Deciding how to live out their faith is one of those challenges.

Jennifer Redenius, a Lake City author, tackles that issue in her new book, ”What Now? A College Student’s Guide to Continued Catholic Faith.”

Throughout the book, Redenius draws on her own experiences as a Catholic undergraduate at the University of Iowa in Iowa City to give college freshmen the tools they need to grow and thrive spiritually after they leave home.

Redenius was inspired to write the book during her college years when she realized how many of her peers were leaving the Catholic faith. She began seriously writing after moving to Lake City and becoming a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and confirmation teacher.

”When a person leaves home, they are bombarded with new friends whom they want to spend time with, bills to pay and classes to study for,” Redenius said. ”I found that unless I made it a priority to continue my faith, everything else would take precedence. I wanted to help others realize that you can manage both adult life and your faith, and that your faith will actually enhance your life once you leave home.”

In ”What Now? A College Student’s Guide to Continued Catholic Faith,” Redenius recalls her first week at college and shares the lessons she learned about growing in her faith as she transitioned into adulthood.

At the close of each section, Redenius provides readers with a prayer and tips for continuing to build a relationship with God.

”I hope each reader finds practical, useful advice for how to continue their faith in the real world,” Redenius said. ”If I can get even one person to make a goal to continue their Catholic journey because of the book, I’d consider it a success.”

Redenius received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, and her master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She works as a secondary instructional coach for the Glidden-Ralston and Paton-Churdan school districts. She is also an adjunct faculty instructor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

”What Now? A College Student’s Guide to Continued Catholic Faith,” is her first book.

It is available for purchase online at the Write Place, Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.