The coming of August means preparing for our college students to go off to their respective campuses. For some parents, this has become a routine. For others, this will be a brand-new experience, seeing your son or daughter venturing out into the brave new world of higher education.
Sending a son or daughter off to college is one of those transition times of parenthood. You have mixed emotions. On one hand, you are so proud to see them come to this point in their lives, proud of their achievements, proud of their determination to go out into the world and make a difference. On the other hand, you may also be filled with a measure of anxiety. We ask ourselves, “Where has the time gone?” Yesterday I was sending him off to kindergarten, now I’m sending him off to college. We get that. Trinity seeks to support Christian parents, partnering in the lifelong journey of raising your kids from childhood through adulthood in the Christian faith. That commitment continues at this particular time of transition.
Whether they are new or returning college students, it’s a critical time. They are spreading their wings and establishing independence. While this is a good thing and certainly exciting, it is also a time when Christians on campus will likely be confronted with philosophies and worldviews that deny and criticize the Christian faith, and in some cases even to the point of institutional and academic persecution. Statistics tell us that it is at this time of life when many choose to distance themselves from their long-held beliefs and convictions of faith. Beyond that, even if they attend college locally, they are still, in a sense, far from home and apart from the unconditional love the home provides in nurturing their faith.
It is for these reasons that our college students desperately need to know and feel the love and encouragement from and connection to a body of believers in Christ. One way in which Trinity extends our care and concern for college students is through care package mailings that occur during the year. The significance is not seen necessarily in the content of these packages—which consist basically of a supply of treats, a copy of Portals of Prayer, and a newsletter from me updating them on events here at Trinity. But the real significance of the Care Package is found in the fact that in receiving it, they know they are being thought about and cared for and that there is a Christian community praying for them. This knowledge can go a long way in encouraging them to remain faithful to their beliefs and strong in their convictions about the faith in which they were raised.
You can register your college student to receive these periodic packages. Trinity supports both members and non-members. Their contact information will allow Trinity to send them frequent emails to keep them informed of what is happening here at Trinity, as well as to encourage and support them.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
May God's peace rest on you during this exciting time in your parenting lives.