Jakob

Before I found Jesus, I was living for the world. My family and I would go to church every other weekend, but Jesus was never really Lord of my life growing up. Everything changed when I came to USF. Moving to Tampa meant leaving my childhood home, family, and friends behind. I was dealing with a lot of anxiety, depression, and feeling like there was no way out.

Then, a friend invited me to join a Bible study with him. At first, I didn't know what to expect and only went to meet new people. But after a few weeks, my focus shifted. For the first time in my life, I started to read the Bible from a desire to really know Jesus, not just know about Him or make new friends. On October 2nd, 2025, during a Bible study on Repentance, I really saw how my sin affects God and it produced real godly sorrow in my heart. In that Bible study, I gave my life to the Lord and my life got flipped right side up.

Since then, I've felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love from Jesus. Over the past months, I have gained so many new friends that I can really trust to help me continue to grow closer to Jesus and be separate from the world. Now, I get to help teach and lead the same Bible studies that introduced me to who Jesus really is. I'm excited to keep growing in my relationship with the Lord and sharing His love with others, who are where I once was when I first arrived at USF.

-Jakob