Students at SUNY-Plattsburgh University in New York share how God has used the ministry of InterVarsity to bless their lives.
“InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is where I grew immensely in my faith in Jesus Christ. I transferred as a sophomore and knew that this group was the right place for me to meet great people as well as to help me strengthen my relationship with God,” Samantha says of her InterVarsity experience.
“I got involved in a small group Bible study and also participated in the large group meetings where the whole fellowship comes together. The small groups are fun because you can really get to know about ten people very well. In this fellowship, I have met amazing people who have become my best friends. It is wonderful to be able to learn about God’s Word in the company of so many people of great faith. InterVarsity has helped me strengthen my faith and become a bolder witness to others on campus.”
Rachel shares, “I was raised a Christian, yet after my father died when I was sixteen I struggled a lot with depression. I felt like I had a huge hole in my heart and was desperate to fill it. I got involved in smoking, drugs, and sexual relationships with several people; none of which seemed to make a lasting difference.
“In the spring of 2001, I began college at SUNY-Plattsburgh to be with my boyfriend. My first semester was a rough one. My boyfriend and I broke up, my grades were not the greatest, and I didn’t make many friends. My ex wasn’t going to return in the fall, and I was scared to go back to school. I was incredibly lonely and wasn’t sure what to expect from my college experience. I struggled emotionally, but made it back to school in the fall. I didn’t go looking for InterVarsity—but I happened to pass their table in the Angell College Center. The first thing that struck me was the smiling faces of the students.
“I went to the first meeting and was immediately accepted. I barely played the guitar— yet I was encouraged to join the worship team. I also joined a small group and found myself becoming more and more involved. Spiritually, I had been starving for a long time. Never in my life had I experienced a group of my peers who honestly desired to learn about God and were passionate about him.
“God had placed me in the middle of a bunch of caring people who seriously loved the Lord, and who were not just ‘Jesus Fans.’ The Holy Spirit told hold of my life and gave me a hunger for the Word of God like I had never known before. My old habits started to die away and my life completely changed. For the first time in my life, I fell in love with God.
“I had always believed in God and accepted Jesus as my Savior- but I never loved him. I always took center stage in my life and acted accordingly. When I fell in love with Jesus, it was as if everything in my life finally fell into the right perspective and all I had a passion for was to read his Word so that I could know him better. I desired his wisdom and strength. I wanted to get as involved as I could in doing his ministry and eventually I found myself in several leadership positions, including president, within InterVarsity.
“The friends that I have made through this group have become the closest I have ever had. I have never connected with people on such an intimate level before. This was my first taste of friendship where the entire foundation is a common belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. I truly believe that makes all the difference in creating real community with those around you. The friends that I have been blessed with through InterVarsity have been the strongest, the most secure, supportive, and loving I have ever known.
“God used InterVarsity and the loving people in it to reach my soul in a way I never let him before. I am thankful to God for what he has done in my life- and I recognize and bless him for using this student-run organization in a public college to do it. Now I’m continually giving back to the ministry that gave so much to me. I am serving as Webmaster for our chapter’s website and plan to participate in Alumni services for our chapter.”
