A note from the Pastor
As this academic year ends, your support of the University Lutheran Center at South Dakota State University will help propel us into the next one. This campus ministry is making an amazing impact on the lives of God’s young adults, like Rylie.
When Rylie arrived in Brookings, she described her first weeks with one word: awful. Rylie came here on a whim seeking her third degree. As the first in her family to attain a master’s degree, she moved 1,300 miles from home. The transition was not easy. Being this far from family, stepping back into a classroom after three years of working post-bachelor’s degree, and the cultural differences that exist in South Dakota made it difficult. “It was really hard,” Rylie remembers, “really awful actually.”
Because of supporters like you, Rylie didn’t stay isolated for long. Her counselor encouraged her to look for a campus ministry to connect with, and she found the University Lutheran Center.
The immediate welcome of the open and caring community here made Rylie feel at home and safe. “I was actively looking for a faith community,” Rylie shared, “because I missed my campus ministry back home.” The connections she made here helped her balance her master’s degree work and her life. It also helped her make friends, as she isn’t someone who finds meeting people an easy task. As a graduate student, she overcame the notion that overextending and overcommitting were necessary for success, and, in that balance, found a faith community that cared about her and the faith experiences she had to offer. “I don’t feel like I need to be anybody else or have any certain beliefs,” Rylie said, “I can share what I believe.” The ministry of the University Lutheran Center turned those first awful feelings of transition into a place where Rylie belonged. “This place,” Rylie expressed, “made my life a lot better.”
There are more students arriving on our campus this fall, feeling exactly like Rylie did. Your generosity provides a campus ministry rooted in belonging, authenticity, and community. We invite you to consider a gift of $50, $100, $250, or even $500 or more, which will make sure students don’t have to navigate that transition alone. Thank you for your support of the University Lutheran Center!