roommate stays up all hours of the night talking on the phone with the new-found love of his/her life (you are attending BRIDAL college, don't you know!) These earplugs will be especially handy if your roomate is of a different racial decent than you and is speaking another language. This can become frusterating after the first few hours!
WV: blerra - the condition of one's eyes after pulling an all-nighter at Bible College.
ex) His eyes were awfully blerra at chapel that morning.
The idea that all classes will be Bible studies...The willingness to be engaged the first year (at least twice)...The unwavering view that your denomination is the only one going to heaven...And the revelation that college parties you see in the movies will in no way relate to you.
ReplyDelete1. A slim volume written by a 14th century German theologian that is so poorly translated as to be unreadable. Purpose - to continually reside on my bed stand and wow any visitors with my slogging ability.
ReplyDelete2. A disdain for any and all contemporary ideas. Purpose - to ensure that my cohorts understand that my faith is old school.
3. A chess board with pieces arranged to always appear as if I am in the middle of a game. Purpose - this will compel friends to spend some time reflecting on the fact that I need further stimulation for my expansive mind that only a solid game of chess can provide.
4. A ball cap of some obscure Midwestern triple A team, prominently perched on a highly visible wall. Purpose - signifies that I am definitely not all work and no play.
5. A few not-entirely-true stories of my many heroic acts of faith in high school. Purpose - I'll be able to compete when the guys are attempting to woo Mary Beth.
WV (refin)
- A smoky, recreational activity on many a Friday night in high school. This will not be shared with Mary Beth.
I packed pretty much everything I owned. My parents left the country when I went off to college. Having been through it though I learned some important things.
ReplyDeleteI went to college thinking it would be like basic training to prepare me for the battle ahead. In reality it was more like the front line. The most intense spiritual attacks of my life happened there.
Honestly I feel like people in a Christian college need to make a point of spending extra time with God.
People living on the campus brought every distraction in the world with them. They stayed up late watching movies and playing games. Honestly I wouldn't worry about what I pack but what I don't bring.
I wouldn't bring a TV or game system. I might even go so far as to leave my desktop computer. My laptop can't handle games but can do word processing just fine. The fewer distractions the better.
I think JamCam's comment #2 pretty much got it right.
ReplyDeleteI'd bring an open mind. I attended a Christian college after public school and later taught at that same college. So many students come with preconceived notions that the way they were raised is the ONLY way to be a Christian. I was Lutheran, so I was definitely a heathen--someone to be very wary of. But I learned at my school that Anglicans and Presbyterians and (gasp!) even Catholics can all be Christians. And also, I would open my mind to different forms of worship. Your worship-songs-on-a-screen may be fine, but traditional worship with hymns might also occasionally speak to your soul.
An arsenal of practical jokes and pranks - you'll need all the help you can get to have some fun.
ReplyDeleteAlso essential:
water balloons
dry ice
packing peanuts
I am currently going to a Lutheran college in a Baptist-based state. If I were going to a Christian college (or to my school all over again), I would definitely bring my pastor's phone number/email address... I had buy a Bible with the Apocrypha (sp.?) attached for my Christian Faith class and it had me asking all types of questions about why this was never talked about and why it wasn't in the Bible I usually read. I was freaked out thinking I was missing something.
ReplyDelete@nancy That's exactly what I was thinking! Ring before Spring or your money back!
ReplyDeleteToo bad I didn't get my money back.
I attended a very conservative christian college in the south and felt I should have been wearing a lead lined 11 piece suit including triple thick longjohns. It was for shame if anyone saw any exposed skin short of your face and your "shakin" hand.
ReplyDeleteA Bible, a laptop and lots of highlighters :)
ReplyDeleteI would have my "True Love Waits" ring (and maybe a couple of spares to give to my roommates. I would also take the NIV Study Bible. Finally, my collection of T-shirts that are spoofs of well known brands. That way everyone will know that I am a "real" Christian and I don't even have to talk about my faith.
ReplyDeleteSince I went to a state school, I didn't have to take these things with me, so it's very important to let all of the Christian School students know they MUST take them as they go.
I know what they won't need...their dancing shoes. They can just go ahead and leave those at home.
ReplyDeleteI went to a large public University so this is completely a stereotype, but Baylor university is right up the road from us so it is at least an experienced stereotype.
ReplyDeleteI would bring plenty of secret storage. Things like empty books that looked like textbooks for heavy religion classes, the hide-a-key rock, etc. Then, when my parents were coming or I had a room inspection, I could easily hide all of my non-Christian cds, pictures, movies, etc.
For some reason, either students think their parents expect or they actually do expect college students to act like Saints in college.
Bring your Bible, and lots of pizza money. If you normally eat 7 pizzas a week, bring money for at least 20. Your appetite skyrockets in dorm rooms for some reason. Plus you have fellow students with similar appetites.
ReplyDeleteAlso find people that wear same sized clothing. Laundry is a real time waster (don't you think they should install laundry room equipment in classrooms? Multitaskin' baby)
- All 7 Harry Potter books, put in a very prominent shelf position
ReplyDelete- Complete Seasons 1-10 of Stargate SG-1 DVDs
- Hockey stick to fend off sexist males trying to propose to you
- Big Lord of the Rings poster
- Phone numbers of some sane people you can call
- Teddybear
"Physician's Desk Reference hollowed out. Inside: Waterproof matches, iodine tables, beet seeds, protein bars, NASA blanket and, in case I get bored, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone." - Dwight K. Schrute
ReplyDelete1. Humility. I go to a Christian college--a Bible college at that--and when we arrived on campus every student (myself included) assumes that they have arrived, and that this isn't really a learning experience: it's time to show off all the youth group prowess that you accumulated over the last two to four years.
ReplyDelete2. Integrity. Unfortunately, it seems like integrity is not a treasured discipline, so I know people who, for example, earn class points for reading their Bible for OT Survey, and, er, didn't read it.
3. A Bible. That you (get this) read. Chapel, class, and deep theological conversations do not count as your one-on-one time with God.
4. A copy of "The Idiot's Guide to Ultimate Frisbee." You'd better learn how to dive, jump, defend, and toss that thing underhand before you ever step foot on campus. The competition is way heavier in Christian college ultimate Frisbee games than in youth group sword drills. If you can believe it.
5. A willingness to debate deep, heavy, theologians-with-a-thousand-degrees-discuss-this-and-have-yet-to-come-to-a-conclusion-on-it theological conversations. Because there's nothing like discussing the merits of Arminianism and Calvinism at 2 a.m.
a WWJD bracelet and a worn out Precious Moments bible. thats all you need.
ReplyDeleteAs a former R.A. at a Bible College, I recommend bringing some consideration for other people. That would mean-cleaning up after yourself, not talking on your cell or texting after lights out, not blasting your music, not wearing your roommates clothes without permission, ect. Of course, a stash of snacks (include some to bribe your R.A. with) are a must.
ReplyDeleteOh, one more thing, if you insist on setting your alarm extremely early (like 4:30 a.m.) because you are going to exercise and spend time with God (even though you have never done either at 4:30 before) DO NOT hit your doze button for an hour. Everyone will hate you with a perfect hatred (I think King David said that about his enemies).
A transfer application to a state school.
ReplyDeleteI actually can answer this question from experience: I transferred from a big state university (I was not a Christian) to a private Christian college having NO idea what they would be like. I've learned that it's really important to bring a Bible - but not just any one. One that has the appearance of being used...a lot. Also, backpacks are so out. Christians (speaking of living out of the "culture" rather than the "calling"), at least where I go to school, are very much into style these days and so, the over-the-shoulder back is the only way to properly lug around your used Bible (preferably with study notes) and prayer journal. Those are important to have, too. And, so is a good, "well-rounded" knowledge base of Christian music - by well-rounded I mean artists from at least two other countries (bonus points for other languages!) than the US. For example, Newsboys, Matt Redman, Brian Doerkson and Chris Tomlin. :-D.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian College Grad, I learned these are the basic necessities (for guys). And they are all geared at picking up chicks. Because everyone knows that you don't go to Bible College to learn about the Bible; you go to get married.
ReplyDeleteA Bible that is especially worn from use (you'll probably have to go to a thrift store to get one).
A story to go with that Bible including fantastic lies about how you took that Bible with you everywhere on all of your 18 overseas missions trips.
A miniaturized 8-chord diagram for guitar chords as a bookmark in said Bible.
This bookmark conveniently placed in Song of Solomon chapter 7.
A purity ring (even though you know you've probably already broken the promise that it represents).
A worship leader fauxhawk.
Rob-Bell style thick-frame emo glasses.
An engagement ring.
An enticing story about how you're going to use said engagement ring on someone that is... [the description of the freshmen that you're talking to].
An innocent look in case you're caught holding hands in chapel with said freshmen.
Lies about how much you love your mom (because how you treat your mother...)
"Every Young Man's Battle"
An over-the shoulder satchel (because nobody wears old-school backpacks anymore).
A Michael W. Smith ringtone for your cell.
Any movie with Kirk Cameron in it.
WV: ressidin; someone who desires to one day become a RA (ressidin assistant)
I'm going to Covenant College this fall and their packing list included all of the above as well as zany outfits, you never know when you're going to have to dress crazy! Yesterday I packed a bag including a luchador mask, a headlamp, googles, a swim cap, Mickey Mouse ears, a Barbie crown, and a giant straw hat. After that packing will be a breeze!
