Getting Connected With a Local Church
When many students arrive at Anderson University they are
leaving behind a church family they have grown with. Finding a new church home can
be a difficult but important part of a student’s growth at AU. There are many
churches to choose from in the Anderson area.Senior Mark Sipka has attended Park Place Church of God
since his freshman year at AU. Park Place Church of God is located on campus.
Sipka said that what instantly stood out to him was how loving and welcoming the
people there are to others. “I really felt a connection with these great people
and I enjoy being a part of this amazing church. 
These people go into the
community and are intentional about loving their neighbors. For example,
several people baked cookies and then walked to local businesses and passed
them out. There is also the Neighbors program which involves church members
going through the neighborhood and asking people how they can serve them. This church offers a mix of people who
support and pray for each other. Park Place offers meals for college students usually
two or three times each month.”
Another church available to college students is Madison Park Church of God, located about 15 minutes from campus. Madison Park is a “mega” church that offers a Saturday night service at 6:00 p.m. for those who cannot make it to a Sunday morning service. There is also a gathering for young adults called Café Chat which is one of the ways college students can get plugged in to their church. They offer Sunday morning services at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
If you are looking for a smaller church that is closer to
campus The Mercy House is located 4 minutes from campus. The Mercy House is a
Christian & Missionary Alliance church located in the urban west side of
Anderson. They describe themselves as a community of Jesus-followers who
believe in the reconciliation of all things—that humanity is meant to have
peace and intimacy with God, within our self, with the earth and with each
other. 
For this reason, everything they plan, organize and participate in
revolves around this idea of reconciliation: acts of unity, social justice, and
community. Their service starts at 10:15 a.m. and is led by an AU School of
Theology student.
For people who don’t like early mornings, The Bridge
Community Church has many different opportunities for Sunday morning worship.
Their worship times are at 9:02 a.m., 10:10 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. Located 5
minutes from campus, The Bridge has a very contemporary worship service younger
generations seem to enjoy.
The churches already mentioned seem to be the most popular
choices among AU students. However, the following denominations are also close
by:
Catholic:
St. Mary’s Church is located 7 minutes from campus. The daily Mass schedule varies each week depending on the needs of the community and the schedule of the pastor. The online bulletin lists the weekly schedule.Baptist:
Grace Baptist Church is located 9 minutes from campus. Their
Sunday morning worship service is at 10:30 a.m. and their evening service is at
6:00 p.m.
Nazarene:
Anderson First Church of the Nazarene is located 8 minutes
from campus. Their Sunday morning worship service is at 10:30 a.m. and their
evening service is at 6:00 p.m.
Methodist:
First United Methodist Church is located 6 minutes from
campus. Their Sunday morning worship service is at 9:00 a.m.
Presbyterian:
First Presbyterian Church is located 6 minutes from campus.
Their Sunday morning worship services are at 8:00 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.
Brethren:
Anderson Church of the Brethren is located 2 minutes from
campus. Their Sunday morning worship service is at 9:30 a.m.
*Kristyn Rhynard is a senior from Ithaca, Mich., majoring in Mass Communications. Rhynard is an intern at the Anderson University Alumni Office.