Coming Home

Julia comes from a long line of Lutherans. “Growing up, my family attended a Lutheran church in Tacoma that was pretty diverse and engaged in the community,” she remembers. “We were pretty involved.” All that changed when her family moved to Japan when she was seven years old. For the rest of her childhood, Julia and her family split time between Japan and Tacoma. She learned to operate in two cultures and two churches. “In Japan, there weren’t as many choices, so we went to an international Baptist church. It was really different. There was the added stress, and beauty, of lots of different cultures coming together to worship.”

For college, Julia chose to return to her roots and attend the University of Washington. “I wasn’t sure how much church stuff I’d be doing. After all, that’s when most people take some time off from church.” She came to the UW Lutherans ice cream social during the first week of classes and enjoyed it, but she wanted to try new things too. “I wanted to make friends, so I went to a bunch of different clubs, including different religious groups. I did the theatre club, the film club, international student groups, trying to find my people. My second year, I realized I was tired of trying do everything and be friends with everyone. I just wanted to find home!” And so, at the beginning of sophomore year, she went back to the UW Lutherans ice cream social for a second try. And she thought, “I gotta go back more. I set my mind to it and I started coming regularly.”

And that is what she found: home. “It felt like family. We can hang out and talk about whatever. Campus ministry has given me the ability to feel more comfortable calling myself Christian in college because of what people assume that means – that we aren’t Team Love- and campus ministry is so the opposite of that. Campus ministry provides a safe space for students and shows people that there are Christians who are Team Love, who are inclusion-focused.” And for the first time, Julia has been able to have a female pastor, which has had a big impact on her. In fact, Julia is considering going to seminary after she graduates. “I would be thrilled if Julia continues to follow this call to ministry, wherever that leads her,” Pastor Chelsea affirms. “She has a compassionate heart, gentle nature, stands up against injustice, and knows that the Church isn’t perfect but is still beautiful. Julia would make an excellent pastor or deacon.”
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Because of your generosity, Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Washington can keep encouraging and mentoring future church leaders like Julia. Thank you for your support of this vital ministry to Lutheran young adults!