Campus Story

Every Tribe, Every Tongue: Andy's Story

rachel.lance@intervarsity.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:39:18 +0000

Every Tribe, Every Tongue: Andy's Story

In light of Lunar New Year, Andy Chan and his friends gathered at the ��Ƶ ministry house near the University of Utah. They excitedly made dumplings from scratch and then put handwritten blessing cards with intricate calligraphy inside red envelopes to give out to people for encouragement. “I wanted to bring that joy to my friends here,” Andy said, who got the idea for the activity from his church back in Taiwan—the place where he first experienced God’s love in community.

Andy grew up in a Christian home in a country where that was a minority experience. As of 2023, only 7% of Taiwan’s population identify as Christian. Taoism and Buddhism are the two dominant religions in the country. Because of this, Andy didn’t have a lot of access to people who were open to talking about Christianity. “People in America are more open to talking about religion,” he said. “Even if you want to debate about it.”

While others went to temples during religious holidays, Andy spent his time at church fellowshipping and exchanging stories with churchmates. This was formative for him in his faith. When the time came for him to leave the country and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology as an international student in America, he longed to find Christian community. And so, when Andy heard about ��Ƶ through his friends, and then was invited by his staff, Christine, to the Bible study, he said yes to attending.

“I felt belonging,” Andy said, ecstatic about the fact that most people in the group were international students. Even though he felt like he couldn’t keep up with the conversations the first time he attended a Bible study, his interactions with staff, leaders, and fellow students made him confident over time. He learned about other people’s cultures and also grew a deeper understanding of Scripture.

“The Bible is more interesting than I thought,” he said

“Back in Taiwan, God to me was a father, or a very far friend,” Andy said. “When I came here and got involved with ��Ƶ, I learned that he can be a friend, lover, or someone you feel really close to.”

Andy particularly felt this during chapter camp, when he had spiritual experiences that made him realize God was closer than he thought and more faithful than he imagined. This has given him the strength he needs to serve those around him.

Serving the Larger Community

In the past year, Andy has been a student leader in his ��Ƶ chapter, ministering specifically to fellow international students at the University of Utah. Outside of Bible study, they have also started gathering for potlucks. It all began when Andy invited his friend to club room, a space on campus where clubs and organizations gather. This friend loved hosting dinner parties and thought about hosting one for the ISM Bible study. They gathered over Korean, Japanese, and Indonesian food. Although they had originally planned for 20 people, the number grew to 40. Nonetheless, the small room didn’t hinder them from enjoying one another’s presence and all of the food from different cultures. People’s hearts and bellies were full.

“All they want is to find community, and I want them to find community the way I did,” Andy said, grateful for the experiences he’s had through his international student Bible study.

Andy has observed that some international students don't completely understand the Christian faith, even though they attend Bible study, because they don't have a lot of context for Christianity. He prays that this will at the very least pique their interest and curiosity about Jesus.

At the school cafeteria, Andy and his friends saw a Chinese student who was scrolling on his phone and eating alone. They walked up to him, sat with him, and started talking to him in Chinese. When the student was almost finished with his food, Andy thought he would leave, but he stood up and grabbed more food so that he could chat with them longer. His eyes glinted with hope. The next day, the student showed up at their Bible study.

“There is a God who wants a real relationship with them and loves them,” Andy said.

Although it has been helpful for him to connect with Chinese students who understand and speak his language, it was still difficult for Andy to get them to come to Bible study or have faith conversations. On top of this, the time commitment for Bible study can be difficult for some students. In order to still get quality time together, Andy has started inviting his international friends to study with him in the library every afternoon.

The compassion that Andy has for international students has led him to serve at a Chinese church near campus in the upcoming school year. He looks forward to sharing what he has learned from his ��Ƶ chapter with the leaders of his young adult fellowship who want to see more Chinese international students worship Jesus.

“If God can make a lot of freshman students passionate about him, I believe he can make Chinese people passionate about him too,” he said. “I feel like anything is possible with God.”

To support the work of ��Ƶ’s International Students Ministry, click here!

From Loss to Life Change: Elijah’s Story

rachel.lance@intervarsity.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:33:27 +0000

From Loss to Life Change: Elijah’s Story

When Elijah entered college at Arizona State University as a freshman, he had the odds stacked against him.

His best friend of over ten years had just passed away in a sudden accident, he was angry at his parents for years of broken relationship, and he wasn’t even sure he would be able to afford college.

Closed off and trying to cope with his grief, Elijah spent hours in the gym working out his frustration.

One night, as he looked out the window from the gym, he noticed a group of students playing volleyball outside and decided to ask to join them.

He was greeted by Hannah and Micah Karr, ��Ƶ campus staff at ASU, who invited him in. After playing for a while, Micah invited Elijah to Bible study and they exchanged information.

Elijah had come for a game. What he didn’t know was that he had just met the community that would lead him to Christ over the next four years.

Observing From a Distance

The tragic loss of his best friend left Elijah wondering about the afterlife and doubtful that he’d ever have deep relationships again. Even though he'd ignored Micah's messages and invitations for over a month, Elijah decided one day to show up to Bible study.

“After the death of my best friend, I didn’t have a Hollywood, glamorous experience with God. It just ignited a curiosity about God in me,” said Elijah. “What brought me to know Jesus was coming to ��Ƶ and having other people speak of Jesus and share their testimonies.”

After attending his first Bible study, Elijah began what he calls his “observation year.” He put his faith in Christ and continued attending Bible studies and events but avoided deep relationships.

“There was hesitancy in my heart because I had never been a part of a community,” said Elijah. “I had been to church, but I had never been a part of a community that my parents didn't drag me to.”

Still, he kept showing up to large group week after week and slowly began taking steps toward involvement, like playing guitar on the worship team. When Micah and Hannah invited him onto the apprenticeship team during sophomore year, he joined hesitantly.

“At the time, I thought, ‘That's scary because I only started learning about Jesus in the last few months,’” said Elijah. “That little gap between Bible study attendee and Bible study leader was apprenticeship, and that really helped me step up to leadership.”

However, coming onto leadership wasn’t a perfect, linear journey. Elijah says one of the most important moments in his discipleship came early in his junior year when a friend called him out for patterns of sin and selfishness.

