My family raised me to be a Christian. This included Sunday school before church, VBS in the summers, and basically being there anytime the church was open. I remember really enjoying myself as a kid, but that began to fade once I got a bit older. I grew increasingly distant from my Christian identity, beginning with a departure from my relationship with God. Instead I served idols that influenced my every decision from the age of 13. The most significant of these idols was social affirmation, the need to be accepted.
From before high school through my early college years, I spent all my time trying to be liked by those around me because that’s how I gained fulfillment in life. This led to failing grades, massive financial strain, and actually losing all the friends that I thought I thought I was impressing with my socially focused lifestyle. God met me there at the lowest point in my life. I realized my need for a savior greater than what the world could offer me. Jesus is now the Lord of my life and fulfills every void that I spent so long trying to fill myself.
Transitioning into a life led by God included Him rewriting my entire understanding of friendship. He placed people in my life that love me as God’s son. A great example of this is when I met Craig, one of my small group leaders. Chi Alpha reflects the love of Christ in friendship and mentorship. Not only do you get to make lifelong memories with great people, but you also have trusted friends to lean on when times get tough. Small group has built my faith, developed me as a leader, and given me a family that points me to Jesus.