Wesley’s Story

I go to a small STEM university in Florida that doesn’t have much community. Academic workloads are intense, and students feel pressure to get a good job after college. We don’t have many student organizations or clubs, and our campus is isolated, far from any churches or things to do. Many students struggle with mental health and feel like there’s no one to turn to.

Three years ago, an InterVarsity campus minister named Arul, spoke at my home church, about half an hour from campus. He was really inspiring! He invited some of us to attend a conference for Asian American college students (my church is predominantly Indian) in partnership with a local Korean American church. A group of us went and enjoyed what we experienced of InterVarsity’s ministry, including ethnic-specific gatherings, multilingual worship, and walking together through life’s tough questions in Scripture.

A few months after the conference, Arul and I met again, and he invited me to plant InterVarsity at my school. I was a little hesitant since I had no leadership experience, so he invited me to another retreat where I could be trained.

Welcomed and Equipped

At this retreat, I didn’t know anyone and felt a little alone at first. But the other students warmly welcomed me. I once again experienced all of the unique things that I loved about the first InterVarsity conference I attended—and I knew I needed to bring InterVarsity back to my campus.

With Arul’s training and support, I began the process of starting an InterVarsity chapter at my university. I was equipped with everything I needed, like evangelism and Bible study resources.

Even before our chapter officially started, we gathered over 40 contact cards from students who were interested in joining. This confirmed that people were hungry for connection and that there was a huge need for Christian community on campus.

Thriving Community for Students to Meet Jesus

Since I started InterVarsity at my school, God has transformed lives and our ministry is thriving. Many atheists, agnostics, or those with other religious backgrounds come to our Bible studies and events, and our chapter has become a space where anyone can meet Jesus for themselves.

I’ve been blessed to watch as God has not only transformed me through this, but also others. Those who are struggling are experiencing God speak into the challenges they face. New leaders are rising up. Students are learning how to pray and how to follow Jesus with their whole lives.

The community I’ve longed to see at my school is finally here!

Help give all students like Wesley the Christian community they need.

Today’s students experience epidemic levels of loneliness and desperately need the real hope of Jesus. Please consider how God might be inviting you to give so that InterVarsity can bring that hope to students on every corner of every college campus. You gift will help start authentic, Christian communities on campuses without any.