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.