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“I joined because I wanted a sticker.” 

When Sophie started college at the University of Michigan–Flint, she didn’t want to be involved with anything faith-related and identified as agnostic. But that wasn’t always the case for her. 

Sophie grew up in a Catholic family and attended a Catholic school where her parents taught religion. Their lives centered around their faith and walks with Jesus. 

“It was one of my favorite things to do every week –– going to church with my family, praying together –– I loved it!” Sophie said. 

However, her life changed dramatically during COVID. After her family stopped attending mass regularly, Sophie found herself sad and angry at all that was going on in the world. 

“I thought I knew everything [and] didn’t understand why all of this happened,” she said. 

Then, to make matters worse, tragedy struck Sophie’s family when multiple family members suddenly passed, and both of her grandparents became ill. With her whole family grieving, Sophie felt as though she had no one to process with. 

“That’s when the big divide happened,” she said, explaining what caused her to walk away from her faith. 

Changes in College 

As she began her freshman year on campus, Sophie was surprised at how different things were from the Catholic school she grew up in. There were no more mandatory religion classes, church meetings, events, or prayers in college. She could stay as far away from Jesus as she wanted to. 

On the other hand, she was no longer supported in the same ways by her school. When Sophie’s grandfather passed in the fall of her first semester, she missed how teachers back at her Catholic school would email her or let her know they were praying for her family. 

During this loss, Sophie felt even more alone and began to question if she should be at UM Flint. 

As her sophomore year began, she knew she needed a change. Sophie talked with her brother, who was also a student at UM Flint. 

“We’re going to join a club, and I’m going to make you do it with me!” she told him. 

Healing in Community 

Back on campus, Sophie and her brother checked out different organizations that were tabling when a bright orange tablecloth caught her attention. Her brother walked over and started talking to his friends, who were involved with ������Ƶ.   

While she was still hoping to avoid anything faith-related, Sophie was intrigued by the stickers the ������Ƶ students were giving away and took one. Soon, that sticker led her to go to large group. 

At her first large group, Sophie thought back to all those she had lost in just the past few years and began to cry. Immediately, another student came over and began praying with her. 

Sophie realized this is what she had been needing –– people she could be vulnerable with, people who would be there to pray with her and for her through all of life’s ups and downs. 

“I knew I was supported,” she said. 

Later that year, Sophie joined the ������Ƶ chapter for fall conference. In addition to growing deeper in friendship with other students, she realized God had been working in ways she hadn’t noticed. 

“It was like coming home,” Sophie said. 

As her sophomore year continued, Sophie began allowing God to heal her from the sorrow of all she had experienced. She felt as though the love her community showed her softened her heart to trust in God again. And when her friend committed suicide that same year, this time, Sophie knew she wouldn’t be alone. 

“With all of the grief I'd gone through, talking with people really helped,” she said. 

Drawing Others to Jesus 

Now, Sophie is a Bible study leader and large group facilitator. She helps plan speakers, social media, and activities, and wants to help her ������Ƶ community figure out how they can each serve God intentionally with their lives. 

As she finishes her undergraduate studies and continues in an accelerated program to earn her master's degree, Sophie is grateful for the ways God used ������Ƶ to draw her back to him. She also loves sharing her testimony with others to help them become interested in pursuing faith in Jesus. 

“If it weren’t for ������Ƶ, I would not be as close as I am with God now,” she said.