Stories at The Well
WELL STORIES
The Church, the Campus, and the Call to Grow
Students talk about why's it's important to be a part of the local church
College is a pivotal season—a time not only to discover what you’re called to do but also who you’re becoming. At The Well, we believe that kind of transformation doesn’t happen in isolation but through roots planted deep in community, discipleship, and the local church.
Many students find community in campus ministries, and those spaces are vital. But Sam, a student involved at The Well, has learned that true spiritual growth thrives when those ministries connect with the wider church family. “The importance of being part of the local church is the intergenerational aspect of it,” she says.
“Parachurch ministries are great for building community with your peers, but in the church, you gain wisdom from people older than you, people outside your circle. That’s something you can’t get just anywhere.”
“With a church home, you’re not starting over after college,” Sam reflects, “you’re already connected, already known. That’s a foundation that makes future transitions smoother and life richer.”
Another student, Claire, learned what it meant to move from hesitation to wholehearted involvement. When she first joined a serving team at The Well, she wasn’t sure how it would fit into her busy college schedule or what difference she could make. Now, she calls serving one of the most defining parts of her college experience.
“Serving isn’t just about helping out; it’s about stepping into your purpose,” Claire explains. “It’s helped me grow in ways I never expected—developing leadership skills, building relationships, and seeing God work through ordinary moments. It’s had an eternal impact on how I view my faith and my role in the church."
Parachurch ministries are great for building community with your peers, but in the church, you gain wisdom from people older than you, people outside your circle. That’s something you can’t get just anywhere.
Serving in both spaces strengthens my faith in different ways.
Randy has experienced the richness of walking in both campus ministry and local church communities. To him, it’s not about choosing one or the other but embracing the fullness of both.
“Being involved in both has given me multiple perspectives on how to live out my faith,” Randy shares. “It’s expanded the people who speak into my life and the people I get to pour into. That diversity of relationships has been one of the biggest blessings. It’s stretched my faith in ways I wouldn’t have imagined.”
Randy sees campus ministry and local church as complementary, each offering unique opportunities. “Campus ministries often focus on peer relationships and spiritual formation in a college setting. The local church adds that intergenerational dimension—where you encounter people with wisdom, experience, and encouragement across all seasons of life.”
In this wider mission, the local church anchors and grounds faith beyond the classroom and dorm. It’s a place where faith becomes sustainable, where people walk alongside you long-term. “Serving in both spaces strengthens my faith in different ways,” Randy reflects, “and equips me to serve more fully wherever God calls me.”
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul urges Timothy not to let his youth be a barrier but to lead with example, service, and community. At The Well, that vision shapes everything we do. Youth is not a limitation; it’s a launching point. Here, young people aren’t just the future of the church—they are shaping it now.
We know that college can be overwhelming and disorienting. There are new pressures, unfamiliar places, and endless questions about who you are and where you belong. But if you’re searching for your place in the Church, step in and find it here.
Plug into a community that welcomes every story, every struggle, every dream, and experience what it means to belong, to be known, and to grow. Because when you step into a church family that embraces you, you’re not just attending a ministry—you’re finding a home, a calling, and a future shaped by God’s grace.
