Hannah Zimmerman| Staff Writer
As a senior in high school, my college search was limited to Bible colleges, not because I wanted to go into ministry, but because I thought that was my best shot at growing in my faith. Let’s just say you don’t have to go to a Christian school to be spiritual.
I ended up going to Northwest Missouri State University for two years and that’s where a good portion of my growth happened. I was involved in a ministry called the Christian Campus House (CCH) that took me deeper into God’s word and made me excited to keep learning. It’s also the same ministry that challenged me the most and caused me to learn a lot about myself and about God. I had some struggles, but I also knew that God wasn’t going to drop me like a bad habit. He showed me his love and grace in a very real way and though I tried to push him away, I always knew he’d welcome me back with open arms and a party.
Transferring to BV for my Junior and Senior years, I knew I’d get involved in IMPACT, but I didn’t know to what extent it would be. I was involved in a church before I even moved into McCorkle. I immediately had a great group of friends who supported me and challenged me, but it wasn’t to the same extent as Northwest. I was struggling with my faith but I could tell that God was using this ministry to help me.
It wasn’t until now that I can finally understand the difference between IMPACT and CCH. At CCH, I relied on my community of believers to help me grow and challenge me. Here at BV, I have been pushed to build my relationship with God on my own. I still have a Christian community that supports me, but a lot of my growth has been things God is showing me, rather than telling me through other people. I think that’s the key. Being open to how God is working in our lives and being committed to the individual relationship. Chapel and church are great, but if that’s all we do to build this relationship, it’s going to struggle hardcore.
Without God’s guidance and grace every step of the way, this journey through college, filled with statistics, moving, serving, and changing wouldn’t have happened. His mercy and grace carried me through the tough times in relationships, classes, and life changes. I often wonder how people make it through this life without God as their source of comfort and strength. It seems like this year especially, we’re seeing the fragility and uncertainty of life. People have lost parents, siblings, friends, and family at rapid rates. How do we get through something like that? Prayer. Hugs and ice cream are great, but how much can they actually do for a broken heart? God will get us through it. He loves us and wants to be involved, but unless we’re open to Him, we’re going to be driving the struggle bus for a long time. Let’s let Jesus take the wheel and guide us through life. He may surprise us along the way.
Graphic by Justice Gage