After reflecting on what his friend had said to him, he began intentionally making sacrifices to reach other students. During his junior year, he rejected a prestigious internship offer to join an ��Ƶ summer missions project in Bosnia, where he says he learned that a key part of following Jesus was sacrifice for others and dependency on the Lord.

“[In Bosnia] Micah was teaching us that by ourselves we’re like speedboats. I can go incredibly fast and do things on my own,” said Elijah. “But the kingdom of God is like a cruise ship where you're bringing other people with you at a slower pace.”

Once he returned to campus, Elijah decided to make another sacrifice. He quit his job and moved into the ministry house with Micah and Hannah Karr.

Relying on Relationship

As someone who struggled with vulnerability, moving into the ministry house was a big leap for Elijah. He had worked all four years of college and took pride in being self-sufficient and independent, but for the next step in his growth, he felt God calling him toward relationship.

“Moving into the ministry house, my intention was to move away from independence and have other people hold me accountable in godly ways. When you are friends with someone, they see a portion of your brokenness, but when you move in with someone, they see brokenness that you just can't really communicate. They see your blind spots in a more authentic way, and man, do I have blind spots!”

Elijah’s decision led to growth for both him and his community. He began leading Bible study with Micah at the ministry house, inviting others into fellowship in his home. As he began to open up, his friends felt like they were getting to know another person.

Miracles for my community, and for Me Too

Despite seeing God work miraculously in his community, Elijah went into his senior year believing there was one part of his life God wouldn’t be able to restore. From an early age, Elijah had carried anger and resentment against his parents for their distance from him growing up. The loneliness he felt during his best friend’s death had only worsened their relationship. This unresolved area in his life left him feeling disconnected from his ministry on campus and even led him to believe the lie that he was unfit for the Holy Spirit.

At the beginning of his final semester, Elijah headed to Ambition Conference with his chapter. He wasn’t sure what to expect, having never been to a Christian conference before, but he was excited to continue building his faith and leadership skills.

As the conference began, he was encouraged by sessions on listening for God’s voice, starting new ministries on campus, and reaching students of all backgrounds.

On the second night, when leaders offered to pray for students, he felt prompted to ask for prayer. Taking a risk, he shared with a leader about how he’d been carrying unforgiveness against his family for most of his life. The leader asked Elijah to confess to God everything he had been unable to forgive. As he listed events that had caused him years of pain, he felt his bitterness lift away, replaced by feelings of joy.

Days later, Elijah’s father called him unexpectedly. During their conversation, Elijah’s father revealed that he’d forgotten the anniversary of his dad’s passing. As they continued talking, he confessed that the event made him feel guilty that he’d never been close to his own children, including Elijah.

Elijah prayed for his father over the phone. It was the first time he’d ever prayed with a family member. His father apologized for the ways he’d hurt him over the years, but Elijah says he no longer needed the apology.

“I had put a magnifying glass up to [my parents’] sin,” said Elijah. “Once that prayer happened and the unforgiveness was lifted, it was like God took the magnifying glass away. I felt like I was able to see them the way Christ would.”

When Elijah returned to the ministry house, Hannah and Micah were the first to celebrate with him.

Goals Beyond Graduation

In his senior year, Elijah continued to co-lead a freshmen Bible study where he was encouraged by his fellow students’ growth and openness. After graduation, he began a full-time position at Boeing and is committed to volunteering with his chapter at ASU for the next two years.

As Elijah looks toward his future, his goals for every area of his life have been shaped by his experiences with ��Ƶ over the last four years.

“My whole goal is to be missional in the places I’m put, whether it’s in my family, people at work, or even when I start my own family one day,” said Elijah.” “I want to say yes to what God is putting in my life.”

Thanks to Jesus’ work in his life and his ��Ƶ community, Elijah’s life and leadership have been set on a completely different trajectory. From grieving to healed. From angry to extending grace. From selfish to servant. From death to abundant life.

Growing Athletes ��Ƶ at UW-River Falls

rachel.lance@intervarsity.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:27:43 +0000

Growing Athletes ��Ƶ at UW-River Falls

"I gathered people — ministry partners, pastors — and we just prayed through the facilities,” Jason Hull, the Athletes ��Ƶ Regional Coordinator in the Lakes & Plains region, said. “We prayed at every place that an athlete would be: track, the football field, soccer fields, the softball fields."

Jason began praying for athletes at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls back in 2018. Now, in 2025, over 140 student athletes are involved in ��Ƶ Bible studies at UWRF. That’s one-fifth of all athletes on campus.

Sports dictate 70-80% of a student athlete’s schedule. Because this schedule often overlaps with faith activities, many student athletes can miss out on opportunities to grow their faith.

Athletes wrestle with the following: "There are so many voices in my life telling me what to do (coaches, parents, professors, etc.) that faith gets lost. I don't always know where to start to make sense of it all."

Planting Athletes ��Ƶ

When Jason first became an ��Ƶ staff minister at UWRF in 1999, he had no intention of leading ministry to athletes.

Yet all of Jason’s students that first year happened to be athletes. Jason was also an athlete growing up and is a father to a soon-to-be college athlete.

“There's a part of my story where I feel like I could never get away from athletes. God just continued to present them to me,” Jason said.

As Jason continued to lead athletes at UWRF, he learned about their unique needs. Students have so much access to information about faith and religion that it can be paralyzing to know where to begin. Additionally, while faith and religion are sensitive topics in the campus setting, it can be even harder to bring up these topics in an athletic context. Many student athletes aren’t able to regularly attend church because of their demanding schedules, so the tendency to avoid conversations around religion is even higher.

“If I get a college athlete that I sit down with, I already know some of the choices that they’ve made. A lot of them are really interested in faith, but they don't know where to start or who to trust,” Jason said.

Jason wanted to give athletes a starting point. He also knew that because athletes spend so much time with each other, there was great opportunity to build strong, Christ-centered community within different sports teams.

“What I found pretty quickly is that if there is one athlete of faith on a particular team, there is almost always another one that they could invite,” Jason said.

So, Jason began asking these students to invite their athlete friends to learn about Jesus, and the group naturally grew from there. Now, over 140 students are involved in what Athletes ��Ƶ calls a Team Outreach Bible Study (TOBS). 40 of them are Core Leaders that Jason meets with every single week.

