THESE WALLS

Karly plays trumpet in the brass choir at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, where she works as a Pharmacist. When she is not busy with that and planning her wedding for next fall, she engages in her self-proclaimed “old lady hobby” of crocheting.

When Karly began her course of studies at South Dakota State University, she had prioritized finding a church home. She thought she would find that in an established ELCA congregation in the community that was intergenerational in nature, not in a campus ministry. After she still didn’t feel settled, in her second semester, she decided to attend the University Lutheran Center. She remembers the welcome she received from Student Leaders and that her friend from The Pride of The Dakotas marching band was also here. The feeling of isolation had begun to subside, as she felt she had found her church home.

Finally, Karly had found a church where she felt like she belonged. “SDSU didn’t feel like home,” Karly remembers, “until I found the ULC.” She had found a place that fit her theology and where she could develop closer connections with her peers. “It felt like I was coming home,” she remembers about her first visit, “even on the first time.” The rigor of pharmacy school was difficult. Karly also appreciates that she had a place to be herself, not only a pharmacy student. Shortly after she became involved, she was invited to become a Student Leader. In her new role, she appreciated the opportunity to continue developing the community as a caring and safe place for college students. “These walls have reminders,” Karly adds, “of the place I got the support I needed to make it through college.”

As Karly continues in her faith journey, she has a great appreciation for the impact the ULC has had on her. “It set me up for success,” she says, “in whatever church I attend.” The keys to success will follow Karly as she states, “what I learned at the ULC isn’t going to stay at the ULC.” Karly credits the ULC for “developing the skills during her college years, so that she can go out and be an active member wherever she goes.”

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. For students like Karly, your generosity makes it possible for college students to find the support they need. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.

FOUND GRACE

Grace is a unique piece of God’s creative energy: a lover of the outdoors, a part-owner of a ceramic shop, a juggler, and she even went to high school in the zoo! If that last one has you confused, she graduated from the School of Environmental Studies in Minnesota, which is housed at the Minnesota Zoo.

During her freshman year, Grace felt lonely, but not alone. She actually quite enjoys her alone time, but also likes being around people in community. Her floormate and friend had been active at the University Lutheran Center and often invited her to come along. Grace was glad for the invite, but was pretty strong in her opinion that she was never going back to another church after the religious trauma she experienced in her teens. The invitations were relentless, and eventually, Grace took her friend up on the invitation, mostly because there was a campfire. “It was less about church,” Grace remembers, “and more about it being a campfire. I love campfires!” Maybe Grace didn’t actually find this place, but this place found Grace.

At the University Lutheran Center, Grace found healing. “It’s shown me what Christianity really should be,” she states, “and reformed my anger about organized religion from my teens.” She felt grounded here within a community where people knew her name and accepted her. She met people with different perspectives who were not afraid to be their authentic selves, too. She heard us claim that all are welcome here and then listened attentively for proof of that claim. “Pastor Cassandra is a powerful representation of a woman in church leadership,” Grace proclaims, “and she practices what she preaches.”

Grace’s experience at the University Lutheran Center has given her more confidence. “I can be myself,” Grace proudly affirms, “and be a productive leader. I have grown exponentially because of this place.” Her involvement in this community has renewed her faith by showing her “church without judgment,” she stated, “I don’t think without this place I would have ever come back to church.”

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. For students like Grace, your generosity makes it possible for college students to heal and reform their faith. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.

A NEW MOMENT

In her teenage years, Allyson was introverted and not connected to a community of faith. Her friend group was mostly comprised of people “like her.” She is well-known for her love of cats and is sometimes referred to as the “crazy cat lady.”

During her second year as a student at South Dakota State University, one of her roommates invited her to visit the University Lutheran Center. She remembers she didn’t really want to be here. Even on that first fall night around the campfire, Allyson recalls that it “felt like I belonged.” To this day, she is glad she came back again after that first visit!

After spring break that year, Allyson inquired about being baptized in our community. A pivotal moment occurred on April 14, 2024, when our community rejoiced with God and with Allyson as she was washed in the waters of baptism and claimed as a child of God. “It was a new moment for me,” Allyson reflects and trusts, “God will take care of me.” She knows that God’s love is judgment-free and our community is a safe zone. It isn’t a place where she needs to feel guarded about her struggles with anxiety, disordered eating, or anything else. Rather, it is a place where she can be exactly who she is.

Now Allyson is part of our student leadership team at the University Lutheran Center. She takes much pride in the service projects that she plans for our students to participate in. As a leader, she has an integral role in making our community a non-judgmental environment, something she has appreciated since her first visit. Through her involvement here, she has expanded her circle of friends to include many people who aren’t “like her,” and she finds so much value in that growth.