ReplyDeleteI will be going back to Bible college starting my senior year this fall. I've gotten rid of a lot of junk this summer, but the one thing I will be sure to bring back to the dorms is my handy-dandy T-shirt machine. That's right, I've figured out how to make a profit by selling t-shirts out of my 20x20 dorm room!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I recommend that freshman bring is a sense of reality. Too many freshman come onto campus expecting to find a wife and job and to live the rest of their lives on easy street. Life in ministry is hard! They need to be expecting that.
Depending on the christian collage. I would bring any book dealing with "emergence" or post modernism and talk about it as much as I can. After all we have not heard enough about it over the past few years it still needs some discussion:)
ReplyDeletelove your blog so funny!!!!
1. Febreeze - because let's face it, nothing freshens up dirty clothes like Febreeze.
ReplyDelete2. Lots of good spiritual books that you can read in the common areas so that everyone will know how serious about God you are.
3. An alarm clock - self-explanatory
4. A variety of Christian T-shirts just in case no one saw the books you were reading.
5. Cell phone - so that you can call mom and dad when you realize you really don't know how to live on your own.
I went to an Outdoor Rec Bible College in Canada (read: thank God for His amazing creation while canoeing and singing "Better is One Day...")
ReplyDeleteA well loved Bible, with scuffs from being taken on hiking trips, and a Sealine waterproof bag for said Bible were crucial!
Full snowsuit, because the best chance you have of getting an outdoorsy Christian guy to like you is to show off your snowboarding/snow-ball fighting/ice climbing skills.
I went to a Christian college for my freshman year. I'm now a junior at a state school so obviously it didn’t work out so well. But to anyone who will be attending a Christian college in the fall, this is what I wish I had brought:
ReplyDelete1. A combination microwave and convection oven. Since most people don’t drink alcohol, parties revolve around food. The ability to bake cookies in your dorm room will instantly give you 498 best friends.
2. Corny Christian movies you grew up on. You will be surprised how many people also grew up on these and will want to watch them with you.
3. A forgiving attitude. The thing you need to know about going to a Christian college is that everyone around you will claim to be a Christian, but no one will act like it all of the time. When things are going well, it’s great to know that you’re surrounded by Christians. But when you are hurt or rejected, it’s difficult knowing that the person who wronged you is a Christian.
I was so disillusioned after my year at a Christian college. I really struggled with the fact that I was treated much better at my state school than I was at the Christian college. It's important to have realistic expectations. At the same time, you need to remember that you still represent Christ even though you’re in a Christian environment.
I went to a Christian college... I'm trying to remember what was essential. Quarters, snack food, cans of soup/hot plate for the days in winter when it's too cold to be bothered to walk across campus to get a meal. Pop-Tarts for breakfast (because who's really going to get up extra early for going over to the dining commons?). Most importantly, a mind-set that the world will NOT end if you leave college without a spouce--you still can meet Christians of the opposite geneder out in the "real" world, I promise1
ReplyDeleteI went to a state college, and then did one whole week at a bible college. My experience was over 20 years ago, so hopefully things have changed.
ReplyDeleteThe students I saw fell into two categories: Those who were radically delivered from a bad life and who wanted to do great things for God, and those who have lived sheltered Christian lives and didn't have much of a clue about the real world. I remember specifically a gal who wanted so bad to be a missionary to Equador, but she couldn't handle anyone around her having bad breath, even a little bit.
Several things are obvious to bring, like a bible and some clothes... I'd recommend people bring a desire to love real people in the real world...
I will be a freshman at a Christian college this fall... I will be taking (among many other favorite albums) Radiohead's Kid A --- I would die without it.
ReplyDeleteYou have probably seen this. But in case you haven't, have you seen this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fantasychurchleague.com/l
Well, I went to a small Bible College in Atlantic Canada, and if I could go back in time and tell myself what to bring it would be as follows:
ReplyDelete1) John Maxwell books - know them back and front, in fact you may want to memorize them because apparently everything he says are words from heaven at my old college.
2) Not just any old KJV will do, you need Maxwell's Leadership Bible (I got an autographed copy along with all the other students my freshman year (no seriously, he has a leadership Bible with his name on it and he signed the inside of all 300 students))
3) Cool video games - cause lets face it you want guys in the dorm to think you're cool.
4) A sense of humor and willingness to have pranks pullled on you - At my college there were alot including missing shower curtains in the guys bathroom, dead animals in peoples car, large chunks of grass and dirt hidden in peoples bed... and a few that I won't mention.
5) And finally, a friend from your home youth group that is your roommate and helps you prank everyone before they can get you.
If you really want to make the most of your Christian college experience, bring the following:
ReplyDelete1. Book of Mormon - Place this on your pillow every morning to really mess with your roommate.
2. Tiger Balm and Anbesol - put these one your roommate's deoderant and toothbrush (respectively) for lots of crazy fun.
3. A laptop with a recent version of Doom installed - play this everynight until about 2:00 in the morning. Turn the volume down almost all the way and turn the monitor so it doesn't shine directly at your roommate. Everytime he stirs, ask him if you're bothering him and that you'll only be a few more minutes. Also be sure to leave your alarm clock set for 6:30 AM and repeatedly hit snooze when it goes off for the next hour or two.
4. An evening gown and a tutu (girls you could try biker gear and camo) - Keep these in your closet and every once in a while let your roommate catch you holding them up to yourself and looking longingly in the mirror.
After about two weeks of this you should have your own room at which point you can really devote yourself to the study of God and His Word. Oh yeah...
5. A Bible - hide it under your mattress until the roommate's gone.
I go to Lee University (and came THIS CLOSE to going to Samford) and this is my list:
ReplyDelete1. An index card with exactly 3 Bible verses which back up the theological viewpoint your parents taught you. No matter what argument you get sucked into, don't respond to anything the other person says; just say the verses at them. Works every time.
2. A full library of legally-obtained Christian music, including all of the Silly Songs with Larry. Leave all music without the word "Jesus" somewhere in the lyrics at home, preferably in your trash can WHERE IT BELONGS.
3.(for females) A wardrobe of ill-fitting T-shirts exclusively from mission trips, youth retreats, and Christian concerts. Also one that says "modest is hottest" to wear with the knee-length pants you fondly refer to as your "shorts".
4. A cause, any cause. Invisible Children is always a sure bet. Don't worry about researching it or donating to it; your bumper sticker and T-shirt will raise awareness, and that's really what the starving people need. The important thing is to make sure people know that you are socially conscious.
5. But, really, a commitment to seeking God with an open but discerning mind and a willing heart. It's so easy to become judgmental, whether you think you're progressive or conservative. I have to constantly remind myself that loving God and loving people, as cliche as it sounds, are really the only things that matter in the end, and that almost all of the people I meet on campus are trying their best to do that. We might have different theological opinions or ways of living, but they could just as easily choose to judge me for the way I do things. Disunity for the sake of proving yourself right is the last thing such a diverse body of Christians needs.
I would bring my music and a computer, the second so I could work and the first so I could unwind from the stress of studying. Oh, and a Bible.
ReplyDeleteThis time last year, I was taking my daughter to Samford, from Indianapolis. Every freshman needs a fully loaded gift card to Starbucks and to Walmart.
ReplyDeleteIf you're female... bring a one piece (or a modest tankini) to avoid being considered "loose". Otherwise you might end up like me. The only girl not wearing a one piece at a pool party.
ReplyDeleteFor men and women alike, bring your worldview goggles. They'll help swim through the sea of our culture and see things through the eyes of Christ.
a bible, laptop with good bible study software (Libronix is a great choice), ipod with good earphones, the stuff on your packing list from the college you will attend, and the copy of The Kingdom Experiment that you win in this giveaway.
ReplyDelete1) your virginity
ReplyDelete2) testamints (for when the first item no longer seems necessary)
3) head coverings
4) every single veggietales movie ever created (this one isn't a joke)
I went to a Christian college and i would suggest a few things. 1) lots of snacks and candy--you'll get lots of friends that way!! 2) Lots of quarters for laundry (and to help out others if they need a coin or two) and then just bring an open-minded, questioning, exploring Spirit. So often, when you go to a Christian college you will feel like you're expected to never doubt or question or explore your faith. I'm not saying lose your faith or deny it...but explore it, interrogate it more, question it, and continue to figure out why you believe what you believe, rather than just swallowing a belief youve been told to believe. Hope that helps! :)
ReplyDeleteHave never been to any collage much less Christian collage but I am pretty sure if I showed up with my iPhone I would have all I needed. Granted I may have to actually pay for some apps instead of sticking to the free ones but that's ok, it is for the Lord. I may as well bring my MacBook too. It travels nice.
ReplyDeleteI recently graduated Southern Nazarene University, if I was ever in need in dorm room it was for food. The value of a hot pot can not be under sold. This list is a list of the things I wished I had once I got there.
ReplyDelete1. Hot Pot
2. Ramen
3. Little Debbies
4. Wal Mart gift card
5. Extra Towels
6. A case of Red Bull
7. A laptop
8. Hangers
9. A politcal conversation guide for dummies (my freshman year was election year and that was fodder for much debate.
10. bring "Hope" the syllabi will intimidate however take solace in the fact you are not alone and others have been there before you.
The End
chicks: long skirts hemed just short enough to show your shapely ankels and an oversize sweatshirt that says, "May I water your camels?" (the hottest Bible pick up line, ever)
ReplyDeleteDudes: hip waders to keep with you at all times becaue there is always someone, somewhere who needs baptisim immediately (interestingly, that's why most malls have fountains and change pools)
Clean tighty whities.
ReplyDeleteClean so that if anything ever happens to you at least the coroner will know that your mother loved you.
Tighty whities to keep you out of trouble... you know what I mean.
