Keeping—and Growing—Faith

Most people worry that college is where students lose their faith. Sadly, many do. But, InterVarsity has also found that college can be an ideal place to help students grow their faith and introduce them to Jesus. Every day, InterVarsity staff and student leaders reach students who might feel lonely or lost. We help show them what it looks like to follow Jesus as an adult and to make their faith their own during the most formative years of their lives. For some, like Matthew, an international student from Indonesia, these interactions happen at just the right time. 

A Miraculous Encounter

When Matthew first started college at Florida State University, he felt lost. Back home, he was raised in church, but had never developed more than just a shallow faith. “I thought of God as just, like, a creator, and we can do whatever we want as long as you make sure you repent,” he said. 

A few months into his first semester, Matthew shared his struggles with his dad over the phone. He was overwhelmed by how large the campus was, hadn't met many friends, and didn't know who to turn to when he had questions. “Why don’t you go find a Christian community on campus?” his dad suggested.  

The very next day, InterVarsity campus minister Peter was on campus praying walking. He saw Matthew, sitting outside waiting for class to start, and felt an unmistakable prompting from God to go talk to him. He introduced himself and invited him to an InterVarsity Bible study.   

Hoping For Instant Change

After meeting Peter and joining InterVarsity, Matthew made great friends and felt less alone. But still, he struggled in his faith.  

In addition to going to small group, he began trying to read the Bible on his own. “I was hoping there would be some kind of change instantly. Maybe it would make more sense as I keep on continuing to do it,” he thought. But things didn’t make more sense right away and he began to doubt that God cared for him. Those doubts and feelings of being unloved and rejected only became stronger when Matthew began having trouble finding the right jobs or internships. 

Feeling Seen & Understood

Later that year, Matthew was convinced by his InterVarsity friends to attend the Urbana Student Missions Conference.

At the conference, Matthew met one of the worship leaders who was also from Indonesia. He and another Indonesian InterVarsity staff met with Matthew, shared their life stories, and prayed for him. He also attended an international student gathering at Urbana where he met more people with similar backgrounds.

Matthew felt seen and cared for by God in these moments, and the conference served as a turning point in his faith. He learned that God's love didn't depend on his career or educational success. And he returned to campus less anxious, more trusting, more joyful, and more secure in his relationship with Jesus.

“My whole life, there was this emptiness within me,” Matthew said. But, after Urbana, “it wasn’t a temporary thing anymore where I believe in God for like 10 seconds. It’s everlasting.”

Now, Matthew is mentoring other international students, so that they don't feel lost and alone on campus like he felt. He’s not only faithfully following God, but he’s also sharing the good news of who he is with others.

“[If Peter wouldn’t have come up to me that day], I probably wouldn’t be a Christian anymore. I probably wouldn’t go to church or read the Bible. I probably wouldn’t have a faith anymore and would probably just focus on being stressed every day. I probably wouldn’t have this amazing life, this great path, and this great community of friends.”