I was asked to write a blog post for Impact and I believe this was partly because everyone knows I am not good at saying no to things, but this was something that I felt like God was calling me to do. I have an extreme hatred towards any writing of any kind and I knew my time was coming to be asked to write a post, but I am happy that I was given the nudge I needed to put my faith down on paper. I was unsure what to write about, going back and forth between the topics of what life groups are all about and how intramurals are a great way to have fun and get connected with fellow Christians, but I finally felt like God was calling me to just write my testimony and my story over my time in college. While it has only been three semesters, I have gained a new appreciation for the people God has surrounded me with and how they have helped me with my faith.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I have heard this verse all my life, but I never realized how true it was until I began to see how God was using my troubles and uncertainties in life to help me grow as a Christian. This semester in our life groups, we have been studying the book Know Why You Believe. Over the past few months, my faith has grown and matured much more than I thought it could, but this did not happen without some bumps along the way.

            My faith had never been tested while I was growing up. I grew up in a Christian household, went to church every Sunday, and went to schools where Christianity was the main religion throughout the community. It was not until I came to college that I realized this is not how everyone grew up. I met a lot of people my freshman year and these people ranged from the strongest Christians you would ever meet to people who had never had the name Jesus Christ mentioned in their homes before. My older sister was involved with an on campus ministry I had never heard of, but she told me I should join and become a part of a life group. This on campus ministry happened to be Impact and it helped me feel more at home on campus, surrounding myself with fellow believers.

I began to invite some of my other friends to Impact and I felt like I was doing what God wanted me to through this, but then these friends started asking questions about religion. Growing up in a Christian community, I assumed I had all the answers without this ever being tested. I realized when these questions were finally asked that I was not prepared. I did not have all of the answers and facts I thought I did. I began to have doubts about my faith and everything I had learned about Christianity. Around this time, I was asked to lead a life group for Impact. I was informed that the title of the book we would be studying was called Know Why You Believe and when I first heard this title, I thought that all of the new questions I had about religion would be answered, but all of my studies over the summer produced was more questions. This was frustrating and many times I just felt like giving up. It was not until the semester started and we began to meet for life group that my confidence with the material began to grow.

I realized by taking each topic week by week and not trying to understand everything at once was essential to the growth of my relationship with Christ. I have realized through this journey of questions and doubts that it is okay to feel this way. No one has all of the answers, but this is where faith comes into play. If all of the answers are given to you, then there is no need to believe or put your faith into anything. Through this semester my faith has grown beyond what I thought possible and this is due to the people God has put into my life. If I have one thing I want you to takeaway from reading this, let it be this: do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. God is calling you to become the person he has planned from the beginning for you to become. He has surrounded you with fellow believers who will help you in your walk. All you have to do is not be afraid to take that first step. There will be bumps along the way and your faith will be tested, but you will come out the other side with your faith strengthened and a trust in Christ beyond anything you could imagine. 

Cory Hagemier, VP of Student Life, Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI

Throughout our study of the book of Acts we saw countless examples of God using some very unique individuals to further His Kingdom. Through these stories it is easy to see God carries out his plan in such a different way. Unlike other areas in our life God does not wait for us to decide we are ready or that we have enough time to take on something else. See God has His own perfect plan, and I am reminded daily that his plan is far better than anything I could assemble on my own.  

Now this lesson is something much easier said than done, and I am as guilty of this as anyone. We constantly make excuses and find reasons to overlook some of the opportunities God is presenting to us. We let selfishness and pride get in the way and become our own biggest obstacle to spiritual growth. However the feeling that in my opinion is the biggest obstacle to growth is FEAR.

Over this past summer I had time to do some reflection and truly decide what goals I wanted to set for myself for my last year in college and determine what was truly going to be the most important to me. During my first three years I had become involved in more campus organizations and events than just about anyone. I was very proud of some of the things I have been able to accomplish, but I could not help to feel a little guilty. While there was great value and benefit from all the activities I had been involved in, I did not feel any of them were helping further God's Kingdom.

This feeling along with the fact my younger sister, Alexa, was getting ready to start at IUPUI in the fall started a fire within myself to lead a Bible Study to help freshmen with their spiritual transition in college. Prior to this point I had never led a Bible Study and had absolutely zero qualifications to lead a group. The great thing about our God though is He does not call us to be qualified, he simply calls us to trust in His plan. 

I learned a lot in my first time leading a Life Group. Something that was very uncomfortable for me at the beginning of the semester, slowly became something I feel is going to be an important part of my life for years to come. It was truly an escape from the craziness of the rest of my semester and a happy place I would not have wanted to go through the semester without. What I was most surprised by in leading a small group is that in leading a group you grow even more than those you are leading. During the semester I was able to strengthen my relationship with my sister and help her make God a part of her college experience. I was able to become the man I wanted to be, which helped me build a relationship with a girl who loved her savior even more than I did. Most of all this group helped to humble me and really keep my focus on God during my last year of college, and for that I am incredible grateful I was given this opportunity. 

In closing, do not ever let the fear of failure or lack of preparedness ever stop you from doing something to further God's Kingdom. I assure God will give you everything you need if you make yourself available to him. So whatever the next step is for you, I encourage you to do whatever it takes to go forward and to not look back. The reward will be far greater than that initial risk you are afraid of.

Zach Treon, VP of Fellowship