Why Do Students Walk Away From Their Faith?

Why Do Students Walk Away From Their Faith? | Dr. Jonathan Morrow on Welcome to College

In this episode of the Impact 360 Institute podcast, host Dakota Powell sits down with Dr. Jonathan Morrow — Director of Cultural Engagement and Student Discipleship at Impact 360 Institute — to discuss his brand new book, Welcome to College. Together they unpack why so many students quietly drift from their faith during the high school-to-college transition and what families, parents, and church leaders can do about it.

College is filled with new experiences, learning, and growth, but navigating this landscape as a Christian student is a challenge of its own. If you're a high school student preparing for the college journey, this practical resource will guide and ground you as you step onto campus.

Jonathan Morrow pulls from biblical truth and his own experiences with students as he engages with topics like

• critical theory and social justice,
• emotional resilience,
• moral and spiritual relativism,
• dating and relationships,
• social media and AI,
• gender, sexuality, and identity, and
• discovering God's will.
  
  Topics Discussed
• Why students walk away from faith — The hidden drift that happens on the inside long before it's visible on the outside
• "Faith that feels real but isn't ready" — How comfort and unchallenged belief create a fragile faith
• Common pitfalls — Relativizing faith, encountering unanswered questions on social media, and "coloring book Jesus" worldviews
• College doesn't create a faith crisis — it reveals one 
• What a lasting faith looks like — Rational anchors, relational anchors, and a compelling mission
• Practical advice for parents — How to narrate reality, ask good questions, and set the table for faith conversations
• The 44 chapters of Welcome to College — Topics ranging from apologetics and Bible trust to money, purity, entertainment, gender ideology, dating, alcohol, and more
• Impact 360 summer experiences & gap year program — Propel, Immersion, and the 9-month Fellows program
• Realign Conference — September 10th in the Atlanta area featuring Rosaria Butterfield, Alisa Childers, Jeff Morgan, and Dr. Morrow
  
  Resources & Links
• Get the book: welcometocollege.org
• Impact 360 Institute: impact360.org
• Summer Experiences (Propel & Immersion): impact360.org
• 9-Month Gap Year Program: impact360.org
• Realign Conference (Sept. 10, Atlanta area): impact360.org
• Give to the Multiply Fund: impact360.org → Click "Give"
• Online Courses — Explore Truth & Explore the Resurrection: impact360.org
  
  Books Mentioned
• Welcome to College by Jonathan Morrow (NEW edition)
• Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible's Authority by Jonathan Morrow
  
  About the Podcast

The Impact 360 Institute podcast explores biblical worldview and servant leadership to equip you for everyday influence. Learn more at impact360.org.

Host: Dakota Powell Guest: Dr. Jonathan Morrow

Impact 360 Institute — Know. Be. Live.