“I was born in Mexico raised in a Christian family. I was familiar with the Bible at an early age. Eventually, I joined my church’s worship band and enjoyed playing. Slowly I realized that I was only going to church to play music and not to worship God. I was convicted but I didn’t change. I was focused on playing perfectly for myself and others. So I began to stray from God from my junior year of high school into my sophomore year of college. But God had a plan for me and He allowed me transfer to UTSA. I knew that I needed to find a church during this period or else I would completely walk away from God. I prayed and asked God to help me find a small group of people that shared my faith. One day, I decided to go play soccer in the rec fields where I met another guy shooting free kicks. He asked where I was from and what I enjoyed doing. The conversation quickly changed to God and I knew this was my answered prayer to find a church! I went to church with him and he invited me to join his small group through Chi Alpha. At his small group, we talked about abiding in Jesus. I realized I needed to change my ways and be closer to God again. Jesus was only my savior but not my Lord and I needed to make him Lord too! I quickly repented and now I know it was God’s plan all this time for me to come to San Antonio, meet my small group leader, and get closer than ever to Him. So I ask you: Is Jesus really your Lord?”

“I was born and raised in Nigeria in a Christian family. My parents are pastors meaning I had certain expectations to live up to. On the outside, I was the perfect example of a church kid, but on the inside, I was depressed and angry with God. In high school I built my identity on academics so when I failed my college entrance exam, I felt lost and depressed. I didn’t know who I was anymore. In this season of depression and loneliness, I started to read the Bible. This was the first time I was choosing to spend time with God outside of normal church activities. Spending time with God changed my view of Him and I began to see Him rightly. Then, I made the choice to surrender my life to Jesus. A few months later, I came to UTSA to study computer engineering. I felt nervous about moving from Nigeria to America a few months after surrendering my life to Christ. I remember praying that God would bring me Christian friends that would show me what walking with Jesus looks like. And He did! I’m so grateful God gave me a small group leader, now friend, who welcomed me with open arms into her life. My friends here in Chi Alpha have become my home away from home!”

“I was raised in a small city on the east coast of Mexico. I was 19 when I moved to San Antonio to attend UTSA. I had never opened a Bible, I had never paid attention to the things of God; I had never met a real Christian. If I did, they never told me about Jesus. But at UTSA in the fall of 2013, I met a man who would go on to become one of my best friends. He told me about Jesus and challenged me to pursue God. We debated a lot and sometimes I was furious at him! I thought I was smarter than him. But slowly God began to convict me in my heart of my sin and soften my heart to Him. By the end of my first semester God had broken me down. I asked God for mercy, I repented from my sin, I was baptized and shortly after filled with the Holy Ghost! Shortly after that, I was being trained to lead others to Christ. I am eternally grateful for my Chi Alpha family and everything they have done for me. In Chi Alpha I was taught to love God, to treat His word with supreme authority, and to give myself in complete surrender to the will of Christ. Today I am a full-time minister of the gospel, and it is because of what God has done through me in this ministry.”