When Jesus called His first disciples, He used just two simple words: “Follow Me.” Those words changed everything for Peter, James, John, and others who left behind their plans to follow the Savior who would change their lives.
Today, that call still echoes. And all over the world, young people who want their lives to count for God are hearing the invitation.
Think about it. Everyone follows someone—athletes, influencers, friends, trends, personal goals—but Jesus invites you to follow Him.
If you’re a high school student or young adult considering your future, one of the best choices you can make is to give God one focused year at Bible college to grow your faith. A year at Bible college isn’t just about preparing for ministry; it’s about building your walk with God, strengthening your convictions, and discovering His direction for your life.
1. A Year of Bible College Can Deepen Your Walk with God
Before Jesus ever sent His disciples out to preach or serve, He first called them to be with Him. Mark 3:14 says, “And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him.”
Every great step of faith begins by spending time with Jesus. And Bible college gives you the opportunity to do just that. For one year, your schedule, your friends, and your focus revolve around growing in your relationship with God.
Through daily classes, chapel messages, ministry opportunities, and quiet moments in God’s Word, you’ll learn what it means to walk with God personally—not just know about Him, but truly know Him.
Psalm 1 says that those who delight in God’s Word are “like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” When you give God a year to grow your roots deep in His Word, you’ll find strength and stability for every part of your future.
2. A Year of Bible College Can Strengthen Your Convictions
We live in a world of shifting opinions, loud voices, and constant pressure to blend in.
If you want to stand strong for Christ, you need solid convictions from God’s Word that you know, believe, and live by.
That’s what a year at Bible college helps build. You’ll study Scripture deeply, learn how to apply it personally, and grow confident in what you believe and why. The Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15).
In class discussions, chapel messages, and conversations with teachers and mentors, you’ll learn to think biblically about real-life issues. You’ll see how God’s truth speaks into every decision—from your relationships to your future career.
When your convictions are grounded in God’s Word, you don’t have to fear the world’s opinions. You can walk with confidence, knowing that your life is built on unchanging truth.
3. A Year at Bible College Can Clarify Your Direction
When I was seventeen and got my driver’s license, I looked for any excuse to drive. If my mom needed milk, I volunteered. If my brother needed a ride, I was ready. But one day on a family trip, we drove straight into a downpour so heavy I could barely see the road. I slowed down and focused on the one thing I could see—the taillights of the car ahead of me. As long as I followed those lights, I stayed on the road.
Sometimes life feels like that. You’re not sure what’s ahead or what God wants for your future. That’s why it’s so important to fix your eyes on Jesus.
A year at Bible college helps clear the fog. It’s a time to seek God, grow in His Word, and let Him direct your next steps. Proverbs 3:6 promises, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
When you give God time and space to speak, He makes His direction clear—whether He leads you into full-time ministry or strengthens your faith for any path He calls you to take.
Answer the Call
God is still calling young people to follow Him. He doesn’t just call the most talented or confident; He calls those who are willing. If you’ll give God one year of focused time to grow in His Word, strengthen your convictions, and clarify your direction, He can use it to shape the rest of your life.
You don’t have to have everything figured out to take the next step. Just start by saying, “Lord, I’m willing to follow You.”
God is able to use your life, and one year of Bible college may be exactly what He uses to prepare you for all He has planned.
This article originally appeared in Issue 39 of the Baptist Voice. To read the full digital edition, click here:
