Collegiate life can be stressful and scary to many students but, Utah Tech University students find comfort through faith and religion. Students might not think of religion as being a tool to get through stressful times and make new friends around them.
St. George has a vast religious population with more than half being a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which influences the groups and resources Utah Tech has to offer. The most popular religions include Christianity, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to Catholicism, communities are found everywhere.
InterVarsity is one of many religious communities St. George has to offer. InterVarsity is a Christian fellowship that aims to be a resource and community for college students across the globe.
DeAngelo Brown is a Utah Tech graduate from Pahrump, Nevada, who now serves as the campus staff minister for InterVarsity.
“There’s a place where people, even from different cultures, could come and have a community around scripture and Bible study,” Brown said. “I kind of struggled the first year and a half or so making those good friendships. InterVarsity really was a place where that desire was met.”
Religious communities have meetings to enjoy company and share beliefs. Both the St. George Institute and InterVarsity hold events for the community to enjoy. InterVarsity throws events such as karaoke nights and holiday themed events, getting groups of students to bond.
With shared ideas and beliefs, community is formed for college students as they’re able to be with like minded peers. But community isn’t the only thing that is formed, as students are able to get experience in leadership.
“InterVarsity opened up so many opportunities,” said Abbey Nye is a junior recreation and sports management major from Logan, Utah, and is one of the leaders for Utah Tech’s InterVarsity. “For me to grow, especially through being a leader, just being able to make space for people to learn and just be able to study God’s word.”
For students, college is time-consuming, stressful and depressing. Utah statistics show that 40-45% of students feel depressed. With these emotions and new experiences, students can start struggling with faith. As InterVarsity leaders Brown and Nye share their advice.
“Don’t do it alone,” Brown said. “Friendships and community are super important. I know for me, I was trying to figure out everything on my own, and it was really hard and isolating.”
Both Brown and Nye recommend going to God for guidance in the journey of faith.
“I think there are a lot of opinions about faith and who God is,” Nye said. “I’d say go to his word. God speaks to his children, that has been such a big part of my faith journey.”
InterVarsity first started in 1941 and has remained somewhere where Christian students can go to practice their beliefs.
“The legacy that I want to leave as a leader within InterVarsity is seeing the one that’s on the outside,” Brown said. “Inviting them in and letting everybody that’s on campus know that they’re cared for and that they’re always included.”
