My entire life I thought I was a Christian because of the faith of those around me, however that was quickly shaken once I got into college. I fell into the trap of what college is “supposed” to look like and the truth is I became so lost. My life began to be filled with anxiety and seeking approval from those around me. I then decided to get baptized because I thought it would save me, but that’s not how God works. The truth is, there is no work we can do to be saved. The truth is, God was waiting for me the whole time to lean on Him.
Sophomore year I got plugged into a ministry group, Campus Outreach, and got a glimpse of what heaven would be like. Everyone was so joyful and reflected Jesus’ love so well. I wanted that for myself, but I didn’t know how to leave behind my old life because that’s where I felt known. For the rest of semester I tried to live in both worlds, I would wake up for church on Sundays and attend CO on Tuesdays but would continue to live my old life the rest of the week. In other words, I was trying to hide who I really was.
Everyone at CO just kept pursuing me and wanted to really get to know my heart. I eventually joined a small group that intentionally pushed me to 1) grow in my own faith 2) help others grow in their faith and 3) convict me of my sinful nature. Convict might be a scary word to some, it was for me too because I didn’t want to change, but talking about what I was struggling with allowed me to exponentially grow in these relationships and let them lead me to scripture. As the year continued, I felt the calling to surrender my life to Jesus Christ but I didn't know what that looked like for me.
One morning, I was listening to a podcast that explained the difference between a spiritual high and a spiritual encounter. In short terms, a spiritual high is a feeling that fades whereas a spiritual encounter is an event that makes you want to change and I repeatedly prayed to have that encounter. I really wanted to change.
God heard and He answered. On May 1st, 2024 at the Unite conference in Knoxville I experienced my first spiritual encounter. I held my hands out during worship and began to pull them back in, but God took control and I could physically feel His touch pull my hands back out. In that moment all I could do was cry. I knew in that moment I was actually going to make a change. I was going to surrender my life to Christ. At the end of the conference I took my faith public through baptism alongside thousands of other college students. This time my baptism meant having that relationship with God; from death to life. The old has gone and the new has come! I have been completely restored by Jesus! Praise God!
I pray that college students and young adults around the world hear the good news of the gospel and know His grace is the only thing that saves.