Jason has also built trust amongst coaches on campus. In this culture of mental health, most coaches would do just about anything to keep their athletes healthy. As long as coaches trust them, Athletes ��Ƶ can provide a faith piece to the lives of athletes. Even non-religious coaches appreciate the impact of Athletes ��Ƶ and have referred student athletes to Jason.

A Wounded Healer in Women’s Basketball

One student athlete, Jaya, experienced major transformation in her spiritual and emotional health because of Athletes ��Ƶ.

“Growing up, my faith was a consistent and strong part of my life, and I felt like I had everything I needed to be whole,” Jaya said.

Before college, Jaya was heavily involved in her church and another sports ministry. Faith and sports seemed to co-exist seamlessly for her. When she graduated high school, she felt that her faith was strong, she was thriving in basketball, and she had a close-knit community.

However, during her freshman year at UWRF, Jaya tore her ACL and her father passed away after a long battle with cancer. Suddenly, the strong foundation that her identity and faith were built on began to crumble beneath her.

“I didn’t want to pray, I didn't want to go to church. I became deeply frustrated with the concept of answered and unanswered prayers,” Jaya said.

At the same time, a teammate named Julia began bringing up Bible study (TOBS) in the locker room. Jaya initially brushed Julia off, deciding it would be too painful to return to a faith space again.

But one day, something shifted, and Jaya decided to take a risk and go to Bible study with Julia.

“I was so anxious at this point that I knew the missing piece of faith in my life was making me go crazy,” Jaya said. “At 20 years old, I was lost and confused, feeling unprepared to handle the weight of grief on my own.”

When she attended the women’s basketball TOBS, the group was going through a Discipleship Essentials book. The question, “Why do difficult things happen?” came up. In that moment, Jaya felt confirmation from God that she was supposed to be there.

She kept returning to TOBS week after week, and each time she did, she walked away with a renewed sense of hope.

As a Core Leader on the women’s basketball team, Julia continued investing in Jaya, becoming a close friend in the process. When Jaya stepped into leadership herself (also becoming a Core Leader), she felt God inviting her to be a “wounded healer” — someone who, even in her brokenness, could offer hope and understanding to others.

“She’s the rock on her team,” Jason said. “She brings a kind of stability emotionally and spiritually.”

Now, over half of the women's basketball team attends TOBS, and they pray before and during games. Jaya has also shown her teammates that being a basketball player isn’t their entire identity. In addition to being athletes, they are sisters, friends, and daughters of Christ.

Bold and Patient Invitations in Men’s Hockey

When Jason planted a TOBS on the men's hockey team years ago, God moved in some unexpected ways.

First, the assistant hockey coach approached him one day and asked him if he did “religious work.” When Jason said yes, the coach connected him to a hockey player named Noah.

Then, Jason asked Noah if he had any teammates who were interested in faith. Noah invited Alex, a freshman, to meet with Jason.

Alex, who was already following Jesus and who had experienced God’s healing in the past, wasn’t sure how he would continue to grow in his faith at UWRF. But through Athletes ��Ƶ, Jason began meeting with Alex, Noah, and another hockey player named Jack regularly. Jason then challenged Alex to step out of his comfort zone by becoming a Core Leader and making invitations to others on his team.

Despite his teammates initially declining his invitations to TOBS, Alex kept faithfully inviting them and planting seeds.

“My invitations changed from, ‘Hey, we're doing this Bible study, do you want to come?’ to ‘Hey, we have this Bible study. It's Tuesdays at 5:00. If you're interested, just drop by whenever you want,’” Alex said.

Alex learned that he wasn’t responsible for someone’s yes or no, and he stopped seeing invitations as pass/fail situations. Instead, he began trusting God that something would come to fruition eventually. As he re-framed his understanding of invitations, he felt a huge weight come off him.

God was clearly at work when one teammate named Johnny said yes to attending Bible study even though he wasn’t a Christian.

“I'm not a follower of God, but I love showing up in these environments because I love these guys and I love the conversations,” Johnny said.

Alex hopes that even more teammates can see that TOBS is a fun community where they can get together, relax, and take a break from their sport.

Just like Jaya, Athletes ��Ƶ helped Alex realize that his identity is in Christ above all other things. His small group went through a guide called “Creating a Lifestyle of Healthy Performance,” which Jason and another campus minister wrote for athletes. The intent of the guide isn’t to remove performance from sport but to keep it in its proper place.

Alex still gives his best when he competes, but he also knows that his performance on the rink doesn’t define him. He approaches competition with a different mindset now, and he finds that he performs even better when his joy comes from the Lord.

Whenever things go wrong or whenever something bad happens, let me settle back into the fact that it doesn't matter — this is Alex’s prayer before each game. He tells God, In the end, you're the one that matters.

Last year, six men started regularly attending the men’s hockey TOBS. And through the prayers of Alex and his teammates, God has raised up a whole new generation of freshmen hockey players who are actively involved in the group.

Curiosity is spreading amongst non-believers on the team as well.

“We're just scratching the surface on how much we can impact the men's hockey team,” Alex said.

Key Partnerships and Leadership Development

None of this would have been possible without the partnerships Jason has on campus.

Because all the athletes at UWRF train in the same facility, Jason’s presence in the athletic facility over the past few years has made him a familiar face to all coaches. He’s built so much trust with both Christian and non-Christian coaches that he knows he can ask any of them for students who are struggling spiritually or mentally, and coaches will happily give him a list of names.

Jake Anderson (Coach A) and Luke Pavlat (Coach Pav), the strength and conditioning coaches, are an example of this partnership. Through their roles, both coaches have had a positive influence on every athlete on campus. They also provide a connection point for athletes curious about faith.

Coach A has supported student athletes struggling with the pressures of their sport, and Coach Pav helps to lead “Overtime,” a monthly, all-athlete gathering.

One student, a basketball player named Karleigh, felt supported by Coach A after not doing well in a game.

Karliegh was feeling anxious as she was getting ready to review her performance with her basketball coach. When Coach A prayed for her and encouraged her to remember who she was outside of her sport, Karleigh experienced more peace.

“I don’t know how I would have gone in that environment without Coach Anderson giving me perspective beforehand,” she said.