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. For students like Allyson, your generosity makes it possible for our community to rejoice when the sacrament of baptism is shared with a new child of God. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.

IT’S MY CHURCH

Nate describes himself as a dichotomy: “an introvert and very much a people person.” He grew up loving music, so it only makes sense that, entering his second year, he is involved in almost every musical ensemble available at South Dakota State University.

In high school, he visited the University Lutheran Center when he came to tour the campus. This visit was prompted by his dad, a 1998 graduate of the university and a previously involved member of our campus ministry. When Nate finally arrived on campus, he remembered being nervous about attending one of our events for the first time. He recalls that shortly after he arrived, “all those worries went away.”

Reflecting on growing up in a small town as the child of a pastor, he said, “It’s never been my church because it’s been my mom’s church.” Quickly after Nate started attending the ULC, he realized “it’s my church!” This is a place where he always feels welcome, where he has developed wonderful lifelong friendships, and where the difficulties of college life can be “lifted off his shoulders” so he can laugh again.

At our final worship service of Nate's first year of college, he remembers, “I wanted to stay right here with everyone forever.” The welcome that Nate received at the ULC makes him “excited to bring new people with.” Several current students have joined us at his invitation and felt the inclusive and expansive welcome of this community. His ownership of this community, people skills, and enthusiasm for introducing new people will serve our whole community well this year as Nate steps into a new role as a Student Leader at the ULC.

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. For students like Nate, your generosity makes it possible for college students to claim ownership of this faith community as their own. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.

A note from the Pastor

During this season of giving, your gift to the University Lutheran Center at South Dakota State University will positively impact the lives of God’s young adults like Rose through campus ministry.

During her senior year of high school, Rose visited the University Lutheran Center, prompted by a connection through the leader of the Southwest Minnesota Synod’s Lutheran Youth Organization, whose son was involved here. “Community is what resonates with people,” Rose shared, “I needed a community of faith, and I found that here.” Once she began her studies at South Dakota State University, she promptly began attending worship services, Bible studies, service opportunities, and fellowship gatherings that were offered. “At first it was a little scary,” Rose remembers, “but I quickly discovered these are my people.”

At the University Lutheran Center, Rose formed many friendships and was able to authentically be who God created her to be. “This community accepted me for who I am,” Rose says, “not the facade I put up.” After Rose navigated her first few years of college as a music education major, she discerned a call to serve in a full-time church vocation. She is in her second year serving as the Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director at First Lutheran Church in Brookings. She is putting into practice many of the leadership skills she learned while serving as a Student Leader at the University Lutheran Center, as she helps create a sense of community, engages in intentional conversations, and strives to make a place for students to live authentically. Rose looks back with fondness and appreciation for her involvement in our community of faith among college students. “I don’t know what I would have done without the University Lutheran Center.”

Your generosity to the University Lutheran Center ensures that college students at South Dakota State University discover the same life-giving community of faith, rooted in the expansive love of God, where they can live authentically, just as Rose did. During this season of giving, we invite you to join us in giving a gift of $25, $250, $500, or even $1000 or more. Thank you for your support of our campus ministry!

TO BE KNOWN

Lily is a double pastor’s kid, meaning both of her parents are pastors. As a music lover with skills in singing and playing guitar, Lily is heading west for her next adventure. She recently accepted her first job after college, serving as the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bozeman, MT.

Lily attended a small high school in Minnesota, where she was always seeking belonging and community. She participated in all the non-sports activities her school offered, but still longed for deeper, more meaningful connections. In early 2021, during her senior year of high school, she discovered our campus ministry on social media. She recalled what she was looking for during those pandemic-affected days of her final high school year: “I am queer and I knew I needed a safe place to be my full self.” She remembers attending the Student Engagement Expo during her first weekend on campus at South Dakota State University and connecting with our ministry. Her immediate thought was, “These are my people!”

For the past four years, no one has visited the University Lutheran Center without meeting Lily. From her first interaction as a freshman, Lily has been here almost constantly. She recalls Pastor Cassandra inviting her to bring her guitar to the very first campfire to help lead the music. She continued to lead our community in this way throughout her college years. In November 2021, she became one of the paid student leaders for our ministry. Seeing herself in other student leaders inspired her to help other college students experience faith in this community. “To be known,” Lily says, “and to know others on a deeper level,” was exactly the authentic community she was seeking during college.

She credits the University Lutheran Center with helping her grow as a leader, strengthen her faith, and develop her skills in welcome and hospitality. These qualities will serve Lily well as she starts her career as a church professional. “I’m going to go do this again,” Lily joyfully explains, “over there with younger kids.” She has been well-prepared for her new role in faith formation.

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. For students like Lily, your generosity makes it possible for us to create a community where young adults are known and safe to be their authentic selves. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.