Parent Prep

Finding a new church home is an important part of preparing for college. As your student gets ready to attend Cedarville University, you can help them explore local churches where they can worship, build relationships, serve, and grow in their faith.

Cedarville University is privileged to care for the spiritual growth of thousands of students with immense potential to impact the world for God's glory. One way we help students grow is by encouraging them to join early and invest deeply in a local church.

During students’ 1000 Days at Cedarville, what takes place on campus should not be their only opportunity for fellowship with the Body of Christ. Daily chapel is an exciting and distinctive part of a Cedarville education, but it does not take the place of the local church.

How Can Your Student Find a Church Near Cedarville?

We are blessed to have many Bible-believing, Gospel-centered churches in the greater Miami Valley region that welcome college students.

One of the best places to start looking for church options is Cedarville's Involvement Fair. Held during the first week of the academic year, the fair brings representatives from more than 50 area churches to campus. Students can meet church leaders, learn about local congregations, and begin exploring where they might find a church home.

In her Student Life Blog article, Finding a Local Church, recent Cedarville graduate Hope Slusser shares how the Involvement Fair helped her explore churches, ask about transportation, and learn about opportunities to get involved.

Your student can also begin researching churches before arriving on campus. Visiting church websites, watching sermons, and talking with other Cedarville students can help them identify churches they'd like to visit.

What Should Your Student Look for in a Church?

Finding a church is about more than choosing a convenient location or familiar worship style. Encourage your student to look for a church where they can grow spiritually and become an active part of a community of believers.

Cedarville's Church Relations team provides guidance for finding a local church, including several important considerations:

• Biblical teaching: Does the church faithfully teach God's Word and hold to sound biblical doctrine?
• Christian community: Do members demonstrate genuine love, fellowship, and care for one another?
• God-centered worship: Does the worship reflect biblical truth and encourage spiritual growth?
• Opportunities to serve: Can your student use their gifts and talents to contribute to the life and ministry of the church?
• Commitment to the gospel: Does the church demonstrate a passion for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ?

Finding the right church may take time, and that's OK. In Home Away from Home: Choosing Your New Church Family, Cedarville student Amory Davis encourages students to consider whether a church aligns with their theological beliefs, offers opportunities to get involved, and is somewhere they can realistically attend each week.

As your student considers their options, encourage them to seek input from you and their home church.

Churches Near Cedarville University

There are many churches within driving distance of Cedarville University. Here are some that have been popular with Cedarville students:

• Calvary Baptist Church, Xenia
• Centerville Christian Fellowship, Centerville
• Cornerstone Baptist Church, Springfield
• Cornerstone Bible Church, Xenia
• Dayton Avenue Baptist Church, Xenia
• Emmanuel Baptist Church, Xenia
• Grace Baptist Church, Cedarville*
• Grand Heights Baptist Church, Fairborn
• Heritage Fellowship Church, Springfield
• New Community Church, Xenia
• Northside Baptist Church, Springfield
• Patterson Park Church, Beavercreek
• Shawnee Hills Baptist Church, Jamestown
• Southgate Baptist Church, Springfield
• University Baptist Church, Beavercreek

This isn't an exhaustive list! Many other churches in the area would welcome your student. Encourage them to visit several congregations and take time to find a church where they can become meaningfully involved.

*Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville is within walking distance of campus.

Encourage Your Student to Make Church a Priority

Finding a church is just the beginning. Encourage your student to attend regularly, build relationships with believers of different ages, and look for opportunities to serve.

In Building Each Other Up: Why Christian Community Matters in College, Cedarville student Dietrich Zeisloft highlights the importance of relationships with believers from different backgrounds and generations. A local church gives students opportunities to build friendships, seek mentorship, and grow alongside a community of believers beyond campus.

And while visiting several churches can help your student make an informed decision, encourage them to commit to a church once they've found a good fit. As Hope Slusser reminds students in Finding a Local Church, "You don't want to hop from one church to the next, never settling anywhere."

Our goal is to see students grow spiritually while they attend Cedarville and naturally step into a solid local church wherever they land in the years ahead.

Start the conversation before move-in day. Explore church options together and encourage your student to attend the Involvement Fair during their first week on campus. Finding a church home early can help them establish a meaningful connection with a local body of believers throughout their Cedarville years and beyond.

Explore Tips For Finding a Local Church Home