The Christian coaches Jason has partnered with even sit in on Core Leader Meetings to get a feel for what’s going on in their athletes’ lives and connect with them more deeply.

“There are multiple places where athletes can go and they have multiple touch points of faith,” Jason said. “One of my jobs is just to be a platform to let ministry happen.”

Along with coach partnerships, leadership development has also contributed to the growth of Athletes ��Ƶ at UWRF.

As Jason invests in Core Leaders, he hopes to prepare them for more than just their Christian community in college, but for the years beyond as well.

Jordan, the track coach, had this to say about the way Athletes ��Ƶ develops leaders:

“[Athletes] are donating their time and their resources and everything to help the spiritual lives of those around them. And I think that that is a huge deal. That just produces a different type of Christian and a different type of leader going into the world. ��Ƶ, specifically, develops a lot of leadership skills in a lot of disciples who are teaching others how to be disciples.”

A Crowd Draws a Crowd

When Christian athletes don’t know that there are other Christians on campus, they might isolate themselves and miss out on the chance to grow their faith. But because there is such a large Athletes ��Ƶ presence at UWRF, Christians are coming out of the woodwork. Even more than that, non-believing athletes are seeing the impact the ministry is having on their teammates and curiosity is growing.

And although doing ministry in an athletic context has its challenges, the reality is that athletes already have a built-in community on their teams. This lends itself well to growing the faith of every team on campus.

“They can do life together with faith at the core. Then they can grow the faith of the entire athletic department,” Jason said.

Until recently, the men’s soccer team was the only team without a Bible study at UW-River Falls. When two soccer players, Oliver and Keegan, approached Jason at Overtime after Coach A and Coach Pav invited them there, Jason began meeting with them to develop them as Core Leaders and start something on their team.

This past Monday night, Oliver, Keegan, and another Core Leader hosted their first men’s soccer TOBS. Seven of their teammates showed up!

“These teammates show up because they have trust with one another and are invited,” Jason said.

Will you pray for Athletes ��Ƶ as they continue to build partnerships with coaches and faculty, develop Core Leaders, and work to reach every team and teammate?

From the Barbershop to Bible Study—Diana's Story

rachel.lance@intervarsity.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:23:56 +0000

From the Barbershop to Bible Study—Diana's Story

Standing in the breezeway during her freshman year at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS), Diana looked out into the sea of organizations and clubs tabling. She was curious to know what her campus had to offer. Of all the organizations and clubs vying for Diana’s attention that day, one poster advertising a Bible study caught her eye. The poster said “��Ƶ.”

Curious, Diana made her way over to the table and met Lucas, the ��Ƶ staff. Bible study was what initially drew Diana in, but it was the personal connection that made her feel understood. That first conversation with Lucas would eventually lead Diana to become the strong leader she is today.

Barbershop Discipleship

While her first interaction with ��Ƶ was positive, Diana struggled to get out of her comfort zone. When she first met Lucas, she told him she was a barber and invited him to come by anytime he needed a haircut. So, Lucas took her up on her offer. For nearly two years of haircuts, he used these times as discipleship opportunities, asking Diana about her spiritual life and where she stood with God.

Diana was taken aback that someone who didn’t know her well genuinely cared about her that way. As Lucas built trust with her, she started thinking more deeply about her walk with God. Every time they met, she shared more of her life, and he shared more about ��Ƶ’s vision and why Diana should give it a chance. “It was like sowing seeds into the ground,” Lucas said.

Stepping Into Obedience

Finally, during her junior year, Diana decided to step outside her comfort zone. “I decided to be more obedient towards the calling God had put in me,” she said.

She attended her first ��Ƶ Bible study and was surprised at how deep it was. Diana believed in God and had always gone to church, but inductive Bible study wasn’t something she had done before. “I would never actually do Bible studies with my church or even take the time out of my day to study the Bible on my own because I really didn’t understand anything,” she reflected.

However, as Lucas took time to explain Scripture to her in a way she could understand, Diana saw how she could apply it to her everyday life.

Looking for the Lost Sheep

One of the stories from Scripture that impacted Diana the most was the parable of the good shepherd found in the gospels. “We’re called to look for the one, look for the lost sheep,” she said.

As her faith continued to grow through Bible studies, she began wanting to be more obedient to God and share his love with others. She shared her faith with friends, clients, and even on social media. In response, friends who previously weren't interested in faith went with her to Bible study, and others asked her questions about Jesus. “She’s had so many spiritual conversations with people over the last couple of years … God has been using these conversations to inspire Diana to take her faith to others and her community,” Lucas said.

Overflowing Purpose

Now, as an ��Ƶ leader, Diana reflects on how God has been working through her decision to say yes to him— and how others have noticed the growth in her, even though it took time to get there. “I didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel confident, [but] Lucas would always say that I would be a great leader. He saw the potential that I didn’t see in myself.”

Wanting others to experience all the ways she grew through Bible study, Diana was even able to bring the inductive Bible study method into her church, helping others off campus develop stronger relationships with Jesus. She continues to learn how to be obedient to God in every part of her life and to reach out to those around her.

“I've learned that God loves me either way. Even if it takes me a little bit longer, he always has a good purpose for me,” she said.

College is a time of academic investment, discovering purpose, and building community. It can also be the place where students like Diana learn to follow God and be obedient to him with their whole lives, for the rest of their lives. Click here to find an ��Ƶ ministry on a campus near you.

Hear more about Diana’s story by watching the video below.

Bringing Art Back to the Creator—Teila's Story

rachel.lance@intervarsity.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:07:30 +0000

Bringing Art Back to the Creator—Teila's Story

Just a few blocks from the Bean and the skyscrapers of Michigan Avenue, students from the ��Ƶ chapter of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) gathered for Bible study. They were snacking on chocolate candy and discussing the passage of the Passover dinner in John 17. This was the moment when Jesus prayed for the disciples and then for all believers before his crucifixion, “I pray for those who will believe in me through [the disciples’] message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

“What would it be like if Jesus prayed this over you?” asked Teila Cerillo, a senior studying drawing, painting, and printmaking.

This question was an invitation for her fellow artists to see how they, too, are part of a long spiritual lineage that leads back to Christ. Teila is one of many artists in her chapter who sees her art as an outpouring of her faith.

