Belmont University - Freshmen First Forty DaysSample

Day 22 – Community

I thought that going to a Christian university would be enough to grow my faith my first year at Belmont. I thought that everyone would want the same thing I did— to find a home and a community here in Nashville. I thought that all those things were just going to fall in my lap the second I walked on campus.

Unfortunately, it was much harder to find my place than I thought. Although my hometown of Memphis is not that far away, I started school with the same fear as everyone else: I was terrified of not finding community.

In your life you will feel alone. What are you going to do?

Some of you will distract yourselves by joining every club.
Others will retreat into solitude.

More will stop investing here because it’s too hard; you’ll keep investing back home where everything’s familiar.

But this is where God has chosen for you to be this very moment. Trust God and look for places to connect and belong.

Community in the Bible is defined as people in close proximity to each other, who have similar values and who praise God by serving together. I don’t know about you, but that sounds a lot like college to me. Take a look at how the early church lived in community.

Read Acts 2:44-47

So I encourage you to keep trying to find your place, even when it’s hard. Keep reaching out to people, keep signing up for things and keep your dorm room door open. We all eventually find our place. For me, I had to fully invest in my relationships here and stop relying on old friends to provide support through this tough transition. Greek Life was where I ultimately found my home. Through it, I have found a community that shares my values and pushes me to grow in my faith.

I know God's got the perfect place for you to belong as well!

Miranda Arstikaitis | Junior | Social Work