College is a time when young people often make life long decisions. They are in a time of life when they are highly influenced by things around them. Collegiate Church Network desires to be in that space and encouraging them to choose to spend time in a community that loves Jesus.

Colleen’s story is one of many great examples of students who have been touched by the ministry of a Reliant staff member serving on a college campus.

I first met Wendy Standinger at a women’s breakfast hosted by H2O Church. After the guest speaker vulnerably gave us a peek into her life, we were asked to find an H2O staff member and gather into discussion groups. My immediate thought was, “I want to find an ‘older sister’ to pour into me—someone I can relate to.” I think God chuckled at that, because as I looked around, my eyes kept coming back to Wendy who was standing patiently in the corner.

My friends and I shyly approached her and we began working through some pretty tough questions. Through the whole discussion that seemed to take an eternity, I spent most of my energy struggling to hold back the tears that had been building up. I had been working through a season of brokenness and, instead of opening up and admitting to my need, I was believing the lie that it was better just to keep it all in and that my pain wasn’t valid.

But Wendy showed up, just like Jesus does, and met me right smack in the middle of my mess.

Throughout that discussion time, I felt God gently nudging me to reach out to someone. And then, He chuckled one more time as my eyes yet again fell onto Wendy. I was drawn to her wisdom, patience, understanding, and listening ear. I waltzed right up to her after our small group dispersed and, just as I was about to ask if we could get lunch that week, the tears I had been holding back turned into Niagara Falls and I was so embarrassed. But Wendy showed up, just like Jesus does, and met me right smack in the middle of my mess.

During our first lunch together, we shared a little bit of our stories, and I told her about some of the family issues that I was struggling with. Here I was, wanting to skip over those issues and deal more with the other troublesome spots in my life that I had originally wanted to work through, but she had enough wisdom to press into my testimony first. I soon began to realize that the trouble spots in my life actually stemmed from these unresolved issues. So, as painful and as unsettling as it was, we dug in—together.

Soon after a few meetings, Wendy surprised me with a book titled, “Soul Healing,” and gave me fair warning of the messiness that would soon ensue. Man was she right! It took me a whole semester to work through a 300 page book, and ladies and gentlemen, I LOVE reading. I was diligently working through the book each night, and then coming to our bimonthly lunches full of questions. As Wendy likes to put it, I was hungry.

This past semester and a half has been a time of unrooting, replanting, and gradual growth. Through it all, Wendy has shown me a lot of who Jesus is. I have been reminded that Christ offers us this free gift of grace as He stands patient, ready to carry us if we would just have the courage to boldly approach His throne. He loves the mess, because it means our relationship with Him is real and raw. He loves the tears, because it means we are slowly trusting Him with our hearts. He meets us in our darkest seasons and begs us to let Him carry the load.

Our God is a God of restoration and provision and He has surely placed Wendy in my life to walk alongside of me, teach me truth, remind me of hope, and pursue me recklessly.