Since its founding in 1886, SAIC has produced some of the most influential names in the art world, including the painter Georgia O'Keeffe and the writer David Sedaris. It is a top-ranked art school in the country and home to many brilliant students who perform in a high-pressure environment. Despite the competitiveness and elitism that can sometimes be present in this world, it remains a ripe place for witnessing communities.

Between rehearsals, touring, and running a studio, art students’ schedules don’t allow them to attend church regularly. But this doesn’t mean they can’t be part of a Christian community. Arts ��Ƶ provides a space for them to nourish both their spiritual and artistic life.

“We seek to create serious artists with serious faith,” said Henry Lucey-Lee, the National Director of Arts ��Ƶ. Here are three student leaders for whom this is true.

Teila Cerillo

Outside the dining commons, Teila and her ��Ƶ chapter set up a table filled with a stack of glossy magazines, scissors, and button pins for their “Buttons and Brownies” outreach event. It immediately caught the eyes of students passing by. Many of them flipped through the magazine pages and collaged them to make half-inch pins. While they did this, Teila joyfully shared about their fellowship on campus.

Teila’s journey at SAIC hasn’t always been characterized by levity and hope. Her first year of college was characterized by overwhelming sadness. She moved to a city that was cold, loud, and busy, and she felt out of place. She missed home and often found herself in tears while attending a church service on a Sunday morning and meeting with her ��Ƶ chapter on a weekday evening.

Even in that grief, she found community. “I have people, and they know God, and they can pray over me, and I’m safe here, and I can be in love with the Lord here,” she said.

The joy of the Lord came over Teila when she attended a Spanish-speaking church and she felt the palpability of God’s restoration through a woman praying for her. “It was like baptism,” she said, “It was a renewal of the joy that I had lost.” The peace she received at that moment was the same peace that allowed her to say yes to leadership.

On the day of Teila’s baptism, the clouds had shrouded the sky. Nonetheless, she had felt like her insides were radiant. This event was also the same inspiration for her painting at the BFA show, which is an image of water and light illustrated with brightly-colored geometrical lines and circular forms.

“I wanted to do something that makes people think about God,” she said. As a landscape artist, she was inspired by the place of her baptism, and then reflected upon Jesus’ baptism, specifically the moment when the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. “It is a reflection of the radiance and glory of the Lord.”

Through her art, Teila desires to bring people back to God, seeing him as the most influential force in her work, animating every stroke she makes on the canvas. As she graduates and steps into the world beyond the walls of art school, she dedicates this labor of love to God.

Magdalena Perez-Moore

Finding an ��Ƶ poster was an answered prayer for Magdalena. She was walking around SAIC during a campus visit, a little nervous about not finding a community like the Christian club she had started in high school. She was relieved to find out that there was a fellowship at SAIC because she knew she wasn’t going to be alone in pursuing Jesus.

Magdalena is currently a sophomore and a Visual Communication Design major who believes everything she does is connected to her faith. Even the things you may think are not Christian, are still Christian “because it’s your perspective, and everything you interpret is through a knowledge of God,” Magdalena said.

Her faith inspires her to share the Gospel in everything she does, and it allows her to navigate conversations with non-Christians on campus. One time, a professor asked her to do a design about why God doesn’t exist. Magdalena made God’s design bright and the reasons for his non-existence dark.

“It was a chance to say ‘God exists, and you need him to navigate these things,’” she said.

When interacting with people who have dark thematic elements like self-harm and suicide in their work, Magdalena turns to prayer and Scripture to guide her. Specifically, she looks to Jesus, who was filled with compassion in Matthew 9:36 when he said the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd. “God is very empathetic as a father,” she said. “He sees everything and has the whole plan for our lives and this earth laid out.”

Although the art world can at times be competitive, elitist, and unsympathetic, she has found a safe place in her chapter, where her friends do critiques of each other’s work and exchange both technical feedback and spiritual insight as fellow Christian artists.

“Students are experiencing the safety, beauty, and generosity of God,” said Alexa McLean, the Associate Director of Arts ��Ƶ. She has also mentored student leaders at SAIC the past few years and has seen them live out their values in their work, their chapter, and their campus.

“As a designer, you just follow God wherever he’s going to lead you and try to do your best from there,” Magdalena said.

She sees the real need for Christian artists to keep in step with the Spirit amid the pressures of art school. Because Christ’s love isn’t earned or merit-based, Magdalena knows her worth isn’t tied to her excellence, and this gives her greater confidence.

Ana Dias

At an early age, Ana loved the way movies allowed her to live different lives. Now that she’s a senior studying Film, Video, and Media at SAIC, she loves having an outlet to share the gospel. “God created everything,” she said. “I believe that art is for him, through him, and by him.”

Ana’s desire to grow in her art made her interested in SAIC. Although she felt confident that Chicago was where God was calling her, coming here meant stepping into the unknown. She’s an international student from Brazil who went through a long and arduous application process. Despite many years of waiting, she experienced God’s providence—from getting housing a few weeks before school started to finding a Bible study in her first week on campus.

“When I got here, the first thing that I said was, ‘if there is no Bible study, I’m starting one,’” Ana said. While walking around her school’s org fair, she met an ��Ƶ student leader who tabled at the event and invited her to join their Bible study. This was the beginning of her involvement with the chapter. Now, she, too, is a student leader alongside Teila and Magdalena.

“Everything that you do with the right heart posture is worship to the Lord,” Ana said. This applies to being a student leader and being a filmmaker. With every frame, Ana uses film to help people understand that they are loved. “It is on us as Christians to bring art back to God.”

Teila, Magdalena, and Ana have committed the work of their hands to the work of spreading the gospel in a beautiful, compelling, and excellent way. This is the gift that Christian artists like them bring to the body of Christ and the world—they provide a means through which people can experience God and, as a result, reorient themselves toward him, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.

One artwork at a time, these students witness to the Maker, who created everything out of nothing in the beginning. Like a city built on top of a hill, they cannot be hidden.

Click here to learn more about ��Ƶ's Arts Ministry!

Living for Jesus, Campuses Renewed: Joshua's Story

stephen.braaksma@intervarsity.org — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 20:59:55 +0000

Living for Jesus, Campuses Renewed: Joshua's Story

Joshua’s only focus as he prepared to start college was to do well in school so he could become a successful, wealthy doctor. He thought his plans for his future had no room for extracurriculars.

