Church shopping: A beginner’s guide to finding a spiritual home in Waco – The Baylor Lariat

By Katie Huth | Intern

As a new semester begins and students transition into life at Baylor either for the first time or as returning students, the opportunity arises to find a home at a church in Waco.

Within the first week on campus, flyers promoting services and ministries will be scattered in the Student Union Building and various churches will table on Fountain Mall. With endless possibilities, students may attend services and events at numerous churches. This routine is well known as ‘church shopping.’

While church shopping can be a great experience, it may also feel overwhelming, leaving students lost and unaware of how to truly get connected to a church.

Drew Humphrey, college pastor at Highland Baptist Church and Baylor alum, encourages students to stay active in their search for a church home but warns against shopping for churches for too long.

To go from shopping to buying, one must be “activated,” he said.

“A church becomes home because you belong there,” Humphrey said. “It is not because it is the perfect church, it is because you say I want to be a part of this church. I want to serve in this church. I want to be in a small group.”

Humphrey said he believes it is important to narrow down the list of churches one will shop at to prevent what may turn into a five-semester-long shopping spree. Therefore, before attending a service, he advises students to do their homework by checking out a church’s statement of beliefs and online services to consider if they could see themselves at that church. He also recommends only touring two to four churches in person and becoming involved and serving within five to six weeks.

Kyle Byrne, a second-year Focus missionary placed at St. Peter’s Catholic Student Center, said that for a church to feel like home, one should be connected to the people within the community. With countless options of events and services to frequent, Byrne said he advises students to attend events that will provide opportunities for deeper faith development and connection.

“You may go to a freshmen event and meet people, but you are way more likely to get to know people by going to Bear Awakening or joining a Bible study,” he said. “Original outreach events are great, but to get connected, be open to the events that are more involved.”

Byrne said he understands it is sometimes hard to put oneself out there. He said he motivates students to “not be afraid to take the first step and say hello.”

Ultimately, which church to call home is and should be an individual decision, Humphrey said. Humphrey also said he believes college students are leaders with spiritual gifts.

With Waco housing numerous Christian churches, Humphrey said it’s not about joining one of the big churches other students join, but that “it is about joining a church that loves the Lord, loves the Word of God, and wants to activate you as a college student in your faith right now.”

Highland Baptist Church hosts gatherings (also known as services) every Sunday at 8:40 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. Additionally, on September 4th at 7:00 p.m., Highland Baptist Church is throwing College Night: The Best Front Door for College Students at Highland, an opportunity for college kids to get plugged into the church and small groups.

St. Peter’s Catholic Student Center celebrates Mass every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. For more information on getting connected, visit the St. Peter’s ministry fair on August 28th.