Blessings of Campus Ministry at Redeemer, Chico (CA)

One day after graduating from Chico State University with a Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Lotanna Onwuazombe was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Lotanna began attending Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chico, CA during his sophomore year after being invited by a friend he knew from CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) who also attended Redeemer. Lotanna continued to attend Redeemer because he appreciated the clear message of salvation through Christ crucified and the assurance of his salvation through Christ's means of grace, the Word and the Sacraments, which he heard week after week at Redeemer. He also appreciated that this message did not change, even as one pastor retired and a new pastor began during his time in Chico. This unchanging message of Jesus Christ crucified was something Lotanna did not regularly experience in his non-denominational background. Finally, during his senior year, Lotanna found that the Lutheran confession was his confession, and so he asked to be confirmed.

In the meantime, Lotanna was a regular at Redeemer's Chico State campus ministry events and a regular at church, leaving a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of the members of Redeemer. Having completed his undergraduate studies in Chico, Lotanna will now be moving to San Francisco to pursue a graduate degree in Epidemiology, though he says Redeemer, Chico will remain a blessing to him and he hopes to return and visit on occasion.

In addition to Lotanna, Redeemer Chico was blessed with four other regular Chico State students who attended campus ministry events this past school year, plus a few other students who attended services but not the ministry events.

While the school year is now over and most of the students have returned home, the campus ministry is a huge encouragement to the congregation and while it makes the city a little busier, Redeemer can't wait for the return of the students in the fall. Redeemer wishes to thank the CNH LWML for their generous grant that supports our campus ministry!

Now that most colleges are out for the summer, be sure to welcome back the students in your congregation and encourage them to get connected and stay connected with a church wherever they are attending college. And be sure to alert churches and pastors about students attending college in their areas. For more information about Redeemer Chico's campus ministry, feel free to contact Pastor Brennan DeForest.

Pictured is Lotanna on his confirmation day with Pastor DeForest (above) and Lotanna with the person who invited him to Redeemer, Noel Hiscott (below), herself a newcomer to the LCMS after attending an ELCA church in the LA area until she moved away to Chico for college.