But then, even though he grew up in church, he was surprised to learn that there were organizations devoted to living out faith on campus. He attended an activities fair and was immediately drawn to ��Ƶ’s diversity, vulnerability, and lack of polish.

“They were awkward,” Joshua said. “I really liked that. They felt like real people.”

One Pivotal Question

As Joshua became more involved in ��Ƶ’s community, he quickly pursued becoming a leader.

“I was eager,” he said. “I was arrogant and thought, I have so much to offer you guys.” Joshua had always been a leader in everything he did in high school, but his faith, he realizes in hindsight, was very performative.

One day, Joshua had lunch with his campus minister Peter while they sat on the steps of a campus building.

“Josh, if God told you he didn’t want you to be a doctor, would you give up being pre-med?” Peter asked.

That moment caused Joshua to reevaluate his motivations for everything — money, prestige, approval from his parents. “I needed to be willing to surrender my path to God,” Joshua said.

Renewed Priorities to Renew The Campus

While God didn’t call Joshua give up his pre-med major, he did call him to live his life differently on campus. He began wanting to follow Jesus’ example of serving and loving others outside of the “90-minute slots and ��Ƶ structures” he was already committed to. He worked to be a Christ-centered presence to everyone he met on campus.

“Last year, for the first time, left and right I started having conversations about the gospel with random people, friends, classmates, whoever,” Joshua said. “[Before that] I was never secret about being a Christian, but I wasn’t actively trying to tell people about it either.”

Rather than thinking about serving himself, he included God in all his decisions, trying to closely follow where he was taking him. He even obeyed as God called him to live with non-Christian friends so he’d have more opportunities to minister to them.

As he put his faith first, Joshua prioritized reaching others “because there could be someone who needs their life to be changed this year, or someone who needs to meet Jesus.”

Now, Joshua is continuing to be salt and light on campus before heading to med school. “This living a life that’s trying to be an influence for Christ has got to keep going wherever I go next.”

A Dinner in Chinatown: Taylor’s Story

stephen.braaksma@intervarsity.org — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 20:50:57 +0000

A Dinner in Chinatown: Taylor’s Story

I stood on the quad at Northeastern University with the skyscrapers of downtown Boston in the distance. Every so often I could hear the rumbling of the subway from the station nearby, something I’d never experienced in my small town back in Missouri.

Students were spread across the quad, playing frisbee and soccer, hanging out in hammocks, and catching up with friends who had just moved back for the fall semester. As each new student came near me, I awkwardly attempted eye contact and a small smile, hoping that they’d somehow catch on if they were the people I was supposed to be meeting.

A few days ago, I had met some ��Ƶ students at an activities fair, and they’d stopped by my dorm with snacks and a list of welcome week events. Tonight, they were meeting on the quad and getting dinner in Chinatown. I was alone in Boston for the first time, wanted new friends, and seriously doubted I’d be able to navigate the subway on my own. So I decided to go.

Beyond their friendliness and willingness to show me around the city, I was also intrigued by where these new potential friendships might go. The ��Ƶ students had told me they were Christian and asked me a few questions about my own background. In high school, I had gone to church and started faith conversations with some friends. But I had mostly just listened in, too nervous about being open about my questions and doubts in case it changed how my friends saw me.

But I came into college feeling a pressing need to make a decision about Christianity for myself. I had burning questions: Was the gospel really true, or was being Christian just a cultural expectation I had from where I grew up? Could following Jesus actually be good for me? Maybe moving to Boston was a chance to start over with new people and finally get some answers.

I was still looking around the quad for the ��Ƶ students when Edwin walked up and introduced himself. He’d just moved to Boston from Hong Kong for college and shared that he’d reached out to ��Ƶ before school started, looking for Christian community in the U.S.

Soon after, we found the ��Ƶ student leaders who had organized the outing and went to a Dim Sum restaurant. Being a White girl from Missouri, I was very much out of my comfort zone. When servers came around with carts piled with buns and meats and dumplings, the other students excitedly pointed out their favorites and debated about what to order while I just tried to keep up.

But the night was filled with warmth and hospitality. Edwin walked me through the entire meal, offering up both helpful tips and gentle teasing: “This dumpling is shrimp. Do you like shrimp?” and “You have to try chicken feet just so I can see how you react.”

His patience and enthusiasm made what could have been embarrassing into something exciting as I started discovering my own new favorite dishes. And we all laughed at my enthusiastic but clumsy attempts with chopsticks. As we ate, student leaders asked thoughtful questions about everyone’s family background and traditions. I felt a new energy and curiosity.

Discovering a Bigger Picture

I started attending ��Ƶ meetings on campus after that. Much like the night out at dinner, I felt a little uncomfortable as I learned to engage with conversations and styles of worship that were different from back home. At the same time, I felt welcome to explore, and my excitement and questions continued to grow. I was fascinated learning about my new friends’ cultures and experiences and loved sharing my own. And through looking at Scripture together, I got to see the ways that Jesus had uniquely met my friends.

Through ��Ƶ, I began to see God as a good King who cared about both my specific story and the entire world. I began to see Jesus’ desire for redemption and justice in all the things I saw as broken: from Edwin’s pain in the strained relationship between students from Hong Kong and mainland China, to the ways Black students were pushing for more conversations about justice in our fellowship, to brokenness in my own background and family story.

In learning about faith through the lens of others, I saw the ways that following Jesus could be both incredibly costly but also incomparably joyful — and so different from the idea of Christianity as just a convenient cultural pastime that I had wrestled with in high school. I began gaining a fuller picture of Christianity that felt so worth being a part of.

Today, as a campus minister with ��Ƶ, I get to help students gain a fuller picture of Christianity and help to plant new ministries on new campuses in Boston. I love seeing students who are used to being comfortable in their own cultural settings reach out to others in new and sacrificial ways. I love seeing our international students lead the way in hospitality and invitation. And we continue to meet students like I was, who are unsure about Jesus but compelled to learn more by experiencing a welcoming, multinational community that both challenges and embraces them. As we reach out and engage with each other’s stories, we all gain a bigger picture of God’s love for all people and the beauty of following him.

Want to hear more of my story? Check out this video!

