Non-Negotiable

Growing up in a Lutheran family, going to church for Liv was just “what we did, but I never really understood why.” The whole family attended church together in her hometown of Walla Walla, Washington. When she went through Confirmation classes, however, Liv’s perspective on church started to change. “My pastor was a really big influence on my spirituality. He was the nicest person and his sermons were always incredible and very touching,” Liv remembers. “I started to make up my own mind about what being a Lutheran was to me, rather than just being dragged to church by my family.”

When Liv moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, it was an “incredibly difficult transition period, adjusting to college. It was really hard for me.” Thankfully, during the student club fair that first week of classes, she found Lutheran Campus Ministry’s table.
“I met Pastor Chelsea on the Quad, and I was like, what’s this? They’re Lutheran, and I’m Lutheran!” she recounts. “I didn’t know what it would look like for me continuing on with church, and then it just came together very serendipitously.”

Liv quickly became a regular at Wednesday night dinners. “Having this to come to was a really big source of comfort, especially when I didn’t know many people. Everyone here is so welcoming and it's just a safe space for anyone to come. I think anyone would feel welcome, but I also like having that tie back to something so familiar: church and my faith.”

Now a sophomore, Liv is a student leader for Lutheran Campus Ministry. She serves as the Student Board Liaison, attending monthly meetings of the Lutheran Campus Ministry Board of Directors. In this role, she makes sure that students voices are represented and heard. Last month, she participated in our first Interfaith Fellowship with UW Hillel, the Jewish campus ministry that is located across the street. “I really liked that we had the opportunity to do that because where else are you going to have such a concentrated discussion of Christianity and Judaism? It was really cool.” She learned that there are many similarities across religious experiences. “Someone said, my Jewish grandma loves that I'm involved in Hillel, and I said, my Lutheran grandma loves that I'm in Lutheran Campus Ministry!”

“Wednesday dinners are just built into my schedule. They are mandatory for me, nonnegotiable. I have to say to people, oh, sorry, I'm busy that night. I love the variety of activities we have after dinner. I like that there's a mix of faith-based discussions. Then also there are times when we've just done a game night, which just allows for more bonding and socialization, which I think is really important to have those deeper discussions. It's just acceptable to flow in between the silly conversations and the deep stuff. That's just the community we’ve created here.”
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When you give to Lutheran Campus Ministry, your gift directly supports students like Liv who are in need of loving, supportive community.