Kira Roberts, Editor-in-chief
Finding a church family when moving away from home can be either an invigorating or a frustrating experience for college kids. Many students find themselves ‘church hopping’ for a long time, trying to find the balance between where their friends go and where they feel like they really belong.
While SNU has a strong community on campus and requires chapel every week, it is still important to find a church body to become involved with. It is a great opportunity that students are now able to choose a church for themselves, rather than just going somewhere simply because that is where their family has always gone.
For all the new freshman, or returning students who are interested in finding a church to get involved with, here are a few options in the area.
Every first Sunday of the month, OKC First Church of the Nazarene hosts an evening of worship and prayer. It begins at 7:00pm and ends around 8:30. According to their website, “OVERFLOW exists to create a time and space for you to come and simply BE in the presence of God. We will sing loud, we will pray together and we will sit at His feet in worship and adoration.” This service is led by Brandon Whiteside, the worship pastor at OKC First, located on NW Expressway, just west of Meridian. For more information about this church or service, visit okcfirst.com or email Brandon Whiteside at brandon@okcfirst.com. Normal Sunday morning services are at 10:30 a.m.
Bethany First Church of the Nazarene is located right across the street from SNU and has become a home to many students here. Worship times for BFC community of faith are at 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings, and their college class is at 10:15. College open gym takes place Sunday nights from 9-11 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Weekly college group, ‘Oasis,’ takes place in the BFC atrium at 8:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information on BFC college ministries, visit bethanynaz.org or contact the college pastor, Mike Brooks, at mbrooks@bethanynaz.org.
Larry Hess directs ‘Connection Ministries,’ the college ministry program at Lake View Park Church of the Nazarene. This church is located on N.W. 50th Street and has a Sunday morning celebration at 10:30 a.m. College group is on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Dinner is served each week after a time of prayer and devotion. For more information visit lakeviewpark.org or email Larry Hess at lhess@lakeviewpark.org.
These three churches are only a few examples of the many great opportunities in the Bethany/OKC area. Others include Life, Frontline, Lake Overholser, Western Oaks and Cherokee Hills. Encouraging other students to join in community and finding a church home during these college years is utterly important. The resources to find where you belong are available and easily accessible, and the opportunity is at hand. The rest is up to each student. Where will your home be?