Cru @ MIT: Esme’s Spiritual Journey

Esme is one of 300 Boston students who attended the Real Life Fall Retreat in October.  60 of those were from MIT - that's double from last year!  Each of these students specifically set aside this time to ask God what He has next for them, and many, like Esme, are getting to know Jesus for the first time.  Kim Swanson, Cru Staff, tells how she sees God at work in Esme's life:

Esme, a freshmen at MIT, connected with our ministry through her roommate, Sherry, who is a follower of Jesus.  I (Kim) eventually met up with Esme because she was curious about Christianity.

Like many college students today, Esme grew up in a home where her exposure to Jesus was almost non-existent.  She attended church only on Christmas and Easter, so she doesn’t know much about the Bible or the Christian faith.  But she is attracted to our community at MIT and now really desires to know more about God.

After we walked through the gospel story, Esme said she wanted to become a Christian but still had some questions.  A week later, Esme attended the Real Life Fall Retreat and said it was the first time she realized that God not only works in “big, miraculous ways” but also in lots of small ways in individual lives.  She also got involved in a life group that she and her roommate, Sherry, are now hosting it in their dorm room!

When Esme and I met again, we looked at a tool called “Backstory” that walks through the larger themes of the Bible including intimacy, betrayal, pursuit and sacrifice.  It was clear as we discussed various Bible passages that Esme has a deep understanding of the person of Jesus, His gospel and God’s grace.

When I asked her, “What does the image of the cross mean to you?” she replied, “It used to just be a symbol of Christianity, but now when I see it, it makes me think of the greatest sacrifice ever made –– Jesus died for us and he did nothing to deserve it –– Jesus died for us and he did nothing to deserve it.  It was our sin that He paid for.” She also said, “I know everyone needs Jesus, and that includes me.”

Esme is very close to giving her life to Christ, but she says she is nervous about “what’s on the other side” and what it means to give up control of her life to God.  Yet she recognizes that God is pursuing her:  “I know God is communicating with me because if I didn’t happen to be roommates with Sherry, I never would have gotten involved in this group.”

Esme is one of several answers to our prayers for more non-believers and seekers to get connected to our community and be drawn to Jesus.  Several freshmen like Sherry have invited roommates and friends to participate in our events and life groups, and they are starting to understand the gospel and embrace Jesus!

Would you pray that Esme would continue to seek after Christ and embrace Him as her Lord and Savior?

To read other life-change stories from Boston staff & students, click here.