S6:E2- "Faith, College, and Freshman Year"- Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul- Tuesday, January 5, 2023 Artwork

Pastor Brian Podcast

Pastor Brian Podcast is a monthly conversation with exciting guests! Over half of our guests are every day church members (from all different walks of life and parts of the world) who are making extraordinary differences in their communities by the guidance of the Holy Spirit . . . helping share the gospel of Christ in innovative ways while serving others. We will also feature conversations with pastors, theologians, scholars, and authors as well. Along the way, we hope these conversations help you grow in Christ as well as think of new possibilities God is opening up for you in ministry.

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Pastor Brian Podcast

S6:E2- "Faith, College, and Freshman Year"- Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul- Tuesday, January 5, 2023

January 05, 2023 • Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, Carter Gaul, and Rev. Brian Felker Jones • Season 6 • Episode 2

Hey, y'all! The first year a student attends college or university (or one's "freshman year" as we say in America) is important for a myriad of reasons. It is also extremely vital for one's faith in Christ. Today, we are joined by three freshmen who've just completed their first semester at college: Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul. We talk about the tremendous experiences with God in their first semester and also places where they have struggled, doubted, and are asking new questions in their faith. It is wonderful conversation that I hope you can share with other students in your life . . . especially those preparing for college soon!

We begin with an introduction (00:41), a prayer (04:17), our lunch menu (04:51), Leah Austin, Anna Mathis, and Carter Gaul (07:26 ), their stories of faith in Christ (08:58 ), how college helped them discover new and exciting things in their life with Christ (11:08), the biggest difference in their spiritual lives now they are in college (14:43), how college has hurt, challenged, or complicated their faith (18:07), ways the Church could have done better at preparing them for a life of faith in college (24:55), things the Church did right in preparing them for faith in college (27:38), have they found a congregation (32:57), what is different about coming back to their home congregation (36:27), advice for other college and high school students about faith in college (39:01), a final prayer (43:05), thank you (44:40), and a blessing (44:55).

Menu for the evenings snack with Leah, Anna, and Carter:

Parisian/French Hot Chocolate from The French Cooking Academy with Kate and Stephane