Thank you to everyone who is supporting me either financially or in prayer or both! I am so humbled by the care and generosity that others have shown me. Seeing individuals within the church live out the Gospel with their time and money has made me love the church more than I ever have.
I am excited to say that I have raised at least $19,165! (I say “at least” because I have had verbal commitments from several people, but their money is still being processed in the RUF office so I am not sure what the exact total is for the day.) Hopefully, on Friday I will have a more accurate amount to report! I am still striving for a total of $27,620 by the 13th!!
Also, yesterday I had a strange thing happen to me.
A student from UGA majoring in journalism emailed me, asking if she could interview me about an article she was writing in response to a USA Today article about religion in the South and how secular universities impact a student’s religion. It was right up my alley.
I said “sure” and emailed her my phone number. She called about 20 minutes later. I asked how she got my name, and she said she googled “religious people on universities in the South.” I laughed really hard when she told me that. I’m not sure how my name showed up in Google. I think it may be because I was technically listed as RUF at Auburn’s president for the past 2 years. (Not a big deal…I just answered emails and attended a university meeting once a semester.)
The student interviewing me asked about RUF, what it is, how it works, who comes to it etc. It was awesome! How many people ever just randomly call you up on the phone and ask to talk to you about something you love, much less question you about Christianity!
For 30 minutes she asked me questions like, “Do you think students who grew up in Christian environments typically rebel when they go to college?” “Do you think peer pressure (especially the positive kind) to attend religious organizations plays a large part in students attending campus ministries like RUF?” “Is RUF a place mostly where students from the PCA or from Christian homes congregate?” “Do you think that students who grew up in religious environments are more likely to attend RUF or other religious organizations in college and why?” “Do you think that secular universities make students less religious?”
I believe that last question is what she was really getting at. It sounds like the USA Today article was arguing that secular universities DO make formerly religious students less religious. Interesting idea. I disagreed.
I am trying to find the USA Today article. I will post it here when I do. Also, the student told me she would send me a copy of her article with my interview in it once she’s finished. I will also post it here.
I would love to hear some of your responses to the question of whether or not secular universities have a negative affect on a students religion. Do you think attending a secular university make a student less religious? What would you have said?
Oh you know just sitting here getting teary eyed in my cubical. I am loving what the Lord is doing in your life. Thank you for taking the time to write all this- makes me feel like I know about your life. I am praying for you!
Caroline