I went to a small (~230 students) Bible college. I would suggest:
ReplyDelete1) Bible (obivously)
2) Expectation for God to work and a heart ready to hear from Him.
3) Willingness to be challenged on your core beliefs and your denominational affiliation.
4) Coffee maker (gotta have it!)
Have a good answer to the comment "God told me he wants you to..."
ReplyDelete-Guy repellant spray (goes well with "does this LOOK like a singles bar?" tshirt)
ReplyDelete-Something to do while the rest of your dorm is out chasing grooms - oh yeah that handy dandy Bible could come in useful here!
-Food for when the caf has closed for the day before you roll out of bed
-A lock-pick set for getting back in your dorm after curfew without resorting to calling down the RA and associated fines
-Either some pre-fab lines about man looking at the outward appearance while God looks at the heart, or you better find some more modest clothes...
Yeah, I only made it one year living on campus at our large Christian university... But I have to admit, it was one terrific, life-changing year!
I attend Johnson Bible College located in the rolling foothills of the great smoky mountains right outside of Knoxville, TN (yeah that's an official line from a brochure) Anyway... things to bring (besides the duh ones of Bible, school supplies, clothes, sheets, toiletries etc...)
ReplyDeleteGuys (I don't know what girls should bring because the genders should never mix):
1) a guitar by which to serenade and woo the ladies
2) your true love waits ring - hoping that you won't have to wait very long for 'true love' (ring by spring or your money back)
3) DVDS and video games - there is not much of a social night life so you will have to bring your own entertainment
4) A collection of frisbees for disk golf and ultimate frisbee
5) A picture of Jesus
6) a collection of hype young christian literature, Rob Bell, Donald Miller, Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne etc. etc.
but on the serious note: come prepared to wrestle with God. More Christians go through faith struggles at Christian schools than should, because Jesus and God all too often become simply a subject to be studied and the Bible becomes just another of the litany of textbooks. You have to work to make faith your own, to still be in love with God after your first semester rather than just bored. Also find a local church, yes you will most likely be forced to go to 2-3 chapels a week ranging from ok to gouge out your eyes horrid. But nothing can compare the mysterious beauty of sunday morning worship with a group other believers that don't live in the bubble. But of course you must got to a church plant, or some other super trendy coffee shop type of church.
EARPLUGS. I attended Belmont University, a christian university in Nashville. My roommate played her keyboard all hours of the day/night. turning every song into a christian song. so, unless you want to hear disney's aladdin's "a whole new world" turned into a praise song, pack the plugs.
ReplyDeleteAlso tin foil - when you place it beneath the 456 Christmas lights dancing across your ceiling like some thrift store post holiday 90's rave, it triples the awesomeness effect... Of course you should, like me, place one strand in the window in the shape of a cross. Obviously.
ReplyDeleteNothing. Because God will meet my every need.
ReplyDelete:)
Grace......that stretches.......
ReplyDelete1) A map of the college and surrounding ground with appropriate DTR spots marked off. For those times when the home schooled girl from the journalism major just won't stop interviewing you about your views on the President, the dorm expansion, neo-Calvinism, etc.
ReplyDelete2) A lighter to take out once every so often and play with...cause owning a lighter at a Christian college automatically makes you BA. (Plus you'll need it to light your incense for the alt. worship service you are planning.)
3) 3 Frisbees with your name on them. You can never have enough Frisbees in college.
4) Coffee mug with ironic saying on it that you can constantly lug around with you. "Holy Grounds" or "Christian Crack" might work well for you.
5) A notebook to remember the amazingly bad Bible jokes you will hear throughout the day, so you can blog about them later. "My life-verse is Song of Solomon 7:3!"
If you are going to a Christian college this fall, you will definitely need:
ReplyDelete*) your Bible, a journal and a good commentary
*) a digital camera to record all of the exciting events and random late night happenings
*) flipflops for those not-so-clean shower stalls
*) a wipe-off board for your door for people to leave you notes when you're not in your room
*) a car (or a friend with a car) for late night Taco Bell and Walmart runs
*) an indestructible umbrella and snow boots (if you are going to college in the midwest)
*) a willingness to participate in crazy Freshman Orientation games with a few hundred strangers
*) a phone card for calling friends and family back home
*) posters and sticky tack - dorm room walls are incredibly bare
I do attend a Christian college, in the midwest- I wish I'd known that an ESV, KJV, NIV, TNIV, NLT and Message translations of the Bible were all required (but about on the same level as the collected works of C.S. Lewis- please don't forget this at home, either). Rook, Dutch Blitz, or other card games for awkward bro/sis floor interaction. Furthermore, definitely a guitar. If you don't know how to play one, ladies, that's fine- just find the kid on your brother floor playing "Screaming Infidelities" and John Mayer songs in his dorm room. What's that? He's too into "Yellow" to notice you? No, my sister in Christ, trust me: he's been waiting for you a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteBibles. A number of different versions for those times the professor says something weird and you need to see what God actually says on that subject.
ReplyDeleteHaving attended a small Christian college myself, here's my list:
ReplyDelete1.) Your cheesiest Christian t-shirt, preferably the one that says it's illegal in 70-some countries
2.) A bumper sticker that's anti-something, and an air freshener in the shape of a cross.
3.) A copy of the latest best-selling Christian dating book, especially if it's dog-earred, underlined, and losing half its pages. No matter that you haven't read it, this is purely for looks. Sneak it into your backpack the first day of class and if you see a cute guy/girl, let it "slip."
I did not go to a Christian college, but did do my graduate work at one. As a freshman I would stalk up on two things, as many different bible translations and commentaries as possible. Lord knows that some of the theology majors get their underwear in a wad when they get stuck on certain topics, like should women have a leadership role in church...and don't get me started about head coverings! Also, a frisbee, and television sensor equipment might come in handy too!
ReplyDeleteA bunch of those t-shirts that make popular logos into something Christian, like the one that remakes the Reeses logo in to Jesus. Eeeesh nothing says I love to follow God like copyright infringement.
ReplyDeleteI didn't attend one, but had friends that did. I would pack some get-dirty clothes, in hopes that there would be plenty of opportunities to serve in tangible ways with your Christian peers. Whether it's doing an afternoon at a kids camp, or gardening an elderly neighbors lawn, hopefully there would be plenty of opportunities to put those to use! (And if not, there's always ultimate frisbee. All my friends at Christian Colleges dug ultimate frisbee).
ReplyDeleteHmm. And the collected works of CS Lewis. You can display it so that everyone approves of your faith, or more importantly, you can read his works and be reminded of "mere" Christianity - sometimes, it is easy to get lost in the deep theological discussions and sides in a Christian school.
Lastly, a realization that just because this is a Christian school does not mean that everyone will treat one another as Christ would at all times. Vicious rumors, scrutiny, and peers disrespecting one another can (and will) happen at a Christian school just as they do at a regular school. Expecting sinners and not a Christian Utopia will help you keep your head on straight, and will make it easier to forgive when someone wrongs you.
Non-Christian people.
ReplyDeleteI got both the state school and the Christian college experience during my undergraduate career. I transfered from West Virginia University to Liberty as a senior, and after a few weeks adjusted to the culture shock as much as one could. I think the two necessities for a freshman entering a Christian college this fall would be a Bible (after all that is all you REALLY need). Your choice of a Bible should be made carefully as the translation, wear and tear, size and color will all speak volumes to the rest of campus. Secondly, I would think that this year an anti-Obama sticker would be a must. This will show that you are not to blame for all the countries problems and that you really take that Bible seriously.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am just starting my third year at a Christian college in California. Here is the list of things that I packed for school: four Bibles, three different versions. That way when you professor says something using the NIV you can pull out your King James version to show him just how mistaken his interpretation of scripture really is. It is ok to have a repeat of one of the versions as long as it is a pocket sized Bible, after all, you want to take a Bible with you everywhere just to show how much holier than all the other students you really are. Think how great you feel when someone at dinner misquotes a passage and all you have to do is pull out your trusty pocket Bible to show the sinner exactly where his mistake occurred.
ReplyDeleteAll the Christian t-shirts you can fit in a suitcase. Since there are so many Christians at a Christian college it is best to start proving your Christ-like qualities as soon as you are introduced to someone. And what says "I love Jesus" more than a shirt that says "Jesus loves me best".
(All of these things are meant in jest, I love going to a Christian college)
I've visited my friend at Moody Bible Institute a couple of times, and these are the essential things I've gleaned that I would need:
ReplyDelete-the new ESV study Bible. it's easy to argue the merit of the ESV translation when it gets John Piper's stamp of approval
-a library consisting of mostly John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and Donald Miller. A secret place to hide any other authors.
-a trendy hat or beanie to wear when my metro-worship leader hair hasn't been washed in a few days
-at least four travel coffee mugs
-hulu bookmarked on my Mac
-duct tape & wd-40
wv: gintrac - probably some new kind of tea I'd be drinking all the time
It depends on how you want to be labeled/what kind of friend groups you want and the conservative *cough legalistic* level of your particular college.
ReplyDeleteFor girls:
*first read the rule book completely before applying and definitely before packing. If dress code specifics aren't specified email an admissions counselor and ask the what when were how long how short questions.
-Girls will always need kakhi and black pants/knee-length skirts and a couple of polo's or collard shirts for random things. Pantyhose(for some reason they're required alot of times ugh!). Boys long basketball shorts for athletic events. Alot of colleges let girls wear pants to class but not jeans so check that out.
