The look on her face — and the audible sigh of relief — told me everything.

 

I was eating lunch on the Ave with a student we met during the first week of school. We laughed as we recapped the year: nights at club, meaningful conversations, camp moments where we had seen God move in real ways. As we dreamed together about what Jesus might be inviting her into next, she hesitated.

 

I don’t have the gift of mind reading when I sit with students, so in moments like that I quietly pray, “Lord, what do You want me to know? And what do You want me to say?”

 

“I would love for you to join our Young Life College leadership team,” I said. “There are a few expectations — following Jesus and making wise decisions around relationships and substances. But there is also a lot of space here. Space to figure out what you believe. Space to ask hard questions. Space to explore what Jesus has to say about the things you care about. This will always be a space where all are welcome.”

 

Then I added, “You don’t have to know everything right now.”

 

That’s when the wall fell.

 

Her shoulders dropped. She exhaled. And suddenly, a waterfall of questions followed — confusion she had been holding quietly, stories she wasn’t sure she was allowed to tell, and hope that she could be honest about what she believed and where she was still unsure.

 

This is the space we are creating through Young Life College.

 

A space for students who feel close to faith and those who feel far away. A space where trust is built over time, where questions are welcomed, and where students can catch glimpses of the loving kindness of Christ through consistent presence and community.

 

College students today are surrounded by voices telling them who they are, what matters, and what to believe. The overwhelm is real — and it often leads to isolation, confusion, and skepticism. But we are seeing walls come down through simple things: laughter, adventure, intentional conversations, and the freedom to be yourself.

 

Moments like this are happening weekly. What started as a group of strangers is becoming a community students rely on — a place where hope is carried into the darkness, one relationship at a time.

 

As we close out the year, I want you to know: your generosity is directly shaping these moments. Because of your support, leaders are showing up on campus, sitting at lunch tables, walking with students through honest faith conversations, and creating spaces where young adults feel safe enough to exhale.

 

We still need $34,039 of our year-end goal of $40,000 by December 31, and every gift plays a role in helping us continue saying yes to students who are searching for hope.

Thank you for believing in this work and for partnering with us so that more college students can experience belonging, truth, and the love of Jesus — right where they are.