Flour Fights & Building Trust: Zelma’s Story

stephen.braaksma@intervarsity.org — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:51:15 +0000

Flour Fights & Building Trust: Zelma’s Story

Walking down the sidewalk at the University of Oklahoma (OU), Zelma Wind saw a huge pillar of white gush up into the sky. She froze mid-step, glancing around. So, I know I’m new here, she thought, but … this doesn’t seem normal. The closer Zelma came, more plumes of white shot up into the air as a group of students ran back and forth across the grass, laughing and yelling.

“Hi!” Zelma turned to see a young woman, covered in a thin layer of white dust. “My name’s Kati. We’re from a campus ministry called ��Ƶ, and we’re having a snowball fight with flour! Wanna join?”

“No,” Zelma’s introversion got the better of her, and she started walking away.

“We’re actually having Indian tacos later too, if you’re hungry?” Kati continued.

Zelma hesitated. “Okay,” she finally said.

Desperate to Be Free

Despite all the joyful moments Zelma experienced as a child, her own traumatic memories and that of her people — the Muscogee Nation — made her believe that some things in life were just too good to be true.

She’d decided to get baptized as a child but soon turned away from God, exploring New Age religions and eventually settling on agnosticism. “I never questioned if God was real. I just questioned whether he cared,” she reflected.

Her experience at her first school, the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN), only added to her struggle. Having always been more aware of the spiritual, Zelma could sense the sorrows and hardships that past generations had experienced on this land. She often saw and heard things in the dorm that frightened her, and she had horrible nightmares. It got so bad that she’d stay up till five in the morning, sleeping with the lights on and blaring music through her headphones. The only real escape she had was partying. When she drank, she wouldn’t hear and see those things for a time.

She was so desperate to be free that she agreed to attend a church retreat with a friend. At the retreat, several people prayed over Zelma. At first, she was uncomfortable, wishing they would stop, but then something changed. She felt a peace she’d never experienced before. And though Zelma still had many questions, she decided to follow Jesus.

Native and Christian

After graduating from CMN, Zelma decided to head to OU to continue her studies. One of her most fervent prayers about this new transition was: “Lord, can I have some Christian friends?”

God began answering that prayer through Zelma’s first interaction with Kati and the other members of the ��Ƶ chapter. As she got to know them, she slowly began to trust them — and God — more. And through ��Ƶ, Zelma learned how to study Scripture and pray.

By her second year at OU, Zelma decided to start her own Bible study. But getting other students together proved challenging. “All those times no students showed up, my campus minister would be like, ‘Okay, let’s pray.’ or ’What is Scripture speaking to you?’ She really played a part in discipling me and teaching me how to follow Jesus,” Zelma said.

As Zelma began thinking of her next steps after graduation, two options kept coming up: going to grad school or joining ��Ƶ as a campus minister. At Urbana 18, God made it clear that he would bless either pursuit, but he wanted Zelma to join the ministry. As soon as she returned from the conference, she applied.

“Being part of ��Ƶ has given me a space to struggle with what it means to be Native American and a Christian,” Zelma said. “I thought [Jesus] hated me. I thought he hated my people. But he doesn’t. And that’s something I want to show my students and other Native Americans. Because if I believed that, then they [probably] believe that too. And Jesus isn’t hate-filled. He doesn’t commit genocide.”

Special Experience to Effectively Reach Students

After spending a year in Colorado as a Ministry Intern with Native ��Ƶ, Zelma sensed God calling her to return to CMN to plant a new ministry. But she was terrified. Memories of the nightmares and visions she’d experienced there flooded her mind. But Jesus soon brought a sense of peace and confidence.

When Zelma began starting a ministry at CMN in 2021, she knew honoring local elders and campus authorities and receiving their blessing should be a priority. After struggling to find the best way to connect with the college for almost a year, Zelma happened to see the college president in a conference room one day and got permission then and there to start a Bible study. “Zelma has been welcomed with open arms — a faculty and staff prayer group even made praying for Zelma and her ministry on campus the focus of one of their prayer gatherings earlier this year,” said Megan Krischke, the National Director of Native ��Ƶ.

Last semester, Zelma hosted a prayer event, going through the students’ dorms praying over them, well aware of the many things they struggle with. A handful of students have come to Bible study this school year, and she’s had more opportunities to connect with them.

Zelma's experiences of God’s goodness in her own life makes her eager to reach more students. “As far as I know, Zelma is the only ��Ƶ staff who has attended a tribal college,” Megan added. “It is because of Zelma’s long-term relationships at the campus and in the community that she’s both welcomed and can effectively minister on that campus.”

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, learn more about the amazing things God is doing through Native ��Ƶ!

Check Out Native ��Ƶ

Trusting God for Bigger Things: Cade’s Story

olena.filenko@intervarsity.org — Thu, 23 May 2024 12:46:00 +0000

Trusting God for Bigger Things: Cade’s Story

Going to church on Sundays was no longer enough for Cade. He wanted to see his congregation fight for justice outside of the sanctuary walls. He wanted to see the hope of Jesus proclaimed in the streets for all people to hear.

Cade’s parents were in ��Ƶ when they were in college.He was raised to be intentional about his faith, to live it out and take ownership of it. He did this by being passionate about social justice. But when Cade saw that the actions of the people in his church didn’t seem to reflect the Bible, he struggled. “I never was over Jesus, but I was definitely over organized religion coming to college,” he said.

Cade tried ��Ƶ at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) after his parents urged him to give at least one Christian club a try. He joined an ��Ƶ Zoom meeting in 2020 and was welcomed by two students who were excited to meet him. Cade immediately connected with them, so he decided to get fully involved in Bible studies and large group gatherings.

Before ��Ƶ, Cade never met people his age who were so serious about their faith while taking the time to get to know him and his hobbies, play video games with him, and even help him choose what classes to take. They did life together. They grew in love for Jesus together. “They reminded me more of Jesus than most of the people I had met before,” Cade said.

Soon, Cade met Kang, a student from Malaysia who was the only Christian in his family. Kang mentored Cade and taught him the joy of witnessing to others despite the challenges that came with it. Although it was sometimes uncomfortable for Kang to share God with his loved ones, he did so anyway because knowing God's love transformed his life. Seeing Kang’s boldness transformed Cade’s faith into something that wasn’t just comfortable and safe but sacrificial and loving.