-earphones for watching/listening to anything that isn't g rated...unless you want to be the cool kid then bring speakers paganize your hall with "hip hop" tunes
-blacklights for secret dorm room dance parties (just don't get caught)
-tape for sticking your demerit slips up
-caffienated beverages to keep you awake in chapel
-Total Truth-by Nancy Pearcy (the second Bible of all profs)
-An old Bible not a new one...so you wont look like the unspiritual kid who doesn't read it every morning at 4 am (a flashlight if you are that kid)
-Notecards for writing encouraging notes to your friends/hallmates (they will more than likely become your closest friends so make an effort to get to know them)
-Makeup and heels...never never never go to class not looking your best. Girls outnumber guys, it's a feeding frenzy out there! You'll wish you had of when your third year aka the year of engagement comes around.
-An open mind...everyone is a little different try not to judge people for being more conservative or more liberal than you. These will be the years where you decide what YOU believe to be true.
Going to Christian collage?
ReplyDeleteThere's an app for that!
list:
ReplyDelete- guitar
- rich mullins CD collection
- t shirts from all the camps you've attended with your youth group
- photo of you with david crowder. framed.
- kirk cameron poster
- one pair of jeans. that's all it takes.
- an opinion for each of the following arguments: pre/post trib; amillennial, postmillennial, or premillennial; calvin/arminius; oral sex; drinking when you're of legal age; contemporary/traditional worship styles; joel osteen/andy stanley; christian/secular music; wine/grape juice
- 5, 10, and 20 year plans that include meeting your future spouse, networking so you can become a youth pastor immediately after graduating, and grooming to climb the parochial ladder
- oh, a toothbrush and deoderant.
The following was told to my friend by her cousin, and passed along to me when I was in seminary. When it was far, far too late for me.
ReplyDeleteFor the ladies: Bring posters of babies and children, pianos, and Scripture verses to hang in your room. Because every aspiring pastor wants a wife who loves children and can play the piano.
It does occur to me that this could fail since Christian college guys will never see the inside of a Christian college girl's room. So it's a good idea to have sweaters or sweatshirts with the above items embroidered as a backup.
The Boyfriend-Visiting-Overnight Kit! Here's a little-known secret my now-husband and I discovered at my small Christian liberal arts school. On the weekends, the out-of-town boyfriends sleep with their girlfriends (and I mean that in the literal REM sense) in the dorm's co-ed common room. They bring sleeping bags, pillows, alarm clocks, even fans, and bunk down for the night. The one time we tried it there were at least three other couples in the room. At least we were all well chaperoned throughout the night. :)
ReplyDeleteI, in fact, attended a small Bible College for 4.5 years in rural Alberta (yes, folks, that's in Canada, our friendly neighbors to the north). So I feel as if I am well equipped to answer this question... And in accordance with 7 being God's favourite number, I present you with the following:
ReplyDelete1. Gals: bring your hopechest, and Guys: bring a ring. We all know at Bible (Bridal) College it's "Ring by Spring" or your money back; so come prepared.
2. "The Survivor's Guide to Theology" by M. James Sawyer. I know you think you know it all already, but trust me, you don't.
3. A study Bible that has all the doctrinal statements you'll ever need outlined in the back. This is a huge help when you have to write a doctrinal statement on every doctrine ever imagined (Doctrine of God, of humanity, of sin, of Jesus, ETC.)
4. But don't think you can stop at just one Bible: don't forget your KJV, your NIV, your NASB and for you really "crazy" folk, your Message.
5. Every book ever written by Joshua Harris, plus all the "Wild at Heart" and "Captivating" type books: these will come in handy when you are looking for your special someone.
6. A willingness to promise the school your first born son in exchange for tuition for a year when you run out of money (but feel God wants you there regardless).
7. Several books by the Church Fathers & beyond: Augustine, Athanasius, Luther, Calvin, Brother Lawrence, and so on. These will help you get in with the profs.
As a girl I would definetely bring my wedding magazines! :-) I went to college to get my Mrs.!
ReplyDeletelaptop, cellphone, clothes, sheets and blankets, shoes, pillow, Bible, pencils, pens, notebooks, backpack, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, money, LOTS of money, clock. Oh, Tylenol and Rolaids.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Christain college - dreading have to take all those "God" classes.
ReplyDeleteI ended up finding Christ my Junior Year in Business school in one of the "God" classes.
What would I recomend a student bring entering college at a Christian School? Well, bring an open mind and a heart for someone other than yourself. Doing this will allow you to grow and learn that it isn't about you anyway.
I was attending Christian College when Jars of Clay's "Flood" and DC Talk's "Jesus Freak" came out. You literally could not walk from one side of the school to the other without hearing one or both of those albums blasting from the dorms. So what did I do? Cranked up The Cranberries as soon as I got back to my room. It's not that I didn't like those CCM offerings, but I needed a auditory palette cleanse. I suggest an incoming freshman bring their musical comfort food. College life is stressful and if Kutless ain't your thing, well... just be prepared.
ReplyDelete1. A fish for the back of your car as well as a bumper sticker notifying others of the dangers in case of rapture.
ReplyDelete2. Plenty of dress clothes for going to lunch on Sundays.
3. An iPod loaded with only Christian music, plus a few sneaky “secular” bands like Switchfoot.
4. Special Bible highlighters that won’t bleed through the pages.
5. An amazing sinner-to-saint testimony, even if it’s embellished.
6. An accountability partner.
7. Mere Christianity.
8. A “true love waits” ring.
9. For girls, Lady in Waiting. For guys, Wild at Heart or Every Young Man’s Battle.
10. The realization that you can never really be prepared for college – Christian or secular. Be ready for lots of challenges and opportunities to grow!
I would NOT pack dancing shoes (because dancing is a sin), a beard trimmer (because facial hair is a sin), or a gift card to Cinemark (because attendance at movie theaters is a sin).
ReplyDeleteMy new, free book: "The Kingdom Experiment". :)
ReplyDelete-Modern (almost metrosexual) hair cut
ReplyDelete-Black Rob Bell glasses (even if you don't need them)
-Cool, unique, leather journal to write all your impressive thoughts on.
-Get some sort of Christian tattoo before you go, so you won't be talked out of it when you get there.
-Your favorite TV shows and movies downloaded to your ipod, because you can bet that they will not have cable or pay per view in your dorm.
I attend the University of Florida, so I couldn't imagine what a Christian school lifestyle would be like. But it's not hard to imagine the sterotypical necessasities of a person attending a Christian college:
ReplyDelete-book case of C.S. Lewis, Max Lucado, and Donald Miller ( don't know if he would fly at a Baptist college though)
-Purity ring; because obviously you aren't pure if you don't wear one
-your collection of those silly t-shirts they sale at LifeWay that take something like 'subway' and make it 'hisway'
-posters from all the concerts/tours you've been to, most importantly: david crowder band, chris tomlin, and hillsong live
-5 Bibles: one for the purse/man bag to read on the bus, in between class and any extra time you may have; one for the car, to read in traffic; one to be put on display in the dorm room (NKJV, of course); one for church (NIV is acceptable); and most important, your ESV study bible that you received for HS graduation
-My Utmost for His Highest
-paint, markers, and notecards to decorate your walls, mirrors, and doors with scripture
-pictures from all the youth camps, mission trips, and church banquets you've ever attended (that's a lot of pictures!)
-decorative cross to put up over your bed
-(for girls) shorts that are long enough to be below your index finger and tank tops that are atleast 1 inch thick
-radio, gotta know all your local Christian radio stations
-dry erase board, to write out prayer requests
-life verse... memorized... in 10 different translations
Things you won't need:
-TV
-ping pong balls
-red solo cups
I'm sure I forgot some things, but these would definitely be on my list!
I'm currently a student at Baylor, a Christian university. Baylor isn't stereotypical Christian... at least, not anymore. But for a school that is...
ReplyDeleteEarplugs. That's a normal thing to bring, but the reasons are important: 1) The music in chapel can be very loud, and 2) The speakers tend to be boring, and with earplugs in, you can sleep.
A Strong's Concordance... you know, the one that you can look up any word in the Bible and find a number corresponding to the Greek or Hebrew word. And no, a digital copy is not enough. You need the actual book... It shows dedication!
C.S. Lewis books, John Piper books (unless the church is hardcore Armenian), etc. Warning: DO NOT bring Donald Miller or Rob Bell books! You will be labeled as an emergent and told that you are going to hell.
Lots of money. 1) for girls looking for the MRS degree, and 2) for books, and 3) for laundry, and 4) for food when the cafeteria food is horrible (usually), and 5) to buy the stuff you forgot and left at home.
You need a Bible, duh. But make sure that you have multiple versions... if you can, parallel versions (those show commitment). AND to show your support for missions, get one in a foreign language. (side note: I actually have one that's a Spanish/English parallel NIV/NVI. And yes, I used it on a mission trip near the border.)
Of course there's the guitar, but that's not good enough. You need a binder with at least 100 different praise and worship songs in it. You need all the common ones, but don't forget the obscure ones... they show that you know your stuff.
One of those Cross pen/pencil sets that has a gold or silver pen and pencil with your name engraved on it. Those go well in a suit pocket.
Speaking of... a suit (ladies adjust accordingly)... the more conservative your school (and the church you pick) are, the more suits you'll need.
Mouthwash. It's useful during those all-school fasts.
