Come and see: a story from Guilford College

Jennifer and Beth are students who attend our ministry on campus, but when Jennifer asked if she could attend Jubilee, I was surprised. Ever since I have known Jennifer, she has worn a single neutral facial expression and has been extremely quiet. It’s hard for me to get more than a couple words in a row out of her in conversation. 

What I didn't realize is that Beth was the only reason Jennifer was involved in our ministry. Jennifer didn’t have a faith of her own, but Beth is a strong Christian, and even though she struggles with paralyzing social anxiety, Beth kept inviting Jennifer (and other friends) to come. 

When Beth said she wanted to go to Jubilee, Jennifer decided to go to help support
her friend.

Throughout the first day, Jennifer and Beth were aloof and quiet, and Jennifer’s countenance remained unchanged. But as the second day progressed and we traveled the journey through the Fall into the Redemption accomplished for us by Jesus, something happened. 

On Saturday night, there was a time of prayer for students who wanted to commit their life into the loving hands of Christ—and to my surprise, Jennifer was one of the first students to walk hurriedly forward to receive prayer! Afterwards, I saw something I had never seen before: an ear-to-ear grin on Jennifer’s face.

That night, words and laughter came gushing out of Jennifer like a spring. She told me that when she heard the good news of freedom and forgiveness in Christ, she felt an immense weight she knew needed to be lifted. The campus minister who prayed for her—whom she had never met—“read her like a book” and somehow knew her situation in a way that was clearly prophetic. 

As the prayer ended, Jennifer felt the weight that sat upon her lifted away. For the first time in her life, she felt light and free. She felt fully known and fully loved by God. 

Of course, as Jennifer shared all this, Beth was right there next to her, grinning from ear to ear—Beth who, despite her social anxiety, was bold to invite her friends again and again to come and see the love of God.

Friends, Jesus is still in the transformation business. And sometimes you are lucky enough to see his latest work right on a student’s face.

—Judson Van Wyk serves as Campus Ministry Staff at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina in partnership with Church of the Redeemer.

*Jennifer’s and Beth’s names have been changed to protect their privacy.