By Kamryn Anthis | Staff Writer
As new students settle into campus and find their place, the Baylor Spiritual Life Center welcomed everyone to its annual Church Fair at Fountain Plaza. Representatives from more than 80 churches across the Baylor area set up tents to introduce students to their communities and invite them into conversation.
Students had the opportunity to explore different denominations, cultures, worship styles and more.
The event director and Assistant Director for Campus Ministries and Church Connections, Sharita Holder, emphasized the importance of creating a faith-based space for new students.
“We’re hoping that students get connected, and they get connected quickly, and that this would just be a front door into that process because we know that transitioning from a home church to a college community is difficult,” Holder said. “We hope to just put it all in front of you so that you’re able to ask the questions, get connected very easily and sooner rather than later.”
This event encourages students to try new things and explore options when deciding where to find their church family in Waco. The event emphasizes that every Baylor student has a place at a local church.
Buda junior Georgia Rushing said the Church Fair helped her when she first came to Baylor.
“I went here as a freshman just to see all the different types of churches and communities around, so it was really special to me to see how many different communities there were in Baylor and the diversity,” Rushing said. “There’s always going to be a spot for anyone from any background or culture, so that was really cool, and it opened my eyes to see what Baylor had.”
Although Baylor is Baptist at its core, many other options exist for students looking for a taste of home — or something completely different.
Dr. Lauren Seitz, a teaching fellow in Baylor’s Interdisciplinary Core, said she feels called to be a part of this outreach to students.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to kind of get a feel for lots of different churches in the area,” Seitz said. “Even though Baylor is known for being a Baptist University, there are lots of other options around Waco. It’s a good way for not only the students to see what’s available, but also for us to connect with them, because the Baylor community is so important.”
By hosting this event, the Spiritual Life Center hopes to further the school’s Christian mission of developing strong leaders for the future by encouraging students to find a community where they can flourish. You can find a list of local churches around Baylor on the Baylor Spiritual Life website.