What would I pack if I were attending a Christian college this fall? Well that's easy, I'm packed and ready to leave at 5 am to drive the close to 13 hours to Nashville. The obvious things being clothes, a laptop, Bible and a microwave. (Something about small private/Christian colleges or at least mine--the cafeteria closes at 7pm). Of course I also remembered to pack my copies of "Redeeming Love" and "Crazy Love" for good Christian reading material. I used to think that Francine Rivers' books were just for people my mother's age. I was proved wrong when I sat in a tornado lock down and watched a freshman MALE read the book as well. And Crazy Love is the new thing to read, or will be once you hear Francis Chan speak. As for the "coolness" of a Christian music library that stephanie mentioned... unfortunately I go to school in the city of the home of country music and gospel/Christian music for that matter and most people still don't know my music.
ReplyDeleteAn acoustic guitar would also be helpful... I know at my school that is the thing to bring (along with trailers full of amps). I am not, however, musically inclined in the area of chords... I do though go against most good Baptist principles as I am a dancer!
1. a (fake) engagement ring/wedding band to keep distance from the desperate ones that first year, it's best just to have a solid group of friends who approach you without ulterior motives (also, if there's a seminary nearby, the girls ESPECIALLY need the "engagement ring" to ward off any older, creepy seminary students just looking for a future pastor's wife by targeting younger Christian college girls).
ReplyDelete2. a decent collection of various "famous" Christian authors/theologians, some C.S. Lewis, Watchman Nee, Bonhoeffer, Henri Nouwen, Augustine, Merton, some denominational guys depending on your denomination and the denomination of the school (like you might need some Wesley, Calvin, or Ignatius or something), Kierkegaard, Niebuhr (Reinhold AND H. Richard), Paul Tillich, N.T. Wright, etc. Also have a few more recent things like a book or two by Shane Claiborne, some John Piper, maybe a couple women author's books like Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore, a few "Christian dating" books (like Choosing God's Best), and Rob Bell and a Donald Miller book.
3. a guitar (even if you have it for a year without ever attempting to play--it'll still look cool and always be in the way)
4. a good tumbler or some such container to keep your coffee warm and hands un-burnt...since it's kind of sketchy to drink alcohol or do drugs while attending a Christian college (or while being a Christian---that whole abusive side of it), coffee is the next best option for a legal stimulus
5. a Bible and journal to make sure you have them available and to be sure you still at least feel guilty when neither is opened as regularly as you'd like
6. a non-Christian cd or two, or at least something "indie" as to keep you connected to the rest of the world
7. as Rudy Rasmus would say, a "hypocrite detector" (he has a beard with 3 braids and uses it to see hypocrites at a far off distance)--along with this it would be helpful to understand boundaries (read How to Solve Your People Problems or one of those Boundaries books) not to keep people away but to keep yourself grounded and real
8. quarters---to do laundry (liquid softener is also a good thing as it really helps your clothes stay smelling good longer, plus you'll eventually be tired of paying for and waiting on dryers that barely work so you won't have crunchy clothes after hanging them to dry)
I went to a Christian college abroad and majored in Theology and now I'm at seminary in the US---I'm learning these "musts" as I go along...
1. intentionality to look for God in unexpected and unlikely places.
ReplyDelete2. A plan for stepping out of the saftety of your built in christian college community and into the community at large in the city in which you reside on a regular basis.
Bring a world view outside of your campus. It's very easy to get sucked into all the goings on on campus and get sucked into our safe christian sub culture. But there's still a hurting world going on outside of campus.
ReplyDeleteA PDF of your wedding announcements on your computer, ready to fill in the blanks and let the world know when he proposes before the end of your freshman year. Ring by spring or your money back ladies! (I actually was told this by a tour leader when I checked out Multnomah in the early 90's. I decided on state school. The whole MRS degree freaked me out a litle!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what so many others have said... show up with an open mind. There are many ways to "do Christianity." I was shocked (at first) by this but the diversity ended up shaping me into the person I am today--someone who tries to keep the main thing the main thing, and not get hung up on particulars.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you pack if you were attending a Christian college this fall? I attended Samford University, a small Baptist college in Birmingham, Alabama and arrived entirely unprepared for the unique needs of a Christian college. If you attended one, what would you suggest an incoming Freshman bring? If you didn't attend one, what would you imagine an incoming Freshman might need? Stereotypes of Christian school unite, what would you pack if you were attending a Christian college this fall?
ReplyDeleteI currently am a senior at a Christian college in Georgia. I didn't grow up following Christ, nor went to a private school until college. As I reflect on this question, on a serious level, a servants attitude and a leader's heart are a must for any Bible college. The things you encounter in your community at whatever school it may be will vary, but with an attitude like God's, you can't go wrong in any situation.
On a non-serious note, bring your bible and prepare to be judged by the cover of your Bible. Whether its your NIV-study bible or pocket sized KJV, clearly the most worn and torn Bible is a badge of the most sincere in their faith.
Well seeing that I'll be attending a Christian college as a freshman this fall in 11 days (wooooo!) Here's what I'm bringing.
ReplyDeleteBible
Guitar
Money
Lots of clothes
Change for laundry
Frisbees
iHome
Box of bedspread stuff my mom bought
Lots of shorts because Longview Texas gets really hot
Nikon D300 to make some money with
Basketball maybe
Umm i think thats it.
For those interested I'm attending Letourneau University in Longview, TX, studying Aeronautical Science.
A sense of humor and lots of grace! I attended a rather strict Christian college and was accused by my room mate of being "worldy" because I had a perm. I was a 19 year old girl in the late 80's with stick straight hair...of course I had to perm it to be able to get the volume that was required in those days! Being able to laugh while bestowing grace on others (as well as receiving it from others) is a wonderful thing to be able to do as you start out a new life.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all 107 comments, but my mom went to a Baptist college and when they left the dorm for their double dates...they were checked to make sure they were wearing pantyhose! I guess the school thought it was a great form of birth control! :) So, I would take my pantyhose!!
ReplyDeletea book about surviving hypocrisy in yourself and those around you cause christian colleges are the same as public but at a christian college everyone pretends like they didnt party on the weekend.
ReplyDelete1611 KJV God Approved Bible
ReplyDeleteGaither's Box Set (including the Christmas stuff)
Cross stitch with your family name on it (framed)
A Guitar (I did and thats how I learned to play)
A Picture of "George down at the rapture" (look it up on google images)
Stink Bait for pranks
Some obscure item you picked up on your latest missions trip
The Metrosexual Guide so you can pick a good Music guy to work with
A cheap engagement ring for your first girlfriend
An expensive ring for when you find the right girl (I had a girl tell me her last name sucked and that she wanted mine)
A Timex so you can make curfew on time
A resume so you can drop out early, get a job, quit, and go back
A guitar of course. Every guy needs a guitar at bible college. Even if you only can strum 3 chords total - that's enough to play approximately 438 praise and worship songs. I'm pretty sure more marriages have been started at a bible college with a guitar than any other "tool."
ReplyDeleteNothing!!
ReplyDeleteWell, almost nothing. You could take the "I want to be just like a disciple" approach and bring as few things as possible for a very John the Baptist life on campus. Which would boil down to:
1) no bible. you already have it all memorized.
2) two sets of clothes. A camel hair inspired outfit for good days, and a sackcloth inspired set for those days where you really need forgiveness (booty, God, booty will get you every time!).
3) an instrument for praising God. Preferably something biblical, like a harp or shofar. Or both. Who needs an Ipod when you can brighten up your life with a ram's horn?
4) a travel size communion set. Just in case.
5) the up and coming SCL App for your Iphone. Whatever it will be, you know you'll need it!
I go to a private highschool that is based on the campus of a conservative christian college. The first advice i would give is to leave at home any idea that Christian College students are immune to the trappings of this world. If you are going to a Christian College to escape secular culture, you're in trouble. That being said don't anticipate being able to listen to quality secular music such as the dave matthews band without being judged heavily. Pack only toby mac, chris tomlin, and dc talk cd's. This is the only music good christians listen too. Secondly, guys, don't bring pictures of your girlfriend, and if you must bring them, hide them in a sock drawer. If you leave them out on display you may cause your brothers in Christ to sin. I actually know a youth pastor whose rommate asked him to remove a picture of his fiance becuase it was causing him to sin. In my opinion, if you're sinning over my fiance, we have much bigger issues than your sin to deal with. Finally, bring as many versions of the bible as you can get your hands on, yes, even The Message. Not only is this a practical way to gain understand about confusing passages, but for you single gents, it will also impress your ring hunging sisters in christ enough to get you atleast a first date!
ReplyDeleteO.K. I have never even been on a Christian college campus (state school grad here) so Im shootin from the hip.
ReplyDeleteCoffee mug
Sigg bottle
digital camera
laptop
and oh,yeah, my Bible
Whew! I think Im ready for college...
I attended a Christian school in the 80's in Il. I became a Christ follower in my senior year of high school. It was after the realazation that sex and drugs and rock and roll were not all the brain and body needed..... I did very poorly on the entry scores for the school, but got accepted anyway. I had no real "Christian" experiences to compare anything to so I guess I was waiting to experience a kumbya college life ... NOT kids fresh out of high school who grew up in the church and were getting the first taste of what was "out there" beyond the church walls!!! I would say to bring a prepared heart to understand you may be a evangalist at your school. You will need access to any "defending your faith" type material. But this is the time in your life where you may tempted to break out of the church walls ...that IS NOT a bad thing!!! In facy, it is highly recomended by me, but bring your Bible, read it.... know it... get to know your Savior ON YOUR OWN. Bring a loving heart for all those you encounter, like Mr. Lettinga did for me..and yo will have memories that will comfort you forever.
ReplyDeleteYou have Christian universities ('colleges' or whatever you call them)??! You Americans are crazy weird ;-P
ReplyDeletethe understanding that just because (almost) everyone is a Christian, they may not practice their faith the same way you do.
