How Do We Prepare Our Kids’ Faith for Secular College? Start Here.

Few things strike fear in the heart of Christian parents like sending a child to a secular university and wondering, “Will their faith survive?” Recent research shows nearly two-thirds of young adults raised in the church disengage from faith or Christian community after leaving home—a heartbreaking statistic for families who have labored in love and prayer for nearly two decades.

In this episode, Catherine sits down with Dr. Steven Hall, a respected professor at Lee University with decades of experience in pastoral ministry, counseling, and spiritual formation. Dr. Hall brings not only academic insight but a father’s hard-won wisdom—his own daughter lost her faith at a secular arts high school, plunging his family into a prodigal journey that every Christian parent fears.

Key Insights and Takeaways:


It Can Happen to Any Family: Dr. Hall shares with powerful honesty how, despite prayerful and intentional parenting—including homeschooling and Christian education—his daughter’s faith was overturned in just two weeks at a new school. “We put her in the school, and two weeks later, they stole her,” he recalls, highlighting how the environment and sense of belonging can reshape beliefs almost overnight.


The Power of Allies: Both Dr. Hall and Catherine underscore the vital importance of allies: teachers, mentors, counselors, and Christian communities who support and reinforce the faith and values parents instill. “You need an ally in your parenting. Pray for those allies…steward those relationships well,” Dr. Hall urges.


Formation Over Information: As children grow, the need to belong and to form identity intensifies—especially in the teen and college years. Dr. Hall explains, “If you have an environment where your child believes they can belong and retain their faith, you are preparing good ‘soul soil’ for lasting fruit.”


Consistent Adequacy—Not Perfection: Parents often carry guilt over prodigal seasons, but Dr. Hall and Catherine offer hope: even God, the perfect parent, had children who chose rebellion. “You don’t have to be exceptional—just consistently adequate,” Dr. Hall reassures, stressing faithfulness over perfection.


Practical Soul-Forming Rhythms: Sabbath, prayer, fasting, and engaging in faith routines as a family are crucial. “We’re not just training for faith, we’re shaping a way of life,” says Dr. Hall.


There Is Good News: Encouraging research from Barna now shows a rise in personal commitment to Jesus and Bible reading among Gen Z and Millennials. The hunger for authentic, lived faith is growing—and parents can help nurture that by living and modeling genuine discipleship.

Anecdotes & Notable Quotes:


“If you want to protect your child from the negative influences of the world, when they're about seven, put them in a barrel and feed them through the knothole. At fourteen, plug the knothole. There's no foolproof method!”—Dr. Hall (quoting Mark Twain)


“God is not looking for extraordinary, perfect parents. He’s looking for consistency. Trust the creature to the Creator.”

About the Guest:
Dr. Steven Hall is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Lee University, with a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and decades serving as a Church of God minister, clinical pastoral counselor, and founder of Ministry Oasis—a resource dedicated to the soul health of ministry families.

Are you praying for allies to join you in shepherding your child’s soul? Who are the people and communities partnering with you for the spiritual health of your family? Share your journey, struggles, and wins—and remember: you don’t have to do this alone. Tune in and find the encouragement, practical wisdom, and hope that God is still writing your child’s story.

Episode Links & Resources

Ministry Oasis
Dr. Steven Hall’s website offers free resources for soul health, spiritual disciplines, Sabbath practices, and more—especially helpful for pastors and their families, but practical for all parents.
Visit Ministry Oasis

Barna Research – Youth Exodus & Spiritual Renewal


New Research: Belief in Jesus Is on the Rise, and It’s Fueled by Younger Adults (Apr 2024)


Millennials and Gen Z Drive a Bible Reading Comeback (Nov 2023)


Gen Z, Millennials, and the Changing State of Faith in America

Soul Health Planning, Sabbath & Family Rhythms


Soul Health Plan PDF, Sabbath Practice Guides, Video Library


Dr. Hall’s sermon series and practical tips for sabbathing with young children

Scripture Prayers & Prodigal Bundle
Catherine’s free resources for parents—Scripture lists, prayer guides, and her ebook for raising children in a faith-challenging culture.
Subscribe to Catherine Segars’ Website for The Prodigal Bundle

Recommended Books


The Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser


God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy Godby Ken Shigematsu


The Ruthless Elimination of Hurryby John Mark Comer


Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Want prayer or a network of allies?
Email Catherine directly at catherine@catherinesegars.com or subscribe to her site for encouragement, practical faith-filled resources, and ways to connect with praying parents.