In his sophomore year, which was also his first year fully on campus after the pandemic, Cade decided to take up a leadership role in his ��Ƶ chapter. This involved taking risks to lead Proxe outreaches on campus. Growing up, he never thought he would be bold enough to share the gospel, let alone talk to strangers who were walking to class. But he saw, for the first time, what it meant for the Holy Spirit to act on his behalf. “I truly learned what it looked like to allow Christ to choose my actions for me by doing things that were not in my character.”

Currently, Cade is a “cluster leader” which means he leads a group of other small group leaders. His chapter divides the school into different areas so that they can focus on reaching all corners of the university. He spends time empowering student leaders and reminding them that they can lead not because of who they are but because of who God is––something Cade had to grow in too. “Doing God’s work is the best thing I can do with my life and that is truly fulfilling,” he said.

Cade wants to spend his last year on campus investing in fellow leaders. With a firm conviction that God will meet students and do transformative work in their hearts, he continues sharing his faith in love.

“God's faithfulness only makes me trust him for bigger things,” Cade said. “And as I've trusted him for bigger things, I've met him in bigger ways.”

The Intentionality of God: Jordan’s Story

olena.filenko@intervarsity.org — Thu, 23 May 2024 12:44:40 +0000

The Intentionality of God: Jordan’s Story

God had beautiful plans for Jordan. Plans to pursue her. Plans to surround her with community. Plans to heal her identity. Plans to grow her into a leader.

But Jordan wasn’t looking for any of that when she started her freshman year at Metropolitan State University in Auraria, Colorado. She wasn’t a Christian, despite her mom trying to convince her to consider Jesus for years. Jordan didn’t see the point.

I don't know if [Christianity] really solves all my problems or works the way that I want it to, she thought.

After meeting Gwen, an ��Ƶ staff minister on campus, Jordan decided to take another look at Christianity. She started going to ��Ƶ Bible studies, community, events, worship nights…and through that process, discovered Jesus’ deep love for her.

“I don't know how to put it in any other words than I got to experience Jesus pursuing me,” Jordan said. “Like leaving the 99 and I was the lost one.”

After deciding to follow Jesus, Jordan was hooked. She became a leader in her chapter and even started reaching out to other students in her dorm.

Jesus showed Jordan how fulfilling life with him could be, but this was just the beginning.

Surprises at Fall Conference

“Growing up I didn't realize the significance of being low identifying in my Black identity. There are a lot of ways that I had been told by people in school or society or social media that being biracial discounted me from being fully Black,” Jordan shared.

This insecurity stuck with her even after a fall conference in 2021, where she met the Black Campus Ministries (BCM) chapter from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC).

“We were not expecting this,” she said. “We’re so used to Colorado being a pretty white state.”

The BCM chapter at UNC was thriving. Black UNC students came to Fall conference and were gathering every week on campus to spend time in community and study the Bible together. Jordan wanted that on her campus, so she began praying with Gwen about it.

“We've seen a piece of what you can do on other campuses. What does it look like in Auraria?" Jordan prayed.

At the time, Jordan was the only Black student in the MSU chapter that had leadership experience. It seemed clear, after weeks of prayer and discernment, that God wanted her to start BCM on her campus. Internally, though, she believed that her bi-racial identity meant she was only supposed to start BCM and then pass it on to a more “qualified” leader.

Healing through Leading

When Black students began showing up to the group Jordan started, they not only found a much-needed community on campus but also found a space to discuss how Jesus could heal their feelings of brokenness.

“Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of racial injustice or talks about the brokenness that is race in our country. And it can be really easy as Black students to get caught up in that and feel that it’s hopeless to be who we are,” Jordan said. “There’s goodness in what God is doing and in what it means to be Black.”

One day, during listening prayer, Jordan discovered that there was goodness and intentionality in how God made her too.

It had been a semester since she started leading BCM and she was still struggling with feelings of doubt over whether she was right for the task. But in that time of prayer, Jesus revealed to her that he chose her with intention, and she was enough. Jordan gained the confidence she needed to finally go all in with BCM, no longer feeling weary or timid, but hopeful and affirmed.

An Act of Worship

Jordan compares the journey God has taken her on to an act of worship.

“He gives us a chance to partner with him in what he's doing, and we make that choice to say, ‘God, what are you doing? I want to go alongside that.’ It reminds me of worship.”

Stepping into college, Jordan never envisioned herself leading a BCM chapter. Then again, she never envisioned any of this — that God would reveal himself to her, heal her complicated feelings surrounding identity, and even use her to start a community for Black students to meet Jesus and grow in their faith on campus.

“I'm so hopeful to see a thriving witnessing community at Auraria that will long outlive however long I'm on campus. Regardless of my own involvement, I really hope to see this seed that we're trying to plant here just grow,” she said. “I know that God's going to do something amazing.”

Campus Story

Every Tribe, Every Tongue: Andy's Story

Every Tribe, Every Tongue: Andy's Story

From Loss to Life Change: Elijah’s Story

From Loss to Life Change: Elijah’s Story

Growing Athletes ������Ƶ at UW-River Falls

Growing Athletes ������Ƶ at UW-River Falls

From the Barbershop to Bible Study—Diana's Story

From the Barbershop to Bible Study—Diana's Story

Bringing Art Back to the Creator—Teila's Story

Bringing Art Back to the Creator—Teila's Story

Living for Jesus, Campuses Renewed: Joshua's Story

Living for Jesus, Campuses Renewed: Joshua's Story

One Pivotal Question

Renewed Priorities to Renew The Campus

A Dinner in Chinatown: Taylor’s Story

A Dinner in Chinatown: Taylor’s Story

Discovering a Bigger Picture

Flour Fights & Building Trust: Zelma’s Story

Flour Fights & Building Trust: Zelma’s Story

Desperate to Be Free

Native and Christian

Special Experience to Effectively Reach Students

Trusting God for Bigger Things: Cade’s Story

Trusting God for Bigger Things: Cade’s Story

The Intentionality of God: Jordan’s Story

The Intentionality of God: Jordan’s Story

Surprises at Fall Conference

Healing through Leading

An Act of Worship

Growing Athletes ��Ƶ at UW-River Falls

Growing Athletes ��Ƶ at UW-River Falls