ReplyDeleteI would bring a pension for not being so intellectually lazy that I spend more time journaling MY experiences than I spend studying the experiences of the historical church... since nothing will happen to me in Bible college that hasn't already happened to someone perhaps hundreds of years ago.
ReplyDeleteI would pack Blue Like Jazz, my journal, makes sense to bring my Bible & probably a 6 pack.
ReplyDeleteI went to California Baptist University in Riverside, CA for grad school. I still remember the day I moved in and had never even seen the dorm rooms. Talk about being in shock at how little room I had and at how much stuff I had lol
ReplyDeleteI would tell an incoming freshmen to bring the following:
1. A Bible
2. Mp3 player or Ipod so you can listen to your praise and worship music anywhere
3. A guitar for playing those worship songs and to attract the ladies/guys
4. Laptop so you can do your homework anywhere
5. Notepad so you can take notes in chapel
6. Awana books - if you didn't finish them go find a club and get involved. You might be able to get a scholarship at your college from Awana HQ
7. Board games - makes for great fun while your sitting around waiting for the laundry to get done
8. Camera - take lots of pics for Facebook
9. Snacks - to eat while playing the board games and waiting for the laundry to get done
10. Guys should invest in a ring now because everyone knows the motto - ring by spring or your money back (and Cal Baptist is also known as California Bridal University lol I also never got a ring so I guess I ought to get my money back lol)
A one-way ticket out. Nuff said.
ReplyDelete- Ruthie
I think someone would like to bring "The Kingdom Experiment."
ReplyDeleteA 'Jesus is my Homeboy' shirt is classic.
It really depends on what kind of Christian college. If you go to a charismatic/pentecostal one like I did. Here is the ultimate freshman survival guide:
ReplyDelete1. a modesty cloth - for all of those spontaneous prayer meetings out in the student meeting areas. Freshman enthusiasm can leave modesty behind if one gets slain in the spirit.
2. 3 copies of your favorite worship CD. Your dorm mates will want to experience God like you do with that CD...so better bring extras. You will feel like a jerk if you have to go interrupt their "Jesus time" to get your CD back.
3.Speaking of "jesus time" make sure you bring lots of journals. One can never have too many journals. Gotta keep track of all the stuff God said to you directly and through prophetic words.
4. A map and various other pictures/ reminders of the world. These go up on your wall in your dorm room to be a constant reminder of missions. I called mine my "wailing wall" People will compare your pictures and wall to theirs and you will have great conversations about what God is doing around the world. So make sure your heart for missions is on your wall.
5. And finally...for you ladies a "man-u." It's very important to go to the Christian college of your choice with a good idea about who you want to marry. So come prepared with a menu or as we called it "manu" of necessary traits. This is not a guarantee however, I somehow ended up going through a Christian high school and 2 Christian universities single. This is where the journal with prophetic words come in...
3.
I didn't go to Christian college, but my sister and brother both go to the Christian college in our area, and I have several friends who went there, as well. If I had gone, based on my observations, I would bring:
ReplyDelete1. Chaco's. Or no shoes at all. Your choice.
2. A frisbee.
3. A Nalgene or other reusable water bottle, properly adorned with stickers of bands, cool vacation spots you've been to, and your school's mascot/letters.
3. A hammock and/or blanket to read your...
4. Bible on the front lawn of the commons.
5. Journal and pen.
6. A guitar. If you can't play the guitar, don't bring your instrument of choice. Chances are, it's not cool enough.
7. Men: a beard or some sort of facial hair. Don't worry, though, if you can't grow facial hair, you won't be shunned-it's just that the bearded guys look a little bit cooler and more manly to all the girls looking to get their MRS degree.
8. Women: If you are sentimental, bring all those encouraging notes/Bible verses your youth pastor and friends wrote on pretty paper and pretty handwriting. They are the only acceptable thing with which to decorate your room. If you are not sentimental and threw those things away after you read them, tough luck.
9. Your purity ring
10. Willingness to find the man or woman you will marry the spring after your Junior or Senior year.
And I must point out that, although I didn't go to Christian school, I took all of these things with me my Freshman year (minus the guitar and the facial hair).
my guitar and a bible. i'll look simple yet deep. ...oh, and clothes would be good.
ReplyDeletePurity ring, obviously. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd take condoms... just kidding.
ReplyDeleteHave no idea what a Christian College is like as all of our Universities are State run here. I'm sure there is a lot less nudity than I experienced though in my first year living in the Halls of Residence! Hopefully.
I would recommend the "Little Book of Where to Find It in the Bible" It's small, easy to carry with your Bible and convenient when you have late night theological discussions with room mates and hall mates about anything and everything. :-)
ReplyDeleteA helmet, because you never know when you might need one (especially if Jon Acuff visits and starts throwing Skittles into the crowd...).
ReplyDeleteJust kidding.
I didn't go to a Christian college, but if I was going to go to one, I imagine you would need to take an open mind and a willingness to be wrong about all your previous assumptions about life, God, church, Christianity, basically all of it. My experiences in college (even a state one) and in life is that nothing tickles God quite so much as constantly finding ways to trip us up and challenge us with what we always thought (because you know, our first impressions are always true...right?).
Think college is definitely where you will find your future husband/wife, or where you will be converting people by the busloads the seconds your Chacos hit campus? Be prepared to be wrong (and to be right...it does happen occasionally).
Also, I think a copy of Corneileus Plantinga's "Engaging God's World" wouldn't hurt -- don't be put off by the old-fashioned name. Corny knows what he's talking about and he will stick it to you with some full-bodied, hardcore knowledge and insight.
What I wish I had known :
ReplyDeleteWhile packing your openness to learn, please remember to also save a spot for your brain, your emotions, your humor, your perspective, your unique personality.
As new areas of your body/soul/spirit self emerge ~ honor them. They were lovingly crafted by your Creator. [translation: Give yourself a break. Quit comparing. Enjoy the discovery process.]
Please remember that "unity in purpose" does not require group-speak.
After my daughter's experience last fall and spring, if you are from the deep south and head north take a wide assortment of cough, cold and flu medicine and more warm clothes than you think it is possible to wear.
ReplyDeleteSkip class when temps drop below -20.
The praying will follow automatically.
After going to and graduating from Bible college, I would recommend packing the following:
ReplyDelete(1) a Bible - you will use it :)
(2) duct tape - to repair said Bible when it falls apart mid way through your sophomore year (yes, that happened to me)
(3)a copy of "When Bad Christian Happen to Good People" by Dave Burchett - a great reminder of what we do to each other in the church and how to stop the cycle
(4)a computer
What to leave at home:
(1)any sort of attitude that you have "arrived", know everything there is to know about Theology, the Bible, etc. Come with a mindset to learn and be ready to have your own views challenged, strengthened and blown out of the water as you learn from your professors and classmates.
As a female, some of my list will be geared to the XX gender.
ReplyDelete1. A handy ring sizer. This will ensure you will always be ready, even as you fluctuate up the freshman 15 and back down. You wouldn't want to leave your prospective metrosexual worship leader groom wondering what size ring he will be slipping on your finger.
2. Wait Wear Tshirts such as this one - http://www.zazzle.com/traffic_control_tshirt-235775171198590136 Wait Wear is Date Wear.
3.An adult version size of these http://www.armorofgodpjs.com/girls_pjs.htm Armor of God PJs, after all it would be hard to sleep in real armor, but this silky silver substitute solves that problem.
4. A copy of a KJV/NIV dual bible. This way you can verify scriptural authority no mater what your professor's preferred version. If you are committed to one of these versions, you can use the dual Bible to argue why your version is better.
5. A worship Eagle. Now some colleges may be hesitant to allow what they may mistakenly believe is a pet. But once you show how you've trained your eagle to a) Rise up on wings and circle the chapel once anytime Isaiah is read and b)Use his superior eagle vision to notice and then swoop down and pluck away any dubious materials your colleges may have brought (i.e. the Eagle could pluck out a copy of the DVD Fight Club from a wayward student's backpack). Imagine the conviction that fellow students will feel as your Worship Eagle helps them stay on the straight and narrow.
6. A Costco sized bag of Skittles. Not only will you need them for presentations, but for the sugar rush to get your through those late night study sessions.
7. (because 7 is a holy number) Actually this one is serious. Prayer. Prayer that you will be open to learning what God is leading you towards. Prayer that you will take seriously those deep truths that you can explore in depth, but not take yourself or your own "stuff" seriously. Prayer that you will be immersed in learning of God's words but not bubblefied. Prayer for your fellow students.
a camera...and use it all the time. also, a set of highlighters, to color-code notes in your bible. annnd, a poster or other artistic rendering of your life verse.
ReplyDeleteLots of folks have already mentioned the well-worn Bible.
ReplyDeleteA copy of "I kissed dating good-bye" to show your commitment as a non-dater. This will make you more interesting to the opposite sex because they will either have committed to not dating themselves, or they will see you as a unique challenge (to convince you TO date).
If you're a girl you definitely want to go to the thrift store and buy a floral, dropped waist, puffy sleeved, lace-trimmed dress to wear to special events. This is the universally accepted uniform of a female Christian sub-culturist.
You do NOT want to bring any form of birth control, because you are sure you won't need it.
Hm. I'm sure there are more things to bring, but I need to get dinner on the table. :o)
Having just went through my first year of college in a new state... I would say besides all the essentials of living (i.e. food, clothes, linens etc.) an open mind. Keeping your mind open to new ideas and different ways of thinking can expand your mind and allow you to see the wonders and beauties of God in all fashions.