 

How Do We Prepare Our Kids&rsquo; Faith for Secular College? Start Here.
Few things strike fear in the heart of Christian parents like sending a child to a secular university and wondering, &ldquo;Will their faith survive?&rdquo; Recent research shows nearly two-thirds of young adults raised in the church disengage from faith or Christian community after leaving home&mdash;a heartbreaking statistic for families who have labored in love and prayer for nearly two decades.
In this episode, Catherine sits down with Dr. Steven Hall, a respected professor at Lee University with decades of experience in pastoral ministry, counseling, and spiritual formation. Dr. Hall brings not only academic insight but a father&rsquo;s hard-won wisdom&mdash;his own daughter lost her faith at a secular arts high school, plunging his family into a prodigal journey that every Christian parent fears.
Key Insights and Takeaways:
<ul>
<li>
It Can Happen to Any Family: Dr. Hall shares with powerful honesty how, despite prayerful and intentional parenting&mdash;including homeschooling and Christian education&mdash;his daughter&rsquo;s faith was overturned in just two weeks at a new school. &ldquo;We put her in the school, and two weeks later, they stole her,&rdquo; he recalls, highlighting how the environment and sense of belonging can reshape beliefs almost overnight.
</li>
<li>
The Power of Allies: Both Dr. Hall and Catherine underscore the vital importance of allies: teachers, mentors, counselors, and Christian communities who support and reinforce the faith and values parents instill. &ldquo;You need an ally in your parenting. Pray for those allies&hellip;steward those relationships well,&rdquo; Dr. Hall urges.
</li>
<li>
Formation Over Information: As children grow, the need to belong and to form identity intensifies&mdash;especially in the teen and college years. Dr. Hall explains, &ldquo;If you have an environment where your child believes they can belong and retain their faith, you are preparing good &lsquo;soul soil&rsquo; for lasting fruit.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Consistent Adequacy&mdash;Not Perfection: Parents often carry guilt over prodigal seasons, but Dr. Hall and Catherine offer hope: even God, the perfect parent, had children who chose rebellion. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t have to be exceptional&mdash;just consistently adequate,&rdquo; Dr. Hall reassures, stressing faithfulness over perfection.
</li>
<li>
Practical Soul-Forming Rhythms: Sabbath, prayer, fasting, and engaging in faith routines as a family are crucial. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not just training for faith, we&rsquo;re shaping a way of life,&rdquo; says Dr. Hall.
</li>
<li>
There Is Good News: Encouraging research from Barna now shows a rise in personal commitment to Jesus and Bible reading among Gen Z and Millennials. The hunger for authentic, lived faith is growing&mdash;and parents can help nurture that by living and modeling genuine discipleship.
</li>
</ul>
Anecdotes &amp; Notable Quotes:
<ul>
<li>
&ldquo;If you want to protect your child from the negative influences of the world, when they're about seven, put them in a barrel and feed them through the knothole. At fourteen, plug the knothole. There's no foolproof method!&rdquo;&mdash;Dr. Hall (quoting Mark Twain)
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;God is not looking for extraordinary, perfect parents. He&rsquo;s looking for consistency. Trust the creature to the Creator.&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
About the Guest: Dr. Steven Hall is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Lee University, with a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and decades serving as a Church of God minister, clinical pastoral counselor, and founder of Ministry Oasis&mdash;a resource dedicated to the soul health of ministry families.
Are you praying for allies to join you in shepherding your child&rsquo;s soul? Who are the people and communities partnering with you for the spiritual health of your family? Share your journey, struggles, and wins&mdash;and remember: you don&rsquo;t have to do this alone. Tune in and find the encouragement, practical wisdom, and hope that God is still writing your child&rsquo;s story.
Episode Links &amp; Resources
Ministry Oasis Dr. Steven Hall&rsquo;s website offers free resources for soul health, spiritual disciplines, Sabbath practices, and more&mdash;especially helpful for pastors and their families, but practical for all parents. <a href="https://ministryoasis.com">Visit Ministry Oasis</a>
