I came home from my first day of college, my head throbbing with ache and my mind whirling as it tried to process the new environment I was diving into headfirst.

What I had been aware of for years and had been told time and time again was finally sinking in and becoming concrete reality. You’ve probably heard it, too: being a Christian in a secular school is not easy.   

I was well aware that there would be challenges going into school at IUPUI. I had received many warnings that my faith would be tested and that I would have to stand strong. I thought I was ready -- I have a strong relationship with my church family, I currently live at home with my immediate family there for support and I had made a point of looking into Christian organizations at IUPUI.

However, I was in for culture shock. I am still trying to adjust to this new stage of life, which is especially hard coming from a Christian homeschool environment. I praise the Lord that His Spirit resides in me and is sensitive to the false worldviews and the sin surrounding me. His Spirit keeps me alert and not tempted to conform to some of the harsh realities in the world. However, being the sinful human that I am, my initial reaction is to be angry and discouraged by what I see and hear from unbelievers, rather than hurt for their lost hearts and engage with them in order to further the gospel.

No matter the case, we could so easily be living in sin just like those we encounter each and every day; and in fact, prior to being saved, we were!  Ephesians 2:1-3 says,

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

The only difference between those around us and the sin in which they live and the marked joy and love we have as Christ-followers is God’s Grace, not anything we could ever do: 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9).

Therefore, rather than disengaging and running away from the worldliness around us or conforming to it, we should aim to share this everlasting joy with others so that they can experience the freedom and forgiveness available to them in Christ’s atoning sacrifice!

So as I continue to journey through this new stage of life and trust God to make me more like Him in the process (Romans 8:28-29), I can have confidence in knowing that He always has and always will continue to provide me with the people, strength, and confidence I need to grow in my faith and share the gospel with others.

Praise God for providing brothers and sisters in Christ through the local churches and through organizations like Impact with whom I can live a glorious life with. We all strive to set an example to the world of what the gospel can do, so let’s do it together!

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Rachel Winkler, IUPUI Freshman

What if I told you that you don’t have to have all the answers to tell someone about Jesus, or that you don’t have to have the Bible memorized to share His light?

Our second worship night of the semester consisted of heartwarming worship tunes performed by the newly formed worship team, the wonderful presence of each and every one of our attendees, a message so powerful and eye-opening that two people delivered it, and of course, free pizza.

If you happened to miss our second Night of Worship, we covered some Christian feel-good material in Acts Chapter 8.  Have you ever found it difficult to start a conversation with someone about his or her faith?

One: You’re not alone.

Two: Luke’s got some good news for you.

The term “evangelist” can seem pretty daunting at first glance. However, one’s job as an evangelist on Earth is actually much simpler than what you may have originally thought. Believe it or not, God will provide you with the right time and place and person to share his love with. And when this situation arises? You don’t need to go into a deep theological lecture. You don’t even need to quote the Bible. The best plan of action is to share why you believe what you believe; what God has done for you; why it has been a fruitful experience for you to live by faith. The best words (and more importantly, actions) come from the heart – and if your heart is full, then your words and actions will show it.

If you’re in need of some spiritual encouragement, advice, or you’re just trying to get through the semester, we invite you to experience what we’re all about and take refuge in Jesus. We’d love to have you! Interested in joining a life group? Follow this link to find a group that fits your schedule: http://www.impactatiupui.com/lifegroups 

May God’s peace be with you as the going gets tough!

Haley Welch, Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI Student President

I'm going to make this quick since I know you have all got a ton to get done in the next few days.

Over the weekend Kaitlin and I had the opportunity to watch some incredibly talented Christmas singers proclaim through songs the life and story of Jesus. As professional performers their words and lifestyle proclaimed the Gospel to people in a way I could never do and to an audience I could never reach. 

Watching them made me think of the people I have an opportunity to reach because of my unique position. God has made us unique and placed every one of us in a situation unlike any other so that we can reach people that others would never have the opportunity to.

In this last week of the semester, think about those you are going home to see. Whether you have a huge family waiting hundreds of miles away or an apartment just off campus, there are people in your life who desperately need to hear the Gospel (and not just from a pastor, but from a friend). Pray that God will give you opportunities to share the story of Jesus this Christmas break and pray for boldness as you return home.

'Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”' - Matthew 28:18-20

Mac Silvey, Advisory Board Member for Impact at IUPUI