Pastor Brian Podcast

S6:E2- "Faith, College, and Freshman Year"- Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul- Tuesday, January 5, 2023

January 05, 2023 Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, Carter Gaul, and Rev. Brian Felker Jones Season 6 Episode 2
Pastor Brian Podcast
S6:E2- "Faith, College, and Freshman Year"- Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul- Tuesday, January 5, 2023
Show Notes Chapter Markers

Hey, y'all! The first year a student attends college or university (or one's "freshman year" as we say in America) is important for a myriad of reasons. It is also extremely vital for one's faith in Christ.  Today, we are joined by three freshmen who've just completed their first semester at college:  Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul. We talk about the tremendous experiences with God in their first semester and also places where they have struggled, doubted, and are asking new questions in their faith. It is wonderful conversation that I hope you can share with other students in your life . . . especially those preparing for college soon!

We begin with an introduction (00:41), a prayer (04:17), our lunch menu (04:51), Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul (07:26 ), their stories of faith in Christ (08:58 ), how college helped them discover new and exciting things in their life with Christ  (11:08), the biggest difference in their spiritual lives now they are in college (14:43), how college has hurt, challenged, or complicated their faith (18:07), ways the Church could have done better at preparing them for a life of faith in college (24:55), things the Church did right in preparing them for faith in college (27:38), have they found a congregation (32:57), what is different about coming back to their home congregation (36:27),  advice for other college and high school students about faith in college (39:01), a final prayer (43:05), thank you (44:40), and a blessing (44:55).

Menu for the evenings snack with Leah, Anna, and Carter:

Further Reading:

Gathering
Introduction, Format, and Statistics on Faith in College
Opening Prayer
Our Snack Menu
Our Guests
Their stories of faith in Christ
How college helped them discover new and exciting things in their life with Christ
The biggest difference in their spiritual lives now they are in college
How college has hurt, challenged, or complicated their faith
Ways the Church could have done better at preparing them for a life of faith in college
Things the Church did right in preparing them for faith in college
Have they found a congregation at college?
What is different about coming back to their home congregation?
Advice for other college and high school students about faith in college
Prayer
Thank You
Blessing