Barna Research &ndash; Youth Exodus &amp; Spiritual Renewal
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.barna.com/research/belief-in-jesus-on-the-rise/">New Research: Belief in Jesus Is on the Rise, and It&rsquo;s Fueled by Younger Adults (Apr 2024)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.barna.com/research/bible-reading-gen-z-millennials/">Millennials and Gen Z Drive a Bible Reading Comeback (Nov 2023)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.barna.com/the-changing-state-of-faith-in-america/">Gen Z, Millennials, and the Changing State of Faith in America</a>
</li>
</ul>
Soul Health Planning, Sabbath &amp; Family Rhythms
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://ministryoasis.com/resources">Soul Health Plan PDF, Sabbath Practice Guides, Video Library</a>
</li>
<li>
Dr. Hall&rsquo;s sermon series and practical tips for sabbathing with young children
</li>
</ul>
Scripture Prayers &amp; Prodigal Bundle Catherine&rsquo;s free resources for parents&mdash;Scripture lists, prayer guides, and her ebook for raising children in a faith-challenging culture. <a href="https://catherinesegars.com/resources">Subscribe to Catherine Segars&rsquo; Website for The Prodigal Bundle</a>
Recommended Books
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Domestic-Monastery/dp/B0CNKY6KNR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GSFYM1CRO7IW&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WqEDhVQHmNPCPuzvzSyhQ2TAZXmrXMJa067GgJAsCBzLLdYbQoRvPDOglcD-Dsjc7dLGQFwaGmDIDtWOLFm1iBWdpnlGJdl3I6RP6_v-IVokEHHgSA0gI4e_2CkJuT40djnpob22FpkMPLgfD1UvkkgupkQ_PdltL73u9zVmvPE7YQZGVr2IKX8hFX__78bo1y-s2e5RDPZmhDLy7jPrnRlRACTsyl5LPsieD6PXik4.tmv0fdC2wCpe0KgAyPbgjH3ob8P5cMzcR3ttHhuWZ_I&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=The+Domestic+Monastery&amp;qid=1775269650&amp;sprefix=the+domestic+monastery%2Caps%2C160&amp;sr=8-1">The Domestic Monastery</a> by Ronald Rolheiser
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-My-Everything-Ancient-Rhythm/dp/B09GWFQCY8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NP7N4ZSTHFC4&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ED_hfMpkWvnG1R2AsSBPHQ.-CTC4R--V2UMc4d0iHqnaQaBuPts4zzJkJ9_n_wdNGc&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=God+in+My+Everything%3A+How+an+Ancient+Rhythm+Helps+Busy+People+Enjoy+God&amp;nsdOptOutParam=true&amp;qid=1775269684&amp;s=audible&amp;sprefix=god+in+my+everything+how+an+ancient+rhythm+helps+busy+people+enjoy+god+%2Caudible%2C147&amp;sr=1-1">God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God </a>by Ken Shigematsu
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Elimination-of-Hurry-audiobook/dp/B07ZL2MRDS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MVSYXKNEF5IG&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QUFlal6mqCxI1CzG8svtJLoDFuRBq4Fm2V_HNBXhcSHKe7DZFWN_7RLyOtRf50FyV-j7KcZ4omPSlemDzAlt_cLm4CdN1PMIyW7wKua8riE_9Nuxs532Lz7Wmf5xP-zAz_KIymXvodANB7pE-twhJb4iaahb6tt4zdgSvufe26DjwoYs6a9vMD82unrGqPukQfz6I2IpUXo1Z_GGG4sBbmzOjl7d0xBKXyu19xPFXYw.RX_GD7tWWokt8BZ7L1JQ7FP7jJY3mGSVrh-eGotAQrY&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=The+Ruthless+Elimination+of+Hurry&amp;qid=1775269757&amp;s=audible&amp;sprefix=the+ruthless+elimination+of+hurry+%2Caudible%2C684&amp;sr=1-1">The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry </a>by John Mark Comer
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Impossible-Spiritually/dp/B08SHX5632/ref=sr_1_1?crid=863X2CWZOSFE&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EreRQFdE89Z-E3nzEBjijfB3Qv_PYe9B5DEuFLiJK9_mLMl9rt0ndAV2CsWHb1POl4K0h5IedLX5iU4hYLI32YojdN0Sjxq0rLBgRSQc8sbmDcdoXco-93RfgTFxLBlKk5LBX4L4B8jMX3Q3rrXsCOmyKf2brQf9KlMjqGW7by_3yCEN65rBaaJGlWjWhEB_jimIE3o5aZWBSdDVIrdruXgvLZQFkzT0s2absCZCslI.yQmSFT3cZFrNGrwfLC2jz-Ku3jWJWZU5PEamuyGjF_I&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=Emotionally+Healthy+Spirituality&amp;qid=1775269781&amp;s=audible&amp;sprefix=emotionally+healthy+spirituality%2Caudible%2C153&amp;sr=1-1">Emotionally Healthy Spirituality</a> by Peter Scazzero
</li>
</ul>
Want prayer or a network of allies? Email Catherine directly at <a href="mailto:catherine@catherinesegars.com">catherine@catherinesegars.com</a> or subscribe to her site for encouragement, practical faith-filled resources, and ways to connect with praying parents.
&nbsp;

The Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast with Catherine Segars equips moms and dads to be godly parents in a world that often opposes their faith. As a passionate apologist and seasoned communicator, Catherine unpacks the tough cultural issues facing families today, offering insightful, biblically grounded guidance. Each episode helps parents understand the challenges of our times and respond with wisdom, confidence, and grace.

Topics covered on this podcast include:
What to Do If Your Child Walks Away from the Faith
Can Our Words Change the Future?
Why Are So Many Kids Falling Away from The Faith?
13 Ways To Be a Better Parent This Year
5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Gen Z
What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?
How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview 
Hope and Strategy for Parents of Prodigal Children

Want to read some of Catherine's most popular Christian parenting articles? Check them out here: https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

The Christian Parent, Crazy World&nbsp;podcast with Catherine Segars equips moms and dads to be godly parents in a world that often opposes their faith. As a passionate apologist and seasoned communicator, Catherine unpacks the tough cultural issues facing families today, offering insightful, biblically grounded guidance. Each episode helps parents understand the challenges of our times and respond with wisdom, confidence, and grace.
Topics covered on this podcast include:
<ul>
<li>What to Do If Your Child Walks Away from the Faith</li>
<li>Can Our Words Change the Future?</li>
<li>Why Are So Many Kids Falling Away from The Faith?</li>
<li>13 Ways To Be a Better Parent This Year</li>
<li>5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Gen Z</li>
<li>What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?</li>
<li>How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview&nbsp;</li>
<li>Hope and Strategy for Parents of Prodigal Children</li>
</ul>
Want to read some of Catherine's most popular Christian parenting articles? Check them out here: https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Christian Parent, Crazy World is a podcast dedicated to helping you be a godly parent in an ungodly world.

Christian Parent, Crazy World

Christian Parent Crazy World

When Faith Meets College: Finding Allies for Your Kids’ Education (w/ Dr. Steven Hall) - Ep. 180

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/de42ad27-a59c-4579-b7ad-b422001ddff1/transcript