As a freshman coming into UT, I was already a believer in Christ. I had an aspiration, as many believers do, to speak to as many as I could about Christ. I was from Austin and had fellowship with some Christians OFF campus but hardly any fellowship with Christians ON campus. By the end of my first semester at UT I had become very discouraged by my seemingly small capacity to speak to others about the Lord, and yet this strong desire to do so was still so much within me. I felt very ashamed for being weak in this area.
During my second semester I met an old classmate from high school whom I discovered was a believer in Christ. This old classmate told me about the fellowship that he had with other Christians on campus. That semester I visited one small Bible study with Christians on Campus. I never attended another meeting with them for a year though because at the time I was afraid of committing myself to any group. I did, however, continue to have fellowship with my friend as often as we would run into each other on the campus. I remember admiring the fact that it seemed very easy and normal for my friend to talk to others about the Lord.
By the second semester of my sophomore year, the Lord made me a little more desperate to have some Christian fellowship on the campus. At the beginning of that semester, I noticed my friend sitting behind a table set up by Christians on Campus. I walked up to the table and words came out of my mouth that I know now were from the Lord. I said something like this, “I'm thinking about visiting one of your Bible studies this semester.” The response from my friend and the others sitting with him was very friendly and informative. Yet, I didn't feel pressured to “BE THERE” (if you know what I mean). Anyway, as I walked away from the table I just had this sense that I wanted them to know that I meant what I said. I figured that they probably got a lot of people coming up to their table who would say what I had said and who never showed up to their Bible study at all. I came to my second Bible study a year after my first visit to their Bible study. It was February third. I remember the day because it was the beginning of a new stage in my Christian life (although I didn't know it at the time). CHRISTIAN COMPANIONS! That was what was missing! The mutual strengthening that comes from gathering in His name was, I began to realize, the missing ingredient in my endeavor to reach others with this glorious gospel. Apart from the fellowship with other believers my mouth was shut. I didn't even speak to other believers on the campus. Therefore, it was even more difficult to open my mouth and speak to non-believers. The fellowship made speaking to others about Christ so normal. What a difference the fellowship that I've had with Christians on Campus has made in my life. What a blessing it has been, what a strengthening and what an encouragement!
M. A.
— Austin, TX
