This is a story of someone who has been dramatically changed by Jesus during her time in college. As a campus missionary, my hope is to see students’ lives touched by the power of Jesus. Maria Ortiz joined the homegroup that I lead in the spring of 2012 as a freshman and is now a second-year senior. When she first arrived, she reminded me of myself. She’s full of energy, a social butterfly, and could sometimes talk over people in her excitement without meaning to. She was recently single after having a constant string of boyfriends throughout high school, and although she had grown up going to church, she had a shaky understanding of the Gospel.

Maria was discipled by one of the girls in our homegroup and really started growing in her faith. After four years in our group, I clearly see dramatic changes in her through the transforming work of Christ. She is now a good listener who has learned to make even the quietest girls feel safe enough to share their hearts with her. Maria is now trusting in God’s leading in her romantic life. Because of outreach training in our church, she now not only understands the Gospel, but can also share her faith accurately. She went on our Mexico mission trip last year and was able to share the Gospel in Spanish to a college student who then put her faith in Christ! She has also grown in her humility and transparency about her need for grace.

Maria says this about her years in homegroup:

“I’ve really liked getting to learn and experience how God loves me through Jesus and by people in homegroup who reflect Jesus’ character. Homegroup has been a safe place for me and other people; people meet us where we are, and I feel love and acceptance.”

Maria is now a key leader in our homegroup. She has been very faithful in the follow-up of young women in our homegroup and is beginning to disciple these students all because of the life-changing and transformative power of following Jesus in close community.