ReplyDeleteto fit in with the hip christian scene, you will need:
ReplyDelete1. a "to write love on her arms" tshirt
2. a tat of a nail/word in hebrew/etc. on your wrist
3. when you update your facebook status, use hillsong united lyrics
4. a rob bell book
5. a guitar...if you don't know how to play, you can always use the excuse that you're learning
and everyone needs a purity ring
Bring a heart ready to be challenged, and not comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to a public university now, but if I were to go to a Christian one I think I'd take a bank statement from before I paid for my first term at the Christian college, just to remind myself that I wasn't always in so much debt (and had better make the most of my experience!)
ReplyDeleteA door stop, because whatever privacy and freedom you thought you were going to get is a figment of your imagination. Besides the fact that you are now living in a pea size room with one, possibly two, other people, your RA will be joyfully checking in on you constantly (Disclaimer: my best friend was an RA. I am not disrespecting your job; it's tough to keep dibs on over 20 people at a time. You guys are just around ALL the time!)
ReplyDeleteThis door stop will come in handy for the pivotal, but oh so rare, "Open House Hours" when you are finally able to have someone of the opposite sex in your dorm room. Because its hard enough just to invite your crush over to go review biology notes, now the entire floor gets to watch your every move like they're at the zoo.
Good luck! And remember...... 6 inches apart and no horizontal sitting!
I went to Bethany University, a small Christian college outside of Santa Cruz.
ReplyDeleteI would bring a lot of extra socks. It seems like throughout the years they seemed to "disappear" in our Laundry room adventures.
As Pensacola Christian College Alum, I'd recommend that to get the full christian college experience, girls pack no less than five toenail-covering length skirts, birth control glasses (to ward off all the ministerial guys who want to find a wife during Freshman year), and Grandpa's old KJV. Guys should bring plenty of khakis, because we all know jeans are a horrible sin.
ReplyDeleteActually, I loved the Christian college experience. The most important thing that anyone needs to pack is a willingness to bend your will to God's will, and accept that He just may be using something that is legalitstic as a learning method. We poke fun at the rules at christian colleges, but they are there for a reason, and most students sign something saying that they will follow them. They have to have the humility to follow-thru on that committment to obedience, and understand that God is teaching them something through it. So yes....I think every student should pack some humility and willingness to give up self and self's desires.
1. The movie "Saved."
ReplyDelete2. If you're a guy, bring one condom or if you're a girl, bring a pregnancy test. These will be placed strategically in the community dorm bathrooms and will spark some fun controversy.
3. A shoe big enough to place between your door to keep it open six inches when a member of the opposite sex is in your dorm room. Hormones are suppressed when this occurs.
4. Plenty of light bulbs. You must have your overhead light on at all times when a member of the opposite sex is in your room. Everyone knows that bright lights discourage participation in the sins of the flesh.
5. A Christian thesaurus/dictionary. Certain secular words cannot be used in a Christian environment. "Party," for example, implies drinking, drug use, and sex. Therefore, you cannot have a birthday party. You must have a birthday celebration. You can't have a pizza party, but you can have a pizza celebration.
Things a freshman must bring to Bible college:
ReplyDelete1. At least 4 Bibles. One NT in the original Greek for proper exigesis, one NIV red letter study Bible worn out and highlighted to death to show your commitment and intensity, one King James version to show you can kick it old school with the big dogs, and at least one pocket-sized Gideon Bible on hand at all times to give away when witnessing on the street.
2. All women should arrive at the dorm equipped with frilly aprons, a casserole dish and a big binder of grandma's home cooking recipes. There's no better way to a future pastor's heart than by showing your skills and hosting weekly pot-lucks/dinner parties and Bible studies.
3. All men must bring an acoustic guitar whether they can play it or not. Show your sensitive side, and the future pastor's wives will be laying pound cake at your feet.
4. Every questionable movie or CD in your collection, so that you can make a show of throwing them out after the second chapel of the semester.
5. A sense of superiority over other denominations to keep you from wavering during classroom and dorm room debates.
6. Bible edition Trivial Pursuit and Bible Blurt, because all other games, especially card games, are evil.
7. A frisbee, since ultimate is God's favorite sport.
8. A worn out copy of I Kissed Dating Goodbye to prominently display on your bookshelf or even use as a barrier between you and your "close friend" of the opposite sex during Bible study so that there's room for the Holy Spirit and no purpling.
9. Just make sure to leave any vestiges of a sense of humor at home, since we all know Christians don't make jokes and laughing is sinful.
[WV: reerase--when we ask God to forgive our sins again, forgetting he can't reerase them because they're already gone.
Items to bring as a male Freshmen entering a Christian college:
ReplyDelete1. A vomit bag - You'll need this because you'll be in disgust as you see all the guys think this is their one shot opportunity at finding a perfect female Christian mate. You're not excluded either.
2. Portable Christian venetian blinders - Let these down when walking past said girl in above reference.
3. DC Talk "Jesus Freak" tee - You have to represent.
4. A Gandalf walking stick
5. A blue light saber
6. A laptop with which only your best friend at home has the access password if an ify site pops up on your screen.
7. www.sparknotes.com (because sometimes you just don't have time to read literature books) and www.easybib.com (saves loads of time trying to cite sources for papers) saved as bookmarks.
8. A Chewbacca mask
9. Various McCormick Grill Mates seasonings.
10. And finally, mmelling sauce kept for 4 years perfectly fermented to use 6 months after you graduate. This will wake you up after you see how much in debt you are.
What I wish I would have brought to Central Bible College when I attended back in the 90's:
ReplyDelete1. A NASB/KJV/HLESQZOW Parallel Bible with a powerful saying on the cover (like, "Turn or Burn" or "I get high on Jesus, which totally explains the cross shaped track lines")
2. A laptop computer with 38 different bible software programs installed and spider solitaire removed (christians don't play cards).
3. Tracts. So that I could go to the hellbound, non-believer colleges in the area and pass out tracts. If anybody there claims to be a christian I can let out a huge sanctimonious laugh and push a tract into their hand, because if they were saved they would be going to my college (actually, my friends and I did this at my college, we went to SMSU and went sinner bashing).
4. The entire collection of Nooma dvd's. Not only does it show your dedication by purchasing every singl eover-priced dvd even though they could all have been put on one dvd, it also shows you are in touch with all things relevant which means a lot at a christian college (even if it doesn't mean much out in the real world where they have never heard of Rob Bell).
5. A car. At least 4 times a week we were making late night runs to the Waffle House for extremely greasy, acne inducing food that every college boy loves to pump into his system. If I would have had my own car I could have 6 times a week. Oh, and to a less importantly, I wouldn't have had to hitch a ride to whatever church my friends were going to go to on Sunday morning. But still, the Waffle House is the most important one.
I attended a "Baptistic but NOT Baptist" (Yeah, semantics.) Bible college in the Midwest.
ReplyDeleteThings to pack:
1. A Bible (NOT the Message or the Living versions)with each book's key verse neatly highlighted.
2. Plain, black kneepads or your knees will hurt from all that time at the altar.
3. Flameless candles--Real candles can't be used in dorms because of the fire code, but some kind of
"ambiance" is good when the boys are allowed to visit your room and stand 12 inches from you at all times with the door held open.
4. Your best B.S.-o-meter. Be sure to give it a test run before leaving home.
5. A sense of humor. You will use it every day.
Things to leave at home:
1. Your Dungeons and Dragons game, Harry Potter books, and crystals. (I suppose you could risk sneaking in the Love Spells book; after all, you are there to get your man.)
2. Any clothing that exposes skin between your ankles and neck. (Really, now, you don't want THAT kind of man.)
3. Your collection of shot glasses from every U.S. state. (Come on, you want your man to want you, too. Maybe the mugs with the four spiritual laws would be a better choice for now.)
4. Your Bible with the RED leather cover. (It's just TOO sexy--especially with all those verses in Song of Solomon highlighted.)
5. Your questions. Trust me, you'll get all the answers you need without asking. ;^)
Prior to arriving to campus, be sure to stop at Walmart and buy a couple 'secular cd's' to add to your collection... a few safe choices are Coldplay and U2 (if someone attacks you about either one, simply play a song that could possibly refer to God in some way or another) By doing this, you will boldy proclaim: "While I'm a hardcore Christian, I also walk on the wild side..."
ReplyDeletedepends... if they are a raised ultra conservative teen, headed for a conservative (but Presbyterian) college like my ownself - then the most important thing to bring is an open mind.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I had been more open to at least hearing other sides of issues in my freshman seminar and Bible classes... I have since become someone who appreciates hearing all sides, even when I don't change my mind - but I certainly wasn't then.
(For example I explicity remember throwing the book "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" accross the dorm room because "everyone knows that overpopulation is a myth" because that was what I had been taught at my Christian high school... so because of my issues with his stand on overpopulation - I completely missed the real points of the book - and missed the points of the book that actually applied whether one believed in overpopulation or not...)
(1) The biggest Bible I can find
ReplyDelete(2) Long skirts, button-down shirts, and "sensible" shoes.
(3) LOTS of hairspray...I visited Samford once, and realized how flat my hair was in comparison with the skyscraper styles I saw there.
: )
I imagine I'd bring a Bible I would have specially marked up for this purpose. All the obscure books would be highlighted and full of notes, so my holiness factor would skyrocket (I don't get my spiritual food from Matthew, like normal people, but from Micah, and Nehemiah, maybe Jonah if I want to go slumming). In reality I would have read Jason Boyett's Pocket Guide to the Bible, so I could throw out a lot of weird facts no one else knows (unless they've engaged in the same preparation in which case we can hopefully laugh about it and then team up). Also, I'd print all the Stuff Christians Like that have to do with bible colleges (I remember a particularly helpful one on how to sleep in on Sunday morning yet let everyone think you went to church).
