When Laiken moved to South Dakota State University in 2022, she moved over eight hours away from everything she knew: her family that she loved and her North Dakota hometown of Beach. Her family wasn’t active church attendees, but she was connected to her church through confirmation and Luther League. She even went to church alone sometimes.
Being far from home and feeling alone, one of the things Laiken knew she wanted to find in college was community. “I was very nervous,” Laiken remembers, “and it was really hard for me to be far away from home.” She discovered the University Lutheran Center at the Student Engagement Expo, days after arriving on campus. There she met a friendly and excited student leader, got her free swag cup, and was invited to our first campfire. When she arrived at her first campfire, she was very nervous. “I wasn’t super connected with God or my faith at the time,” Laiken says, “I was seeking a better relationship and knowledge.” Nervousness aside, she experienced a relaxed environment, a community rooted in faith, and other students who wanted to get to know her.
Because generous people invested in a campus ministry where students are known by name, a warm welcome was waiting for Laiken around the campfire. It felt like home. Beyond the city or the campus, the University Lutheran Center has provided her with a community of faith that strengthened her faith and helped her grow closer to God. “It gave me confidence and a place to speak to God,” Laiken says, “which I have really, really needed at times.”
Laiken’s experience of the University Lutheran Center will always include meeting her fiancé, Reagan, here. Together, their faith was nurtured by this place in worship and in Bible study. It was only fitting that Reagan chose to propose to Laiken at the University Lutheran Center, too. “I sought out community and wanted to grow in my faith,” Laiken says, “and I ended up here, and it had a long-lasting impact.”
Every year, new students arrive carrying the same fears Laiken did. Because faithful supporters continue to invest in this ministry, they’ll find a welcoming community of faith ready to receive them, too. Thank you for making stories like Laiken’s possible.