Ten Helps for Parents and College Bound Students
- Provide a home where a young person can develop a Christian worldview, see the Christian faith modeled, and be mentored by their parents in following Christ and his teachings
- Recommended resources for parents and their children – The primary one is the Bible – read it through with your children so they have a working knowledge of it. It is alarming how many Christian students going to college have read so little of the Bible.
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
By: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.
Understand the different parts of the Bible, their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today.
How to Read The Bible Book by Book
By: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.
A guided tour from Genesis through Revelation.
How to Stay a Christian In College
By J. Budziszewski
A primer on how to maintain and develop your faith while in college.
Kingdom Come
By Allan Wakabayashi
A great introduction to developing a Christian worldview.
Know What You Believe and Know Why You Believe
By Paul Little
Two older books that are still helpful in assisting a person to understand the basics of belief and behavior.
Basic Christianity
By John Stott
Examine and master the historical facts on which Christianity stands.
The Apostles’ Creed
By Alistair McGrath
An introduction and explanation of one of the historic creeds of the church.
Know The Truth
By Bruce Milne
Understand what the Bible teaches in the major areas of Christian doctrine.
How to Read a Book
By Mortimer J. Adler
The best and most helpful guide to reading comprehension.
How to Think About the Great Ideas
By Mortimer J. Adler
xplore such great ideas as art, democracy, emotion, God, love, truth, and work.
- Contact the District Chi Alpha director & District Youth Director to participate in a “Transitioning Seniors to College” nine week course for parents and high school juniors and seniors. www.transitionsmsm.org.
- Search the college or university web site you are interested in for current Christian campus ministry organizations in existence there. Contact the staff for a scouting report on the various ministries and local church opportunities.
- Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries have partnered with www.YouthTransitionNetwork.org and www.liveabove.com to support high school seniors as they transition to college, and parents to help their youth in this process. Check out these web sites for help in getting connected with other Christians on campus.
- Contact the Chi Alpha Campus Ministries missionary personnel serving on the campus you are interested in. www.chialpha.com is the national web site of Chi Alpha and provides a listing of staff and Chi Alpha chapters all across the country. You can hear about resources, training and relational opportunities available through Chi Alpha Campus Ministries.
- Participate in the annual New York-New England Chi Alpha Retreat, held the weekend before President’s Day in February.
- Mobilize the people in your church to support and care for college students. Examples: Care for your own college students while they are away at college through prayer, care packages, and monthly phone/email encouragement; Adopt-a-student effort at a local college; Help with student move-in and start-up activities during September; Mobilize senior citizens to serve as friendship partners with international students; Serve as phone coaches for student led campus ministries; Thanksgiving dinner for American and international students living away from home; Help develop Campus Preview Weekends (CPW) where parents and their college bound kids can connect with Chi Alpha missionary personnel about transitioning from high school to college.
- Invite the Moms’ in your church to assist with the development of student and/or church led campus ministry throughout New England. Mom’s would be trained and resourced to coach campus ministry efforts in their area.
- Subscribe to the regular podcasts provided by Chi Alpha Campus Ministries Boston. Go to www.abovethehaze.org and click on the green podcast button. These are also available through iTunes.