ReplyDeleteIronically enough I didn't go to a Christian college (as there are no Christian colleges in the Netherlands since they're all public and financed by the state), but I am going to attend a post-grad theology program in the fall. I doubt the two experiences have anything to do with each other.
I am a sophomore this fall at Union University, a Baptist school in Tennessee, so I pretty much know what you need to get by:
ReplyDelete-a tattoo or piercing to show everyone your "freedom in Christ."
-a camera and lots of ideas for youtube videos.
-every Disney movie you own. Disney movie night makes for a good excuse to invite the opposite sex over when you have "open dorms."
-the same for every board game ever invented.
-a map of all the parks in the area so you have plenty of places to picnic.
-athletic gear. if you don't play flag football and ultimate frisbee, you might as well go home.
-a class schedule without 8 am classes. they are impossible.
-a laptop with cool Christian stickers on it.
-a lot of righteous anger over all the injustice in the world. you don't have to know a lot about it, but you do need to be angry.
-prepared statements about how parties and Greek life are "different at a Christian school" for all the people at home who think you've abandoned your beliefs.
-books. lots of books. the ones you need for class and then some more just to display.
-an off-campus job and friends outside your school. you need these to "get out of the bubble" and maintain your sanity.
-a study Bible and a regular one. thanks to biblegateway.com you don't need to actually own a million different versions. but the Bible you do have should be leather, with your name engraved, and preferably a graduation gift.
-Toms shoes. you just have to have them.
There are more things, I'm sure. But those are the bare essentials.
Any Christian College freshman will need their KJV bible, but since you probably haven't ever studied one, you will also need a dictionary. I also suggest that you buy your KJV bible a few weeks early and start to make it look worn before you move into your dorm.
ReplyDeleteIn your dorm you will need your collection of non-contemporary christian music cassette tapes, posters with plenty of sunrises, empty crosses, doves and purple cloths. Make sure you bring enough button up shirts and sport jackets to wear to chapels. I would suggest making sure the creases in your pants are starched to the fullest. And if you don't have any pleated khaki shorts, make sure you get some for intramural ultimate frisbee.
The difficult thing about really standing out at a christian college is that everyone owns a duct tape bible. How are you supposed to make sure your peers know you are hard core about Jesus if they have the same well used Bible as you? I think the answer is this: bring two beds. No one will actually sleep in the extra bed, because obviously this is Jesus's bed. Nothing says "I am practicing the presence of God" like having a bed for him. And this is how the conversation would go:
ReplyDeletenew friend: hey, cool you have a guest bed in your 5x6 dorm room.
you: No I don't...that's where Jesus sleeps
After this you have succeeding in showing your new friend that you are significantly more serious about your relationship with Jesus that he is.
---if you can't fit two beds, take a keytar...they are the new guitar. Trust me, if Crowder can rock it, so can you.---
Well, obviously all the ladies will want to pack their best jumpers. Do Christian boys even like girls that wear anything other than jumpers? No, I don't think so. Anything that shows any hint of a figure is purely revolting to them. Also, a King James Version of the Bible. It's the language the bible was originally written in, so it's clearly the best.
ReplyDeleteMost importantly, college freshmen should bring the expectation for the Lord to reveal Himself in a completely awesome and new way. Whether at a Christian college or state school, college can be a great time of spiritual growth and revelation. It's also a great time for your faith to be challenged and refined, whether at a Christian school or a state school. It's the time when what was once your parents' faith either becomes your own or is forgotten entirely. College can be a great time, spiritually. Come with an open and expectant heart and the Lord will not disappoint!
i went to a Christian college and this is what i would suggest...
ReplyDelete- you have to have a bible cover that is super awesome because that shows how much you love God.
- a notebook set aside for all the marriage advice you will get in chapel.
- awesome stickers for your SIGG or Nalgene bottle that tell others how much you hate the devil.
- a journal that you carry around with you at all times, because that's what all the "marure" Christians did at my school.
- start saving now for all the weddings you will be in Senior year and the summer after.
the anonymous one was me...i messed that up, bethers79@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteDon't go till you're 44, then bring:
ReplyDeleteKJV
weird teeth
3 piece polyester suit
sitgmata
I went to the state U, so this is all guesswork, but:
ReplyDeleteyour really worn-in leather bound Bible that shows how much you are in the word.
cross necklaces, preferably ones made out of nails.
I went to a Christian college in Orange County for the last 2 years and had no idea what to bring. If I had to do it all over again my list would include: Every season of 'Friends' on DVD, a scale (for obvious college stereotype reasons), Chrest Whitestrips because almost everyone on a Christian campus smiles too much, and a Bible dictionary since I wasn't a religion major unlike 50% of the school which sometimes made chapels a bit confusing even for someone like myself who grew up in the church.
ReplyDeleteI need to add that you also need to bring your keyboard and drum set so you can form a band and be the next DC Talk (they went o Liberty University), Jars of Clay (some Christian college in the midwest), All Together Separate (my alma mater - California Baptist University) or Selah (Belmont)
ReplyDeleteI actually attended a smaller more liberal Christian college in south central PA (Messiah College) and my advice for anyone planning to attend a Christian college in the fall is to bring several translations of the Bible and an open mind. I found the open mind to be the best tool because you'll encounter people from so many different backgrounds, cultures, denominations and it will rock your beliefs, but not in a bad way. I found that being around people with many different beliefs than my own helped me to actually form my own beliefs instead of just believing what my parents did. It was an exhilarating four years of personal spiritual, emotional, and personality growth. Another fun yet not always thought of thing to bring is a Frisbee. Apparently Christians love to play Ultimate Frisbee and it was one of the most popular extra-curicular activities at my school and other Christian colleges that I've known people at. And don't forget your purity ring! Every good Christian going to a Christian school needs a purity ring.
ReplyDeleteI forgot one more thing - sleeping bags in case you decide you want to do a let's see what it is like to be homeless for a few days and proceed to sleep places other than your dorm or on campus apartment (like in one of the stairwells at school or outside under the stars) and then instead of using your meal plan you beg off of people for food. I kid you not this happened at California Baptist University
ReplyDeleteAs a female, clearly I missed the memo about bringing my denim jumper...it comes in handy when you're not sure how to dress at a church when visiting for the first time (because Christian colleges encourage regular church attendance/involvement), or it helps identify those who were homeschooled.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a pastor's kid (I went to a Christian college with many pastors' and missionary' kids), it seemed like you had to bring at least one appliance that was old and quirky, because pastor and missionary families don't have a lot of money to get new ones. So, my roommate (also a pastor's kid) and I had the microwave that might just stop in the middle of nuking your popcorn, but all you had to do was hit it on the top, and it would start up again.
Video camera for extra security while blessing your meals in the cafeteria. You never know what your friends will do to your food no matter how fast a blesser you are.
ReplyDeleteProtective eye wear so that when you are reading your Bible and writing in your journal in the quad you won't get hit by a run away frisbee.
AND so your eyes won't actually roll all the way out of your head when you see the blatant hypocrisy all around you.
Goo-b-gone for removing self-adhesive left behind from wearing so many "hello my name is..." tags at all the churches you church hop to.
Not a TV
Not an unprotected-from-porn computer
Not an expectation that you can date anyone without hurting someone's feelings.
Mississippi College c/o '01
I attend a Christian college and I was no prepared mentally for it, even though I had been a Christian for many years. I was not prepared to take my Bible, or Bibles, with me practically everywhere...just in case. There were so many devos, Bible studies, song services, prayer circles, etc...that I was always shocked and felt unprepared.
ReplyDeleteYou should bring your Bibles...yes, plural. You never know when you'll need different translations or need to share one. Also bring books that have helped you grow and learn. Use them to teach and help others.
Lastly, bring a notebook, journal, etc. There will be so much to take it, write down, study, etc. I always love to take notes during sermons...when you're encompassed by Bible classes and constant study, there's so much to write down.
Starting at William Carey University in a week. I'm 29, married with two kids, and I plan on bringing my laptop (loaded with WordSearch 8 and a TON of extras), my trust NIV Ryrie Study Bible and dress like I do for the college praise band I play in at church. I'm not going to impress people, but to learn and earn that degree.
ReplyDeletewell i was late to this so i dont get to win a prize and no ones gonna read it, but maybe someone will, i read all 169 comments
ReplyDeleteill being transfering to christian college next year so i know whats good
People are clearly underestimating how much music you NEED at a christian college so ill list it for ya
1. Carmen - the champion you need this
2. david crowder*band - look at his hair and beard combo.. nuff said
3. DC talk/tobyMac - you arent cool if you dont bring/listen to this.
4. skillet/tfk/underoath - there's no way youll ever get to mrs that cutie in the twloha shirts without these
5. relient k/five iron frenzy - CHRISTIAN PARTY MUSIC!!!!!!!!
Chris Tomlin/jeremy camp - so you can listen to the corny worship songs youre trying to impress the ladies with
6. veggie tales albums - nothing says "lets be friends" like I Can Be Your Friend
7. lecrae, 116 clique - so you can "bump the jams" in your mom's minivan that you brought to school
8. the passion confrence soundtracks - for your time with God
9. the w's - just incase you go bowling or want to swing dance
10. audio a - big big house
11. hillsong united - so you can learn the words to the praise and worship music youll be singing because you want to look like you know all the songs
Family Force 5