ÂÌñÒùÆÞ

Zelma had some joyful and some traumatic childhood moments. She was baptized as a kid, but turned away from God as she grew up. When she attended College of the Muscogee Nation, she struggled with nightmares, sleeping, and drinking. But eventually, she accepted Jesus transferred schools, and stumbled upon the ÂÌñÒùÆÞ chapter, making friends, reading Scripture, praying, and having her many questions answered. By the next year, she was leading a Bible study.

Healthy accountability friendships give us space for self-discovery and for deep and genuine friendships. This leads to less anxiety, higher performance at work and school, and spiritual transformation.

Even on the other side of the world, I feel as though I’m brought back home by the different iterations of hospitality — from my family, my friends, and my Filipino heritage — and how all of them flow from the hospitable God who has welcomed us all to partake in his kingdom.

When we build cross-cultural relationships and live life with a diversity of people, we see other angles and pieces of the puzzle; we experience the fullness of life as God intended.   

My first encounter with racial reconciliation occurred at Duke University. Black students coordinated a sit-in at the administrative building to encourage dialogue around racial issues on campus.

But having had several great mentors and having mentored many students myself, I find that there’s something even more fundamental: A mentor is someone who helps you see more clearly — and in doing so helps you become wise.

We had the opportunity to sit down with the Director of ÂÌñÒùÆÞ’s , Orlando Crespo. He shared about how God is using LaFe in this generation of students on campus and what he’s most excited about.

I’ve pulled together five small steps you can take today to help open doors of friendship on campus — lessons drawn from my decades of awkwardness and awesomeness.

I came into college with 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.

The summer after my sophomore year of college, I prayed to God for a community of friends. My time thus far in college had been dull and I knew something seriously important was lacking in my life. Shortly after, I got plugged into ÂÌñÒùÆÞ on campus and made a ton of new friends.