Erin's story: transformed by community

When I came to Towson University (MD), I didn’t really know anyone. I was part of the marching band, but I felt like I wasn’t getting to know people at school. In my first semester of college, I was having doubts about my faith. I had grown up going to church every Sunday, but all my church friends had stopped going. I began questioning all the things I had been taught over the years, and wasn’t really sure where I was spiritually.

One evening I was sitting alone in the dining hall when a girl from band asked if she could sit with me. We didn’t really know each other well, but she invited me to go with her to a Christian gathering at an apartment right across from campus. I said I’d go, even though I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. When we got there, about a dozen people were hanging out and starting to sing praise songs and worship God. I felt very welcomed that night by the new people I met, and some of them have now become my greatest friends.

After that first night, I learned about the people I’d met and the organization they were a part of: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The following week I went to a Bible study and instantly I felt like I could share my thoughts and opinions on the scripture we were studying, even though I had never been there before.

After winter break, I went back to school excited about InterVarsity and the new friends I had made. I was looking forward to our Bible study and weekly dinners. I began inviting other friends to come with me to InterVarsity events, and they have become dedicated members of our group. It was an awesome thing to invite people from other parts of my life to InterVarsity where we can share our faith together.

I’m not sure when it happened, but whenever I began to revisit the feelings of doubt about my faith, I realized that it was ok to have these questions. Ultimately, God was there and everything was right! Over the last two years, I have grown by being a part of this group. I have met amazing people and have shared incredible experiences with them.

I am really excited about this semester in InterVarsity! I hope that all of the new students who are coming will find our community to be a warm and loving place when we gather to worship — as I did. My life has changed because of this group of believing friends at Towson.

—Erin Mellott

Read Pamela’s story about a student whose Catholic faith deepened and grew through the InterVarsity community.