Why Community is Vital in Your Walk with Jesus
I remember the first time I walked through the doors of Briercrest, wondering what was in store at this college in the middle of nowhere.
Long story short, I never expected to go to Briercrest, like at all.
About three weeks before my first year of college, I realized that God was definitely not calling me towards policing. Instead, I had this prompting to go to this small school called Briercrest College.
I resisted it, and definitely didn't want to go, but eventually, I decided to follow that prompting. Dropping out of policing college to pursue God’s prompting to Briercrest was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I believe going to Briercrest could draw you closer to God, as it has for me in my own experience.
Two years later and I'm here studying a BA in Christian Ministry. One of the things I have found that sticks out like a sore thumb at Briercrest is the impact the community of this school can have on anyone who walks through the doors of this campus.
Read my blog about what community really looks like at Briercrest here!
What makes community so important?
Through the life of Jesus, and through the word of God, we find that community in your walk with Jesus is absolutely vital.
Spiritual formation is the process of the deepest part of our soul developing. The thing is that we are being formed no matter what. There are many moving parts to this equation, such as what we spend our time on, who we spend our time with, and what we invest most in.
Jesus modelled finding strong community as he summoned 12 close people to walk alongside and disciple. These people walked together, ate together, and were in communion together. I believe we also have to be together in community, wherever it may be.
Having a community of believers to dive deep with together is no doubt important, but why?
Psalm 133:1 states, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" Further, the Holy Spirit is present when believers gather together (Matthew 28:20). Lastly, we see Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans assert, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5-6).
All this to say, there is something extraordinary about growing together in communion with one another. When God's people are living in unity together, we grow closer to Jesus. And this might be one of the most beautiful things ever.
VIDEO: See what discipleship community looks like at Briercrest!
You can take a virtual tour and learn more about Briercrest's community here!
How Briercrest cultivates community
One of the first things that I noticed at Briercrest in my first year was that there was this community of other believers who were passionate about their faith. I had definitely experienced this before at camp, but there was a different element at Briercrest.
Being able to walk alongside each other in life created a beautiful atmosphere that ultimately pushed my faith to become stronger. The best part was this went on for 8 months at a time. I believe you can find great community almost anywhere. Still, for me, I find Briercrest has the best community I could have ever encountered. This has grown me in many different ways and has ultimately brought me a step closer towards Jesus.
An example of this is the support you get in not only in your classes from your professors but also your hallmates in dorm. I tend to think about deep questions about God after my classes or during the day and both my professors and the guys on my hall are always willing to walk with me to answer these questions.
Because of the community at Briercrest, I have gained a deeper understanding of God.
Read more student stories like mine:
- How Coming to Briercrest as a Student Athlete Changed My Life
- Finding Community In the Cafeteria
- Why Living in Dorm Makes a Difference
Check Out Our Campus
Ever been to Caronport, Saskatchewan? Explore our campus virtually with our interactive campus map and learn more about what we have here.
We all need community
Briercrest can be that place of community to many individuals. But the reality is we all need community, no matter who we are or where we may be.
My encouragement to you is to seek an intentional community with other believers, whether this is at Briercrest, or not at Briercrest.
As revealed through the life of Jesus, and through the word of God, it is crucial to find community in your walk with Jesus on your journey to becoming more like Him every day.
